Hey Carmen

There's a great book about practical strategies for pain management during labour called "Birthskills"...It's co-written by a Sydney physiotherapist (Juju Sundin) and Sarah Murdoch.

I've been reading it...and it's just fantastic! The book is about empowering you for birth...helping you to deal with the fear and anxiety in a really realistic way...it's practical and easy to read...my cousin used the techniques in her birth and said they were just brillant! She had a very big baby with no tear whatsoever...despite being initially told that she would definitely tear...

You should be able to get the book from local bookstores...it's about $40 but worth every cent!

Regarding an epidural...you don't have to decide about that now AT ALL! Look into a whole lot of alternatives...be well prepared for labour with a whole lot of pain management strategies and then when it comes to the actual birth...you can decide then!