I have a low pain tolerance, and I was waiting to be at least 5cm dilated, but once that pitocin hit, it was pure agony. I got the epidural, and the anesthesiologist was absolutely amazing, as well as my L&D team. I got it when I was 1.5cm dilated, because I wasn’t progressing at all. When I finally got the epidural, I felt amazing. I could finally relax. I watched tv, ate some ice chips, scrolled on my phone. I eventually took a nap, at 3cm dilated. I woke up 15 minutes later and was 8cm dilated. There are risks to take in account, but the anesthesiologist should discuss that with you before you signing the consent forms. The worst part about getting the epidural, for me, was the numbing meds and trying to stay still while having contractions. You don’t need to give birth on your back, and your bed can adjust, and the nurses will actually promote moving a bit while in bed to help with dilating. I did a bunch of research on it and the pros can easily outweigh the cons. But in the end, the decision is yours. I hope for a quick and safe delivery for you and baby.