Please can someone tell me about the pain relief they had during childbirth?

[PicassoWouldBeProud]

I'm days away from my due date with my first and to be frank I'm extremely anxious. Everyone else I know will say things like "oh I bet you can't wait for labour to start now!" And even though I'm excited to meet my baby and not be pregnant any more I'm scared of labour - so so terrified.

My main fears are:

1. Not being able to cope with the pain
2. Asking for an epidural and not getting one for ages/ at all
3. Having a panic attack
4. Sustaining long lasting birth injuries

I would love to hear real experiences from people who have given birth using pethadine/ gas and air/ epidural and what it was actually like. Thank you.

I was terrified of needing an epidural (because they say it leads to other interventions) when I was induced with my 2nd dc. It was amazing in the end and I had a very straight forward unassisted delivery. For my 1st I had diamorphine (long back to back labour) and gas and air. Also a very good option.

Epidural - best thing since sliced bread. I had a long induced, back to back labour and the epidural meant I could actually lie back, read a magazine, chat with midwife, joke with DH. I had a little button so could keep it topped up, but I could feel and move my legs at all times (the total numbness was something I was worried about pre-labour). It did all go a bit wrong when I was fully dilated and DD got into a pickle and decided to go sideways — ending up with theatre for forceps - but the epidural itself was brilliant!