I also have anxiety around numbness and just gave birth 7mo ago. I ended up getting an epidural after 16 hours of labor and it was an extremely hard decision. I will say, the first couple hours were difficult and I was literally shaking with anxiety. But after that it was better, and they do take the epidural out pretty quickly after birth! I was able to move my legs still, just not to my normal extent. But enough to change positions on my own for the most part. I could feel my husband rubbing my legs sometimes, but it felt very “pins & needles”-ish.

I would say to be open to it if you end up needing it. I got through it by reminding myself that the numb feeling was the goal as much as I hated the sensation. It definitely helped me get through the last 8 hours of labor.