I reckon its fine, so long as things are progressing nicely. For me, that pain was totally bearable (with gas LOL) right up to 10 cms and that was with a posterior baby. But it progressed nice and quickly (4am, 5cm -9am, 10cm)
Then bubs got wedged and for 2 hrs I pushed. The pain wasnt any worse, but OMG the feeling of doing all that work and not getting anywhere, that was painful LOL.
So I caved, got the epi and then they pulled him out.
But hell, if he had come out in a more timely fashion, then it would have been totally bearable, just like the worst period pain ever,but bearable KWIM?