Why there are more and more big newborns
Because more and more are able to be born. I know plenty of extra large babies are birthed naturally, but it is a fact that a C-section can allow a child to be born that might have otherwise, decades ago, not made it out of the birth canal alive. And that child then has the chance to grow up and have children of its own. Which gives the being-large-at-birth set of genes better odds at being passed on to the future offspring
Also, women who give birth to a large baby now are more likely to not only to live through the experience, than decades ago, but also are more likely to not be traumatized by the experience, and there is a greater chance that they will go on and give birth again, and chances are, they may have another large baby.
I collect antique gynecological and obstetric books and manuals. Many a full term infant was diced up piecemeal and drawn out with blunted hooks to save the life of a mother. And many a mother held her living baby as she bled to death from the incisions made to free it from her body.
Bigger babies survive more often now, which is why we may being seeing more of them.
I don't feel it has anything to do with particular foods or chemicals.
Quoting turtle68:
Thats what she is saying... Less women are smoking while pregnant because they are educated. Thus, they are having bigger babies.
Diabetes is a huge factor with large babies. It is common place to be diagnosed with it and treated during pregnancy as well as keep the baby healthy after birth.
I had three 9lb babies and a 10.3lb baby. The biggest baby was the easiest birth. I believe I could of died a century ago giving birth to my 6lb first child and possible the 3rd 8lb baby.
I honestly dont think size is a factor with natural birthing. I mean women can give birth to kids that come out bum first. I think the risk factor to mother and child makes it easier to give a C-section, but IMO it doesnt have to do with mothers being unable to birth large babies.
Quoting bellaamore:Quoting turtle68:
Thats what she is saying... Less women are smoking while pregnant because they are educated. Thus, they are having bigger babies.
I thought the OP was talking about large babies being born more often. Not smoking and having a "normal" sized baby doesnt equate to a large baby ...JMO
Quoting turtle68:
These days a normal sized baby is considered large, though.
Look up some turn of the century obstetric books. Look up the reasons that necessitated tools like "Braun's cranioclast" and "Smellie's perforating scissors" and procedures like the pubiotomy, the symphisiotomy, and a tool called the "Gigli wire saws". The reason for the majority of the above operations and instruments? Large babies. You can chit chat about health and food all you like but fact is many a large baby could not get born alive back in the day...and many a woman producing a large child did not go on to have more. Just google some of those things above!
I share the same view, at least with uncomplicated and healthy pregnancies, though I didn't have your information and was blissfully ignorant of the baby chopper tools. Luckily I come from a family of women with great hips that can birth our big babies. But my aunt-in-law would likely not have survived her first birth, unless they used some of those tools on her.
Holder to investigate....Holder
- coronado25
on Jul. 14, 2012 at 2:54 AM