I'm in the same boat (just waaaaaaaaaay preliminary at 8.5 weeks compared to you at 40). I am going to do everything in my power to not have the epidural, but mostly because I'm petrified of needles and having one go into my back makes me nauseous now - I can't imagine how I'd feel going through labor and THEN having the anxiety of having an epidural on top of it.

You'll do what's best for sweet baby Tyler. If you can do it without the medicine, more power to you! Millions of women did it for millions of years before it was invented so you can too (that's what I tell myself). But if you find out it would make things easier, there is nothing wrong in that either.

Good luck!