My opinion...

They make drugs to help with all kinds of pain. We take them because we don't want to be in pain anymore. Then, "the book" says women must bear the pain of childbirth for something that happened so long ago it should be forgiven by now. Some feel that everything in life should be natural...but if they were truthful, they'd admit their life is enhanced on a daily basis by man-made amenities. The epidural is considered safe now...and the possibility of participating in such a precious event (your childs birth) and being able to remember it all...all without pain and exhaustion, seems so right to me. If it were me, and considering what you had gone through last go-round...I'd request the epidural.

Any way you choose...I wish you the very best!

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Minds are like parachutes. They only work when they are open.

~Thomas Dewar~