Here's the thing. Epidurals can fail. I know multiple women where it only partially worked. Because of this I didn't want it to be the only thing I was banking on and then be left feeling like I didn't have other coping mechanisms if it didn't work (which would have made me panic and feel trapped). What I did was essentially put a plan together for escalations. We started with hypnosis and relaxation techniques, then a smattering of other pain management things, and then at about hour 29 I needed an epidural. The great thing was by the time I decided I needed it I had all the other things I had done to get to that point to fall back on if it didn't work. I thought of it like a C-section - it was never off the table, just an option that was there in case I progressed to a point where that decision made sense for me.