My daughter wanted to do all natural with her first born, but it didn't work out for her -- a psychological fear of the pain and feeling guilty if she couldn't do it natural really complicated the situation and she had to have a c-section. For her next child, she went natural with an epidural ready if she wanted it, and she did, and she had a lovely experience -- and I got to be there too. For her 3rd and 4th the same -- she had the epidural and had no problems. For the last, they didn't have to take a single stitch.
Personally, I think expecting a woman to give birth without an epidural is like expecting someone to have major surgery without anesthesia. Yes, there's some possible risk from the anesthesia, but it's cruel and inhumane, IMO, to expect a person to endure that pain. Just my opinion.
If you want to, okay -- but don't beat up on yourself if it becomes too painful or your become too tired.
I had to have c-sections. For my first, I was out cold. So I missed the whole experience. For the 2nd, I had a spinal (that's what they called it back then) and I was awake and able to experience the birth.
