Withwoman I am really concerned about what you say. What are teh criteria for a woman needing an epidural? And who exactly is in a position to judge whether a woman really needs an epidural, other than the woman herself?
I had planned a home birth with only gas and air for pain relief, but due to problems with my bp I had to have a hospital birth. I duly followed the antenatel class instructions and stayed at home until the pain was unbearable. I had prepared myself mentally and physically for the challenge of birth and I was determined to have minimal pain relief.
The minute I got in the delivery room I had the urge to push and was told I was almost fully dilated and my baby would most likely be delivered within the hour, an hour later I was told it wouldn't be much longer but i had to change positions and try harder to push down into my bottom (I knew I was pushing into my bottom and quite frankly thought that the fact I had pooped myself was proof of this 
). At this stage I was asking for an epidural becasue I knew that I was at my physical limit, however I was told that I could not have one and that I just had to change position/push properly etc etc and all would be fine. In short the midwives felt that I did not 'need' an epidural.
2 hours after that following lots of painful examinations it was established that my baby was well and truely stuck (and had been for almost 3 1/2 hours) and I was told forceps was the only way to go. I begged for an epidural but was told that there would not be time. Thankfully DH was brilliant and insisted on my behalf (I could barely breathe I was so exhausted). They finally relented and according to DH the moment the needle went into me (20 minutes later, before they had even got all the preparations in place for the forceps) I became a different person. All I know is that the torture stopped and I was able to deliver my baby (all be it with the doctors intervention) without further agony (I could still feel the contractions and was able to actively push).
After the birth the midwife told me that on reflection she thinks 'they were a bit cruel' to me by discounting my requests for an epidural. Becasue the midwives thought that I did not really 'need' an epidural I experienced absolute agony and emotional trauma.
I on the other hand know myself and my physical limits very well and I will always be the best placed person to judge whether I require pain relief.
I was genuinely traumatised by my birth experience and had flashbacks for weeks afterwards whenever i tried to sleep and this was in no small part due to not only the pain I was in but also the sense of vulnerability that I was left with when the midwives discounted my request for them to help me by arranging an epidural.
I do not want my story to scare anyone, me and ds are now happy and healthy and I would definatley do it all again, but second time around I would not request an epidural I would demand one when I no longer felt able to manage the pain myself!
I'm sorry if I have gone a bit off topic but I feel really strongly that the attitude of hcp judging which women 'need' epidurals and which don't is incredibley condescending and leaves women vulnerable to experiencing levels of pain that would simply never be tolerated in any other field of medicine.