[fionas]

Kell

Honestly, if their comments are getting to you, just don't tell them. Just be vague and answer any questions with "I'm just going to see what happens."

They will be so smug if you do have drugs. Don't give them the satisfaction. My view is that labour is perfectly possible without drugs BUT the one thing you can't plan is how long your labour is going to last. I had a three-day labour and for two and a half days used natural pain management techniques until I just wanted a bloody rest and opted for an epidural. In a shorter labour, I can totally envisage going natural but it is not simply a case of mind over matter as many people will say it is. Getting your head in the right place is an enormous part of it but as I said, you cannot predict how long your labour will last.

You are doing the right thing and doing as much research as possible but I would keep your plans close to your chest because you have a lot of naysayers around you. You don't need them to dent your confidence.