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Great question. I had an epidural, too, but if it was not an option at all I would still have a second child if I really wanted that child. It seems like so many of my friends have given birth sans epidural lately that I am feeling like a wimp. They are inspiring me!

I don't know. I'd like to say that fear of pain wouldn't stop me from having another child if my husband and I wanted one. But ask me again after I've pushed one out.

No answer for me yet, but here's my mom-

With me, she had an epidural.

With my middle sister, she wanted to go natural, to really experience childbirth, she changed her mind, but by the time she decided that it hurt too much, it was too late to give her one!

With my youngest sister, I don;t know what her plan was, but my sister was born 30 minutes after mom arrived at the hospital!

@Mrs. D: 30 mins after arrival? I bet that was nice!

@Mrs. D: Oh goodness no! I'm so sorry. I'm glad everything worked out.

If there were no pain meds, I'd probably limit to just one kiddo. That probably sounds very vain and selfish, but I don't tolerate pain well.

I only got to have an epidural for like 6 hours out of the 36 I was in labor. I had a good coach though and I made it through. After I pushed her out I was like hm...that wasn't that bad!

I would like to go through the entire labor without one next time. The only reason why I got one was because Pitocin is no joke.

Even with the epidural I said I was only going to have one while I was in labor!

But of course a couple weeks later that was all forgotten and now I'm ready for my next. And I'm sure even without meds I'd feel the same way.

It wouldnt affect me. I had my first without meds and I fully plan on having my second and any others without meds also.

I ALREADY joke with my husband that we might be one and done - and I'm only 11 weeks! I had really bad cramping from weeks 4 - 8 and that pain was so bad that I said there is no way I want to do this again. I'm sure labour pains are a thosuand times worse though so if I couldn't have an epidural, I'm thinking there is no way I'd do it again. I'll let you know for certain after this one is born!

I'm 15 weeks pregnant and FULLY plan on getting an epidural. If I can't get one or if it doesn't help, that would definitely have a bearing on how many kids we have. But say I can't have one and then have like a 30 minute labor. Maybe I could do it without pain meds? We currently want 3 kids, but instead I might go for 2 if I have a horrible labor/can't have pain meds. Who knows though!

I think I'd still have 2-3 kids even if I couldn't do it with an epidural. Labor pains + pushing for 2 hours + 3rd degree tears were all worth it when I held my LO in my arms for the first time.
I'd do it all over again (without an epidural) in a heartbeat.

@ohapostrophe:  I totally agree with your theory.

I've had both an epidural birth and a natural birth. My mindset on how to deal with contractions was completely different both times. With the first, all I could think about was, "WHEN can I get my epidural?" -- as if it was just a given and a necessity. my contractions were very painful with that experience. 

For my natural birth, I went into it thinking that pain is only worsened with "fear and anxiety". With this mindset, contractions weren't even totally painful, more like intense. I kept fear and anxiety out of my mind. I dealt with the labor by deep breathing and reminding myself that contractions were only temporary. It really helped, and in the end, I preferred going natural vs having an epidural! My contractions for the natural birth were stronger and intense right from the start, and baby came much faster too (6 hours vs 20 hours), yet I wasn't "in pain" like the first time. It sounds so crunchy and unbelievable to a "woman of science" such as myself, but I really think one's psyche going into it makes a huge difference.

having an epidural or not is definitely not a deciding factor in family planning for us... labor is a temporary experience, while having another child in our family would hopefully not be... it would be a lifelong reward. there are other ways to deal with pain than with heavy drugs.. but I don't judge those who choose that route as I did it that way too, and was happy with that birth experience in the end also.

Wouldn't change anything for me.

I plan to try for a natural birth anyway but even if I wanted pain meds and couldn't have them, the temporary pain of labor wouldn't be a deterrent from the lifetime of joy and happiness a child brings.

I havent been through it yet so I cant really talk from experience. I want to avoid an epi if possible. Growing up in europe none of my friends over there had an epidural or scheduled c-section so thats affected by idea of whats normal.