I recommend that you read New Active Birth. It is a fantastic book for helping you to understand labour and things you can do to help labour progress and positions that help with pain relief. I read it before DS2 was born and had a fantastic labour with just gas for pain relief (and in reality, I probably didn't need that either).

I really wish I had read the book before my first labour, as I really wasn't prepared or informed enough. I ended up being talked into an epidural, which I have regretted ever since. It caused a whole cascade of interventions, and I still have some of the effects as a result. Having since experienced labour without an epidural, I regret having had one the first time even more.

I think epidurals can be really helpful in some circumstances, such as during long, complicated labours. But I think our fear of pain causes them to be overused, and things like optimal positioning and staying active should really be tried first. Epidurals do increase the risk of complications such as foetal distress, which then often results in forceps, vacuum extraction or c-section. Forceps or ventouse are nearly always going to result in tearing and/or episiotomy and therefore stitches, and obviously c/s results in stitches too. It might be that you experience less pain during the labour, but then more afterwards! And more serious damage can be done by pushing while lying on your back without being able to feel things properly - pelvic floor damage and haemorrhoids to name a couple.

I don't write this to scare you, or to try and convince you not to have an epidural. Rather I am hoping that by sharing my experience I can help you to explore your options and be aware of the things that the hospital might not tell you. GL hun.