I had the whole hog with my first baby, gas, pethidine and an epidural. I was fine with the gas and the pethidine but I did not like the epidural. I ended up with a forceps delivery and by the time my son was born (7 hours later) the epidural was not working below my waist and I felt the forcep delivery. The epidural also slowed my labour down (I had actually gone into labour naturally) and by the time I needed to push I was exhausted.

This is purely personal opinion though, my sil had a birth very similar and she raves about the epidural as she felt nothing at all. She had nothing for No 2 as well and wishes she had the epidural!

When I questioned my Ob about the epidural, he said in some cases the epidural is not completey effective and that I was one of them. I am an absolute wos with pain, but I was able to go through my second labour (which was induced) with just the gas, and felt like I was able to be much more active during that birth. (I was restricted to the bed once the epidural had been administered).

Every birth is different though and I say if you need the drugs - take them!!!!!