How can I prepare for a natural labor?

With my first I showed up 10 CM

(not on purpose I woke up and immediately went to the hospital because contractions came instantly and I was already 10 cm. I was having contractions but couldn’t feel them till she was coming)

Anyways, I got the epidural at 10 CM but it ended up not working and I had to have a vacuum delivery. It was incredibly traumatic and i want more children but I’m so scared to give birth again. I know I can do it again but I would love to hear how you prepared or what you did in order for it to be as painless as possible?

I would LOVE to have a natural water birth but I don’t know to much on it. One of the nurses I had when I gave birth kinda scared me that because I progressed basically instantly that it’ll most likely happen with future children. Obviously I have no idea if that’s true but in case it is I’d love advice. 😅 sorry this is all over the place!

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(reply back to comment)

lol well I did! The hospital I delivered at the doctor makes the decision if you can have one at any point and she decided I would be OK too, obviously now I can see why they choose not too because it ended up not working. I just squeezed the nurses hand to the point I thought I might break it and the anesthesiologist managed to get it in. At the point I got one I had already been in labor for two hours so they decided I could have it, she wasn’t coming out because her head ended up getting stuck so thus I needed the vacuum.