My fathers wife gave birth yesterday, in the u.k she was in agony, she had gas and air in the night , then a painkiller injection in her arm and then by six in the morning she was in so much pain and she was given an epidural, she was 6cm dilated.
She called it the " magic drug " , it was the only thing that takes away the pain. By the time she was 10cm it had worn off enough for her to push.
So they do look after you in the u.k , i think they just like to try all the other things before an epi , cos every woman is different.
She did say though that next pregnancy she will not be pushing, she is booking in for an epidural
That is two people who have gsve birth in a month who are close to me, and both have said look ask for epidural , say now to your MW that you are so scared.
Whats funny is my dads wife was for all natural birth but it was her first and she didn t have any experience of the level of pain...... when she said that her midwife said listen you don t get any medales for doing it natural.
So i say if your not squmish of needles and your in pain , its defo got good recommendations.
lol! Oh blimey!
and epi etc if needed ...all needed 
