I did end up getting an epi with my 6th (7th and 8th) because my 5th's birth was so traumatic that I was literally sick with fear from the moment I found out I was pregnant with # 6. Then when we decided to home birth with our 9th that fear came back and I think the fear had something to do with my bodies refusal to go into labor, although I don't think I was ready when they tried to evict her. When I got pregnany with my last, another planned hb, that fear was there and I prayed daily for peace. By the time he was born, at home, I had a peace about the pain and actually had a very easy labor and delivery.