My first labor was with an ob in a hospital and it was not a fun experience. I loved my ob, but I was not at all comfortable, I was completely allergic to the epidural that I wasn't even sure I wanted, it was done wrong so I still felt pain, and now have chronic pain in my back because of it. I was not allowed to get up, and I was forced to lay in a bed for 20 hours. It just wasn't a fun experience at all.

Because of this experience, and because I am now pregnant with my second and probably last baby, I am considering going with a midwife, and not being in the hospital environment at all, but I don't have much knowledge about it. Anyone that has had experienced both? Which did you prefer? What was your experience with a midwife?