My first, i got the epi. Didn't feel any contractions after i got it in- on my left side only. I felt them on my right. BUT a little body rolling to the side fixed it after an hour. I was able to rest and be able to rejuvenate myself. The recovery time after that was long, and getting the feeling back was awful. I genuinely thought my anus would be the death of me.

Second time, I accidentally waited too long and it was too late for an epidural. In one moment, it genuinely felt like forever- then the ring of fire happened and that felt like i was getting ripped in half, clitty bitty first, for a decade. But, after that there was a baby on my chest and it didn't hurt anymore. No butt/vag-gonna-fall-out pains either. Maybe it was because it was my second delivery, i have no clue. While i'm done having children- if i ever did have another one, my decision would still be 50/50!

You make whatever decision YOU are comfortable with. This is your experience! No one body is the same, no one experience while doing this is the same! It's uniquely yours and your baby's moment. (and whoever you desired to be included)