I also had an epidural with both of mine. With the first,the epidural provided amazing pain relief as my labour was 52 hours... After the epidural I also got some sleep and calmed myself down - pethidine also helped me greatly! With the second I had the epidural very late and as a result could feel the pressure of pushing and the baby coming out but absolutely no pain, which was also good for the stitches afterwards... not sure many midwives would have recommended an epidural at this late stage but it worked for me. X