A Longstanding Theory of Childbirth Is a Myth
A longstanding theory that human childbirth is uniquely difficult has been challenged by new research, which suggests that other primates also face significant challenges during birth. The study, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, found that many primate species have to push their babies through restricted spaces, leading to high infant-death rates. The research contradicts the assumption that humans are alone in having a difficult childbirth experience, and instead suggests that many primates have evolved anatomical work-arounds to cope with the challenges of birth.
- ▪A new study has challenged the theory that human childbirth is uniquely difficult
- ▪Other primates, such as tamarins and bush babies, have to birth infants with heads that are almost twice as large as their mother's pelvis
- ▪Squirrel monkeys have to deal with a proportional dilemma, giving birth to babies that weigh up to 15 percent of the mother's body weight
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| Original publisher | The Atlantic |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theatlantic.com/science/2026/06/childbirth-human-primates-difficulty/687731/?utm_source=feed |
| Publication time | 2026-06-29T11:39:10-04:00 |
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ScienceA Longstanding Theory of Childbirth Is a MythDelivering a human baby is not uniquely difficult.By Katherine J. WuJunko Kimura / GettyJune 29, 2026, 11:39 AM ET ShareSave As billions of people can attest, giving birth is hard for humans. Our infants have an exceptionally large head for their body size and yet have to squeeze through a very narrow pelvis. Appendages can get stuck; bones can fracture. At worst, the consequences can be lethal for mothers or babies. Until recently, many researchers believed that our species weathered that particular hardship alone: Other primates, they supposed, didn’t need to strike the same compromise between super-brains and walking upright, and so could birth babies with relative ease.
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