What Can We Learn About Birth From Our Pets?

Why do other species of mammals seem to labour so well, whilst humans going into labour is viewed as a dangerous medical emergency?

Other mammals do not have TV shows and movies that show a dramatised version of birth. They don’t have the capacity to share scary birth stories with one another. The other females in their pack don’t warn them of pain and horror to come, causing them to fear childbirth.

They simply reach the end of their pregnancy (with no concept of time or a ‘date’ given to them) and labour begins for them. At this point they go purely off of instinct. Instinct will tell them to seek out a safe place away from the pack to give birth. Somewhere dark and away from observation. They must feel unobserved and away from the threat of predators. 

Interfering with mammals that are in labour can slow or stop their labour. Humans are no different and require these same conditions. If we feel exposed and vulnerable our bodies will not allow labour to progress.

A farmer will say when his ewes are in labour he could stay with them in the barn all night but it is often as soon as he goes to put the kettle on for a cup of tea inside that the lambs suddenly arrive. Or they will seek out a more enclosed space away from the barn and other sheep. We are the only species that instead of being left alone to labour, it is the norm to get dressed and leave the safety and privacy of our homes to drive to a bright and sterile environment full of strangers.

All to then be told you are failing to progress. The irony!