Jessica - If you want an epi, you may have to be very persistent in asking for it. MW can be a bit funny about epi's. In my last labour I just repeatedly asked for it over and over again until they agreed. My first labour, the put me off for 4 hours (and then it was another 2 hours till the anaesthetist got there).

You may even completely surprise yourself and cope way better with the pain than you thought you would. I have friends who thought they would need an epi and found labour not as bad as they thought. Me, on the other hand, I was dead set on natural labour with no drugs and when it came down to it I was so tired I couldn't do it anymore. I think it was partly because I was not overly prepared for what was going to happen (the first time) and the second time I was induced and that is a whole other story.