Why is Childbirth Painful?
CrowdScience
BBC
4.8 • 1K Ratings
🗓️ 19 May 2017
⏱️ 27 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Childbirth is different for everyone. Depending on who you ask, it’s one of life’s greatest and worst experiences - and can be anything from traumatic and excruciating to life-affirming and spiritual. But what pretty much every mother will agree on is that it hurts. But why is such a fundamental aspect of life so painful? And why do some women find it worse than others?
Presenter Gareth Barlow – who doesn’t expect to be giving birth ever – goes on a quest to understand the experience of female labour pain and why evolution hasn’t given women an easier ride. He discovers the latest research into the nature and experience of pain and whether the idea of male/female pain thresholds, is a real thing. We also hear from CrowdScience listeners about their own experiences, and find out if having a supportive birth partner can help bringing new life into the world that little bit easier.
Do you have a question we can turn into a programme? Email us at crowdscience@bbc.co.uk
Presenter: Gareth Barlow Producer: Anna Lacey
(Image: New born baby with mother. Credit: Getty Images)
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | You're about to listen to a BBC podcast and maybe it's when I had a hand in. |
| 0:04.0 | I'm Tammy Walker and I produce podcasts for the BBC. |
| 0:08.0 | My role is to give new and diverse creators a voice with the opportunity to build a career. |
| 0:12.0 | That's the thing I love about podcasts. |
| 0:14.4 | You start with just a good idea, but then you have the space to see where it goes. |
| 0:18.4 | And doing that at the BBC means we can really run with the best stories |
| 0:21.9 | while developing the most unique audio talent. |
| 0:24.3 | So if you like what you hear, why not check out the huge range of podcast we've got on BBC |
| 0:29.1 | Sounds. The maternity I'm going to help. Hey. |
| 0:44.0 | There are five of us in total. |
| 0:46.0 | Sorry, we're coming and taking over. |
| 0:50.0 | Who have we got here? |
| 0:52.0 | I'm Garris Barlow and you're listening to crowd science on the BBC World Service, |
| 0:56.0 | the programme that answers all your questions about Earth, the universe, and of course life. |
| 1:02.0 | And how big was she? |
| 1:04.0 | She's 7 pounds 10. |
| 1:05.0 | 7 pounds 10 and fast asleep. |
| 1:07.0 | Yes, yeah. |
| 1:08.0 | Can I ask how was it? |
| 1:10.0 | I don't think it was as bad as I thought it was going to be at all. I think the contractions before I got here |
| 1:15.8 | seemed a lot worse than the actual pushing part. |
| 1:19.6 | A bit of gas and air and that seemed to take the edge off. |
... |
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