As a women why would you choose pain meds for birth?

It's a choice. I personally don't think the "benefits" outweigh the risks. I had one for my first and I didn't benefit from it at all. I hated being strapped to a bed the whole time, it prolonged my labor dramatically, made pushing harder, had to be catheterized to urinate-etc. Epidurals and other pain meds during labor also block beta endorphins from mom and baby which are beneficial during and after birth. My second birth was MUCH better. FYI giving birth is not the most painful thing that anyone goes through. I'm pretty sure burn victims would beg to differ. I am also pretty sure my SO who had to have exploratory surgery and a ruptured organ removed would also beg to differ. I am also pretty sure the kid i know today who had his bone sticking out of his arm would also beg to differ. It hurts but it's not like pain from an injury, more intense than anything