I'd rather have an epi than pethadine. I had my epi because after 2 days after ebing inducted i was still only 1cm.. i'd had a sweep, 2 pesaries, the max drip, they managed to break my water too,,, but nothing was going to work! it was difficult to put in but mean't afterwards i could just relax. I ended up having a c section anyway. Didn't hurt going in althou i had terrible shakes and had to keep dead still which was hard. Took about half an hour to get in... even thou your numb from under chest down you still get a dead bum from sitting... but can't move to ease it!