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This really seems like one obvious way in which we are effecting our own evolution and would not be surprised if in a short time (on an evolutionary scale) that

This really seems like one obvious way in which we are effecting our own evolution and would not be surprised if in a short time (on an evolutionary scale) that humans will require c-sections for successful birth. This may not be a bad thing, the reason child birth is so difficult for humans vs most other animals is our head size vs the female pelvis. C-sections bypass the evolutionary constraint allowing more large headed babies to smaller pelvis women which could allow greater head size and perhaps even more intelligence. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obstetrical_dilemma https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obstetrical_dilemma

aklemm 8y ago
Do babies with too-big heads regularly die at birth if C-section isn't available?
- evgen 8y ago
  In the world of modern medicine where complications like this would lead to an immediate c-section? No. Roll the clock back a couple of centuries or so and both mother and child would die.
- analognoise 8y ago
  Yes, and it can kill the mother as well. I don't have statistics, but my wife and/or son wouldn't have made it without a csection.
- stordoff 8y ago
  As far as I know, no, because emergency Caesareans are available (I was an emergency Caesarean - my mother was told I was 'small', and I ended up being close to 13lbs[1]), but it can cause other complications - my sister still has a small scar from a forceps birth, and the recovery time was longer for my mother. [1] The entire pre-birth care was flawed - at one point they couldn't find a pulse for over 24 hours and they were telling my mother to induce labour (because I was dead...). Edit: spelling fix
JoshMnem 8y ago
I think it's more likely that it's a bad thing. Babies are supposed to get seeded with microbes, which probably affects the immune system. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3110651/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3110651/
- civility 8y ago
  There's probably some truth to this, but it doesn't take much imagination to imagine how the babies could be "seeded" after a C-section birth.
  - JoshMnem 8y ago
    There probably isn't enough research to come to conclusions yet, but see also this: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180530113126.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180530113126.h...
JauntTrooper 8y ago
French bulldogs mostly can't have natural births. 80%+ of the births are c-sections.
- tinbucket 8y ago
  They've been specifically bred to exaggerate characteristics that are not healthy. The predominant result is brachycephalism which causes breathing and heat regulation issues amongst other things. This is also why they can't give birth naturally.
jarvist 8y ago
It is believed that this is already happening: "The regular use of Caesarean sections is having an impact on human evolution" https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-38210837 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-38210837
- notimetorelax 8y ago
  If there is indeed a causal relationship, then the only alternative was not to let those parents be born through c-section. We anyway already heavily depend on medicine for our survival.

aklemm 8y ago

Do babies with too-big heads regularly die at birth if C-section isn't available?

evgen 8y ago
In the world of modern medicine where complications like this would lead to an immediate c-section? No. Roll the clock back a couple of centuries or so and both mother and child would die.
analognoise 8y ago
Yes, and it can kill the mother as well. I don't have statistics, but my wife and/or son wouldn't have made it without a csection.
stordoff 8y ago
As far as I know, no, because emergency Caesareans are available (I was an emergency Caesarean - my mother was told I was 'small', and I ended up being close to 13lbs[1]), but it can cause other complications - my sister still has a small scar from a forceps birth, and the recovery time was longer for my mother. [1] The entire pre-birth care was flawed - at one point they couldn't find a pulse for over 24 hours and they were telling my mother to induce labour (because I was dead...). Edit: spelling fix

JoshMnem 8y ago

I think it's more likely that it's a bad thing. Babies are supposed to get seeded with microbes, which probably affects the immune system. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3110651/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3110651/

civility 8y ago
There's probably some truth to this, but it doesn't take much imagination to imagine how the babies could be "seeded" after a C-section birth.
- JoshMnem 8y ago
  There probably isn't enough research to come to conclusions yet, but see also this: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180530113126.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/05/180530113126.h...

JauntTrooper 8y ago

French bulldogs mostly can't have natural births. 80%+ of the births are c-sections.

tinbucket 8y ago
They've been specifically bred to exaggerate characteristics that are not healthy. The predominant result is brachycephalism which causes breathing and heat regulation issues amongst other things. This is also why they can't give birth naturally.

jarvist 8y ago

It is believed that this is already happening: "The regular use of Caesarean sections is having an impact on human evolution" https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-38210837 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-38210837

notimetorelax 8y ago
If there is indeed a causal relationship, then the only alternative was not to let those parents be born through c-section. We anyway already heavily depend on medicine for our survival.