It goes without saying that giving birth is the most essential trait of any species, so I’m confused as to why it’s such a painful process for not just humans but also many other species. I’d venture to assume that the reason as to why sex feels so good is because, if it didn’t feel good, we wouldn’t want to do it, and if we’d feel discouraged to have sex, our species would trend towards doom. So, why is it that giving birth is such a painful process if it’s inextricably tied to the instinct of proliferating our species and keeping it alive?
In: Biology
The baby is as big as any way possible because development *in* the womb is safer than being outside of it.
It is juuuuust small enough to be birthed alive and best not completely ruin the chances of further reproduction for the mother. Women with too large babies won’t have another. Women with way too small babies have fewer chances of them reaching reproductive age. It’s a balancing act. (Or was, before the advent of good medical care)
How painful it is and how much physical damage the mother’s body takes along the way is utterly irrelevant. That baby will be pushed out whether the mother wants it or not, whether the pain gets unbearable or not. At that point there’s no going back.
Usually giving birth releases a barrage of hormones to encourage the mothers to connect with and care for the baby, instead of eating the damn thing that just hurt her so much. In animals with a faster reproductive cycle eating the young is totally an option. In humans it’s rather frowned upon, but post-partum depression and a lack of connection aren’t that uncommon.
Latest Answers