January 28, 2003

Painful Childbirth

Is there any other kind? Well, this question in the NYT caught my eye: Why do humans, unlike virtually all other mammals, experience so much pain in giving birth? The answer was long and ultimately boiled down to we don't know, but there is an untestable theory. I guess if you run a question and answer column, you can't just say, I don't know.

Posted by Kevin Murphy at January 28, 2003 12:56 PM | Science
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I had a friend who's wife decided to do something unorthodox. First, they hired a midwife. Second, they decided to give childbirth in the "old" style: standing, legs apart, squatting kind of. Gravity working for, not against, the birthing process. Next, she did quite a number of excercises to speed things along.

Apparently, it worked pretty well. From the main part of labor to birth was pretty quick, and apparently, from what she said, it wasn't all that painful.

Mileage may vary. ;-)

Posted by: Tim at January 29, 2003 02:34 AM