The Evolutionary History of the Modern Birth Mechanism: Looking at Skeletal and Cultural Adaptations

Abstract

The development of bipedalism changed the course of hominin evolutionary history. One of the most significant impacts it had, outside of locomotion, was on birth. The advent of bipedalism, combined with later encephalization, has placed many evolutionary constraints on the birth process. As a result of evolutionary pressures, a series of skeletal and cultural adaptations occurred making the modern birth process unique. This paper reviews the literature and fossil evidence and will outline the differences between three forms of birth mechanisms: modern, ancient and non- human primate. A look at the variability within these processes will lead to a more complete understanding of evolutionary history and a more critical analysis of the fossil record. This review of research on the evolution of human birth mechanisms is essential, not only to understand our history but also to apply these insights in a modern context. Knowledge of human and non- human primate birth mechanisms is useful for the biomedical community, primate conservationists and socio-cultural anthropologists trying to understand birthing practices throughout different cultures.