I did without an epidural for medical reasons. I wish I could have done without pitocin, but it was required for all four of my babies. I do think more women could have unmedicated births, but that's a personal and a medical decision that is going to differ from woman to woman. No woman should feel guilty or inadequate because some birth plan didn't work for them. A healthy baby should be the goal -- not the use or nonuse of pain meds. My hubby was present at all four births. I squeezed his hand so tightly, he still hasn't regained full feeling in his hands. :-)
"No woman should feel guilty or inadequate because some birth plan didn't work for them".
I couldn't agree more: but there are more than a few guys out there who 'went along' with the idea of a birth plan, but then failed to prepare for what actually occurred. It is solely to them, and men like them, these words are directed.
(lol, btw, my hands are still kinda of sore! Of course, they are not as sore as some parts of Mrs. Gb....but we don't pay much attention to all that, given the joy we are enjoying w/ little miss gb).