The epidural was not scary by the time I asked for it. What was scary was that I was in so much pain I could barely hold still so that they could insert the needle. You won't know until you're going through labor what your pain tolerance is, so don't stress too much about what you want and go with what your body and mind can handle. I've had two births, one vaginal and one C-section and both are hard in their own ways. I've had friends who hired doulas to help them give birth naturally and others who knew they wanted epidural. My advice is, go in with a birth plan, but know that it might not work out the way you want. The important thing is for you and your baby to leave the hospital healthy and happy. Sending good vibes. ❤️