Two days ago I completed my four week long obstetrics/ and gynecology core rotation. The month was filled with the unexpected in many ways. One of the surprises was my response to epidural (spinal) anesthesia injections that are given to reduce pain during labor and delivery. My mother started training to be a lay midwife (now called certified professional midwives) in 1984, shortly after the birth of my youngest sister, (who was born at home). By the late 80s my mother was knee-deeply involved in the Association of Texas Midwives and spent many weeks in Austin for many years working on the regulation of the practice of midwifery in the state of Texas. Until last week I thought of epidurals as purely evil. (It is not that all midwives oppose epidurals, but my mother taught natural childbirth classes for a decade before entering midwifery, so I never heard a positive word regarding epidurals leave her mouth). The experience of midwives has been that epidurals slow labor down and are unnecessary when other approaches are taken to the birthing experience and pain