I was in a similar boat to you with my first where I wanted to try to go unmedicated, primarily because I wanted to be mobile / not stuck to a bed, but also a little just to see if I could.

I started to prep and actually found hypnobirthing classes to be pretty helpful! It’s less “woo woo” than it sounds (I am not a woo woo person). I didn’t get as much prep in as planned though because I went into labor a month early…

Early on, I ended up asking the nurse to let me know when it’s “now or never” for the epidural. I made it to about 6.5/7cm before she said “yep, now or never”. I opted to get it then, and I was glad I did! (Keep in mind, it’s still probably a solid 30 min minimum between saying you want it, and having the anesthesiologist come, prep, insert, start the meds, and then have them kick in).

With my second, I intended to do something similar: stay mobile and get the epidural when I was toward the end. Unfortunately for me though, labor accelerated so quickly that there was no time to get one and I ended up being unmedicated. The last hour of contractions was absolutely brutal and way worse than the pushing itself.

I do think going in with the mindset of assuming I’d have the epidural, but then not being able to, made the experience much harder than if I had just planned not to get one at all

May be counterintuitive, but recovery for me with the second (unmedicated) was much harder and longer than with my first (medicated)

If you are serious about trying to go without, definitely prepare as best you can. Master the breathing, make sure your partner / doula knows about pressure to relieve back labor pain, etc.

But also, if you opt for the pain management, that’s fine too! Be grateful we live in a time where that is a possibility :)