Curiously Awesome

A typical childbirth is attended by doctors, nurses and husbands in hospital delivery rooms.  Sometimes even other relatives and friends are present for the birth. Midwives often assist with births at home.

Assisted birth has been around for thousands of years.  The aspect of social assistance during childbirth is one part of our heritage that makes us distinctive as humans.

Women need assistance in childbirth because it is difficult and even potentially dangerous. Many of the risks have been minimized today, but as recently as two generations ago it was not uncommon for women to die in childbirth.

The average pelvic opening in women today is 13 centimeters at its largest point and 10 centimeters at its smallest point. The average infant head is 10 centimeters from front to back and the shoulders are 12 centimeters across. The birth canal is a twisty tunnel necessitating a series of tricky twists and turns to navigate it.

Childbirth is one example of a situation in a woman’s life where she must enlist the help of others to ensure a positive outcome.

Traditionally, women support each other when they are pregnant and nursing.  Cooperative childcare is common in many areas of the world. Often the women who can offer support to other women are older women who have fewer family responsibilities of their own.