The fallacy of natural birth: Safeguarding mothers and newborns in modern times Premium

The dangers of rejecting modern medical care during childbirth in India, rooted in misplaced beliefs, endangering lives needlessly.

The recent case of an infant death in Pudukkottai district in Tamil Nadu shocked the health authorities. A pregnant woman, despite repeated offers of modern healthcare services, chose to deliver her child at home. Her decision is rooted in the belief in living “naturally”. It left both mother and child in a precarious state, and the infant’s life snuffed out, completely avoidable. This refusal to accept evidence-based medical care not only endangered her life but also violated the right to the health of the unborn child. Such incidents force us to confront a troubling reality—how deeply misplaced beliefs can jeopardize lives in an era where medical science offers safety. 

The idea of natural childbirth, outside the safety net of hospitals, is often romanticised as a return to simpler, more harmonious times. It carries the false allure of a past where childbirth was supposedly safer, and maternal health was ideal. Yet, data tells a starkly different story.

Maternal and infant deaths were heartbreakingly common in the past. Women frequently succumbed to infections, haemorrhages, or prolonged labour, leaving families devastated. What remains of those times are stories of survival, giving rise to a dangerous survivorship bias—the flawed perception that the methods of the past were successful because a few lived to tell the tale. It is human nature to overrate the past and underratethe present. 

Evolutionary burden

Childbirth is unique for humans among mammals. Despite their advanced standing, humans remain one of the few species requiring assistance during delivery. This peculiarity stems from the very trait that defines humanity—our upright posture. Two hundred thousand years ago, when humans evolved to walk on two legs, the structure of the pelvis narrowed to accommodate bipedalism. This evolution happened rapidly, and women did not have time to develop a broader pelvis. This narrowing came with a price. It restricted the passage through which a baby was delivered. Simultaneously, the head of newborn that harbours the brain grew in size, making childbirth even more challenging. As a result, human babies are born at a much earlier stage of development compared to other mammals, making them completely dependent on external care.

This evolutionary compromise—narrow pelvis and large head—shaped human society in profound ways. Childbirth and rearing became a communal responsibility, necessitating the support of families and tribes. Over time, this reliance laid the foundation for civilizations. But the burden of this evolutionary trade-off fell squarely on women. For them, what should have been a natural and physiological event like in other mammals became fraught with danger, leading to death or disability more often than it should. 

Story of Choices