severe headaches that can last for weeks (very rare), and some feel itchy. for women who want to be mobile during labor, an epidural is definitely a disadvantage. also, some women get a fever from the epidural which could lead to a faster baby's heart rate. this may cause the mom or the baby to need antibiotics and to be screened for infections. however, most women who use an epidural are very happy with it, and find that it does an amazing job at relieving labor pains!
You have a chance of becoming paralized, and I don't know what you're thoughts are about it, but sometimes when having the ephidural it causes you not to remember the birth at all. I want to expierence what the birth of my children are like since it could only happen a few times in a womans life, and I want to remember every detail, no matter how bad the pain, only because a miracle comes out of it, and it's all worth it in the end.