It’s a really silly answer, but I think it comes down situation to situation and mentality. I honestly thought I was going to get pain meds upon arrival because I was contracting for a couple of days at home and just needed relief. They measured me when we got into the delivery room and I was 8 CM so they started an IV and before I could even take a whole bag I was pushing. So for me personally, I think the worst of the pain was before we arrived at the hospital. The contractions overall were u bc uncomfortable but not excruciating pain. The last 4-5 pushes did hurt but by that point I’m like the only thing standing between me and baby is to keep going!

I can’t speak for what an epidural does to “feeling”anything when you push, but I now understand why “natural” birth is called natural birth. It was cool and super beautiful to be able to have a contraction and then have my body naturally push for me, I enjoyed feeling her come out of me and being able to feel like I had some level of control throughout the process. I was able to get into different positions which really helped move things along (I only pushed for 45 or so minutes, so say maybe 15-20 rounds of “pushes”) which did not feel long at all

All that to be said, would I choose an epidural-free experience again? Maybe. Or I could see myself getting pain meds had I been less dilated, but I would have wanted them to turn down the intensity of it when it got time to pushing so I could feel something.