The Pain of Giving Birth

An Evolutionary Perspective

"At about the 266^th day after conception, the fetal brain signals the release of certain hormones that pass into the mother's bloodstream. These hormones trigger her uterine muscles to contract and relax, starting the process that becomes active labor" (Berger 107). More often than not, the process of labor itself is excruciatingly painful. This article will examine--in limited detail--a few psychological, biological, and cognitive aspects concerning the pain a mother experiences.

First, from a psychological perspective, Karen Rosenberg, a paleoanthropologist at the University of Delaware, states "human beings are the only primate species that regularly seek assistance during labor and delivery" (81). According to her studies, there are no other species on the planet that go about it as we do. In this, we are unique, and Rosenberg attributes this psychological uniqueness to natural selection. She believes "natural selection long ago favored the behavior of seeking assistance during birth because such help compensated for these difficulties" (84). The difficulties Rosenberg mentions here are warranted. Certainly, most mothers who have conceived will attest to this. The psychological support she receives not only aids in her own well-being, but it also assists in the healthy delivery of her child. From an evolutionary viewpoint, a fit child and a psychologically fit mother promote the continuance and survival of both.