Very good question, The healthcare system is the reason. Unlike Japan, which has the best healthcare system in the world, the US has the worst. (This was published in Forbes Mag.) When my wife and I went over the goals for the birth it became very apparent that the only way to meet those goals was to have our children at home. We don't want: the birth induced, vaccines, Vitamin K, poitocin and whatever other drugs they want to force on our children. Hospitals are for curing diseases and fixing things (broken bones, stiching up wounds). There really is no need to have your child there, unless there is a complication with the birth. High risk births average 5 to 8% of all births. I don't live my life in the 5 to 8%, I live in the 92%. I recommend for anyone who is having a child to set your goals and do what's best for you.
You got that right, the pain of getting a tattoo is nothing compared to the pain endured during child birth.