Abstract
A cross-cultural survey of birth patterning revealed marked differences in the speed of labor and indicated extreme variations in the psychological environment during labor and delivery. Speedier, easier labors appear to be related to acceptance of birth as a normal physiologic phenomena uncomplicated by sexual shame or fear-inducing rituals. The hypotheses developed from cross-cultural surveys were then tested experimentally in mice. Disturbance applied during labor resulted in reduction of labor speed immediately after the disturbance. Mice continuously disturbed at term delivered first pups significantly later, and had a 54% higher pup mortality rate. When expectant mice were rotated between familiar environment with shelter and glass fish bowl imbued with cat odor, spending equal amounts of time at each, significantly fewer births took place in the latter.
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