I have been told its very uncommon to tear or need an epi with subsequent babies, esp if you didnt have one with your first. Obviously there are exceptions as always. I was always terrified of tearing/epi but in the end I worried for nothing - my first I got a graze, my second and third I had nothing. I can remember telling the OB when pushing with Ds2 that I didnt want to because I would tear. He laughed at me and said that if I didnt with Ds1 then I wouldnt with Ds2. He was right!

I think you need to really do your research on risks of both an epi/tearing and a C/S. Id rather take on the slight risks associated with an epi/tearing than with a C/S.