Congrats dear!! No one will want to take Epidural. No Gynae will recommend Epidural (as what I know).
But some will need the epidural in some unforeseen circumstances which they can't run away from it.
As for my experience, when I having my #1, I always do research on Epidural, side effect etc. And of course it's a NO option for anyone too. Heard too much around me regards to the epidural side effect too. When I delivering my #1, I strictly said NO to epidural even Gynae had advice I really need it. Still I was stubborn due to the research that I did and heard.
Why Gynae advice me to take? Because they checked I'm having 100% contraction of labouring but no dilating/opening yet. They can't emergency cser me cause my baby position head are down, they afraid it can cut parts of baby. Still I stubborn and don't want to take epidural.
Till my pulse are super low and I had blank off few times. Gynae woke me up and told my husband to talk to me and ensure I don't knock off again if not my pulse will stop there and both life will end there. The only choice I had was epidural. And lastly I took it with fear. And guess what, I go through all that 14-16hrs in labour then my baby pop out.
After a month of eating proper meal and taking care, I don't even have side effect of epidural till today. Sorry if my story are too long, but that's my experience with epidural during labour. So here, we as a mum will never want to take any risk if that's the only choice of saving our love life. Just think if I still stubborn, I'm sure I won't be here and will never see my baby grew and now having my #2.