childbirth evolution: New parents are exhausted but can’t sleep because they don’t understand why newborns are so feeble. Sherwood Washburn, an American scientist, demonstrated human evolution in 1960. Washburn argues that as early ancestors learnt to walk standing up, their pelvises evolved to make long-distance walking easier and their brains enlarged. Thus, bigger-headed children had dangerously tiny birth canals, endangering both mother and child.
The “obstetrical dilemma,” Washburn’s theory, was taught in biology schools and became a best-seller. A new study has raised doubts.
Holly Dunsworth and her team studied the length of human and ape pregnancy. Human pregnancies are longer than expected, but larger monkeys have
longer pregnancies.
Dunsworth is now addressing the obstetrics issue by suggesting that a baby’s body size, not its head, should determine its birth date. When he baby needs more energy than the mother can provide, childbirth begins. Dunsworth believed this indicated large births.
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Despite its simplicity, several scholars embrace the theory. A recent study compared male and female pelvises. Natural selection acted differently. Because a baby’s head is too big for a woman’s hips, evolution made birth easier.
Skeptics worry that the theory could make people assume the female body is defective, leading to excessive medical attention during childbirth. Modern delivery methods need to be reconsidered, but the argument over labor’s origins requires a closer look at evolutionary theories.
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Our Reader’s Queries
How did childbirth evolve?
The way humans give birth today developed in a patchy way, with some special features showing up early in our evolution and others showing up later. Even australopithecines had a human-like way of the baby’s head entering the birth canal because their pelvic openings were wider.
How has childbirth changed over the years?
Birthing methods have undergone significant changes in the past few centuries. In the past, forceps were the primary tool used during childbirth, and cesarean sections were rare. However, today, the cesarean section rate in the United States is nearing 30%, as stated by Leggitt.
What was giving birth like in ancient times?
Ancient Near Eastern women would stand or kneel on birth bricks, stones, and stools while giving birth, often with the help of midwives and female family members. After giving birth, they would bury their afterbirth in a hole in the ground and then take a period of secluded rest.
When did natural childbirth start?
The 1970s saw the rise of the natural birth movement, as mothers started exploring home and waterbirths, and opting out of pain relief. Their aim was to have greater control and a more intimate experience.