Hmmm,
this is real interesting. Some natural childbirth advocates suggest
that the pain in childbirth adds something valuable to the birth
process, helping mothers bond with their babies and even bringing um,
sexual pleasure (in some cases, but not mine, oh lordy no!) However, a study discussed here in Salon (via Jezebel)
suggests that theory may be backwards. Instead, labor and delivery pain
might have served to signal to the mother that she should seek
assistance, and in fact drive her to desire "companionship and
security" from others. From an evolutionary standpoint, this could have
meant people who sought help and protection during times like
childbirth and illness were more likely to survive. (Hey, if the degree
of labor pain indicated individual evolutionary fitness, I would have
totally had it made! Um, it doesn't, by the way.)
So, if pain
has simply functioned to drive delivering mothers to seek companionship
(personals ad, anyone?) then perhaps...
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