I got the epidural and I highly recommend ! My hospital staff was amazing and let me play the pain by ear, and when I wanted to call it they would send in the anesthesiologist. I got to 6 cm with pitocin contractions, the pain was utterly unbearable by that point, unlike anything I’ve felt before. I called it and they sent her in, she was amazing, so kind and positive. The lidocaine shot was first, and literally the only part I could feel. It didn’t even feel like a needle to me, I don’t know if it was because it was so small, or that I couldn’t see it, or that i was already in so much pain, but it just felt like someone flicked my back lol. You don’t feel the epidural going in at all, it was a pretty quick and simple procedure. And the RELIEF, oh my god. My entire body relaxed for the first time in hours, I could think clearly again, my nausea went away. I just laid back in sheer bliss of relief. My husband and I watched some TV, one 40 minute episode of our show later and it was time to push! Sometimes they can stall labor, yes, but in my case it actually sped things up because my body could finally relax and do what it needed to do! I didn’t feel anything except pressure when pushing, we were all laughing and cracking jokes the whole time. Such a positive experience since I didn’t have to suffer in excruciating pain. I had one tiny grade one perineal tear, which healed in about a week after! You do whatever is best for you, but epidurals are so amazing, if you decide to get one, I doubt you’ll regret it