Ok, I can't comment on the VBAC. Had all four the "old fashion" way. LOL!

My first birth was long. 24 hours. Had painkillers, they wore off. I knew for my next one I wanted an epidural.

Second birth. I told the nurse I wanted an epidural. She didn't believe me that I was in labor, and by the time she did believe me, it was too late to get anything. Luckily, the birth was much shorter than the first. I labored a total of 12 hours, and about 3 of it hurt really bad. Contractions are like REALLLLY bad menstrual cramps. Or at least that is how it was for me. Humming helps get thru them, but they still hurt like the dickens. Luckily, I only had to push for about 10 minutes (compared to the 3 hours with the first baby).

My next two I had epidurals. I love the epidural. My last baby, who is 8 months old, I managed not to have a single really painful contraction. The last two babies were also short labors, 6 hours and about 12 again. Also, the three that I had used an epidural or painkiller had no adverse side effects. They all nursed like pros and let you know if they didn't want something (like a wet diaper). All but 1 of my children were assisted with a vacuum, but that's because they have such HUGE heads! LOL! My 3 year old wears the same size hat as me (seriously! I went to buy him new boots and a hat at a western store a few months ago and NONE of the kids hats fit him. I'm not going to pay $50 for a adult straw hat for him, so I gave my old Stetson to him! He was 9lb 9oz when he was born!)

The way I figure, at least in my case, you can have a natural childbirth or a less painful one. I've had both and prefer less painful. Either way, as long as the end result is good, it doesn't matter which you choose.

I know from talking to a friend that my drs office doesn't do VBAC. She decided to go to another dr 90 minutes away (we only have one choice here, and only one hospital. No birth centers here, and the only two certified midwives in 90 miles also work at my drs. office and one delivered one of my children). But even though she decided to go to Roswell (yup, THE Roswell, home to aliens), she still ended up having to have an emergency c-section. Talk to a dr. and if you have choices, find one that agrees to what you want to do. However, do whatever is in the best interest of the baby.