The general consensus seems to be that epidurals are, basically, safe. A quick trawl through Mumsnet reveals that, of those who had an epidural, very few experienced any complications. Then again, none of them had an epidural fed into their arm like Mayra Cabrera. On Monday, an inquest heard that she died of an epidural-induced heart attack after giving birth to son Zac in a Swindon hospital.

In reality, this terrible mistake is not one most labouring women expect to happen to them. The pro of an epidural is, obviously, no more pain during childbirth and when you are having contractions the size of a Vesuvian eruption, this seems immensely important. So what if you can get a bruised back/blood clots/infection? You'd risk anything to take the pain away. When I had my first son, it was so excruciating it never occurred to me that I wouldn't normally let someone sink a needle the size of a hornet's sting into my spine. I just felt the cold liquid travel down my back and then, no more pain. It was fantastic.

There are, however, downsides. An epidural literally paralyses you and the effects of it can be, according to the National Childbirth Trust, "an increase in assisted vaginal birth rate". There is some evidence that "sleepiness arising from the opiate may delay successful breast feeding". Some mothers also complain of having headaches and/or debilitating drowsiness for days afterwards. The natural-birth lobby will tell you that 23% of women will experience complications. The pro lobby will tell you that an epidural is one of the safest anaesthetics around.

I have to say I felt pretty cock-a-hoop straight after my epidural but, some hours later, my head felt as though someone large and heavy had been sitting on it. The next three times I gave birth, I had them all drug-free and at home. Did they hurt? Hell yes, but I felt so much better afterwards.