Birth “Plan”

So I’m a FTM and high risk due to under active thyroid so will be giving birth on a consultant ward at my hospital.

My plan was to get an epidural, however I’ve read you have to have a catheter if you have an epidural and also you have to stay longer in hospital. With the current situation of partners not being allowed to stay at the hospital following birth, I want to be out as soon as possible. I also really don’t like the idea of a catheter!

Does anyone have any experience with this? I’ve been told there’s one birthing pool on the consultant ward. I’d never wanted a water birth but if I decide against an epidural maybe I should consider that. But then again I can’t plan on that in case someone else is using the pool when i go into labour!

It probably sounds so silly that I didn’t know about these things happening with an epidural

But I feel like I have no idea what I want my birth to be like now. I don’t have a great pain threshold as well so unsure how id be with other pain relief 🤷🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️