You ran an epidural, then?

No.  The anesthesiologist was great.  When he came in, he saw the look in Ginger's eyes that told him that she didn't really want it.  And he ruled out installing the epidural catheter just to keep our options open.  His reasoning was impeccable:  Labor is hard enough without having an unanesthetized needle in your back.  Oh.  It never occurred to me that most people who have a needle stuck in their spine during labor DO SO FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF COMPREHENSIVE LOWER BODY PAIN RELIEF.  Having one in your back "just because" and then not using it is the height of lunacy.

The anesthesiologist said that if circumstances required an emergency C-section, he could do everything on an emergency basis.  That was enough for both of us.  Of course, we knew that one possibility was the need for a general anesthetic, which would be dangerous and bad, but it was a risk we were willing to take in order to leave open the chance for an unmedicated birth.

A major factor in the anesthesiologist's confidence, along with the perinatologist's confidence, was the fact that Ginger had had two prior term births by unmedicated vaginal delivery.  It's what they call "proven pelvis" in the baby biz.  Christa and Jen think it would make a great name for a band.  I'm unconvinced.