epidural anyone?

along with eight other very pregnant couples, we attended a 7-hour birthing class offered through our hospital, Kadlec, this weekend. overall, it was very informative. i haven't decided whether i'm more scared or less scared now that i've gone through the class. i can say that i'm now more determined to wait and see if i'll really need an epidural. maybe it's just my naivete or maybe it's my over-optimism, but i don't want to go in having the expectation that i'll get one.

i also started having braxton-hicks contractions last night. they kept coming sporadically - 5 minutes, 9 minutes, 6 minutes, 11 minutes apart. they weren't painful...just...uncomfortable. i know they're nothing, though, compared to real contractions. what am i in for?