How did our species recover from childbirth mortality?

[Shelly2002]

Here we are still reproducing but in the past, childbirth mortality was much higher than nowadays. Going back to prehistorical times, ancient Egyptian era, the Middle Ages, etc how did we recover and make it this far?

Logically, if more women died giving birth in the past (esp when there was little to no technology), then the human population would significantly decrease or stop growing for a while. Many times it was fatal for the baby too so if the mother died during ancient times, the baby wouldn't survive either. So our population would've continued growing at a slower pace. But it has increased over the years. So how did we recover from that?

[RavVid]

It is true that females frequently died in child births but they also started young. In Egypt approx 300 BC girls were married at first menses. One girl might die in the first birth or the second which is below replacement if the baby also dies. Even though surviving child birth she might develop a fever (i. e. from infection).

Another woman could step in if the baby survived and the mother didn't.

It wasn't all roses and easy street for men in 300 BC. Most men were dead by 25 whilst woman lived to 35. We have pretty good Egyptian records and from the Faiyum mummy portraits we even know what they looked - worth taking a look at them.

The simple answer is girls started as early as they could at the peak of fertility. Some might die before they produced two babies but others would have six or more because no contraception.

Widows could remain unmarried and I'd guess that luxury would have not been afforded to them if there was downward pressure on population

[Shelly2002]

Interesting. So it got compensated by those that survive (lucky girls indeed) and had more babies. Then out those babies, one of them had to be a female so she can continue the childbirth cycle. Then out of those children, one of them becomes a doctor or scientist, which leads to what we have now.

[RavVid]

Eventually. Childhood mortality was fairly high too. But sufficiently balanced to the upside to produce large populations. Food was clearly a problem because the Nile valley, mesopotamia and China came to support large populations via irrigation.

[WindAtMyBack]

First, it's not just infant mortality that decreased, but also the mortality of the mother during childbirth.

Start with nutrition. Population growth has always been tied to nutrition. People today are far more healthy because of it, and also more fertile.

General advances in medicine

Much better prenatal care and early diagnosis of problems.

Better sanitation.

Reduction in diseases not directly related to childbirth, but could affect the health of the baby.

Less social pressure for higher risk women to have children.

Standard of living. Living in a clean warm home instead of a freezing cold and damp location.

[Shelly2002]

yeah it started with nutrition before modern medicine was invented. Many years passed before medicine, antibiotics and anesthesia was even introduced.

[White_Widow]

Uhhh well, there also wasn't something called anti conception or birth control. So women wouldn't just have 1 baby, they would have 9 children or sometimes even more. Western society got more materialised and obsessed about careers and such so they stopped having a lot of children. The Muslim community on the other hand, most of them have at least 3 children. All in the thought of them having to take care of their parents later on. Thats why that community is out growing any other...

[Shelly2002]

Interesting so the more children, the more likely that at least one female child would survive childbearing age. Then out of those many children, one of them would later on turn into a scientist, whom would contribute what we have now.

[Nikki1989]

Advances in medicine, such as antibiotics, anesthesia, and blood transfusions, have significantly reduced the risks associated with childbirth.

[Shelly2002]

True indeed. Though those changes didn't just happen overnight. It took place many years later. More women still would've needed to survive in order to give birth to the future scientists that would contribute advances in medicine.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

There is power in numbers? It doesn't look that mysterious to me, but I'm sure anyone knowledgeable in demography could explain that. What I do wonder about is how, as a species, we get a free pass to reach overpopulation

[Astarlessnightsky]

Simply higher birthrates. If half of the childen die, just give birth to twice or thrice as many.

[Shelly2002]

So basically even if the mother died after the last pregnancy, she would already have over 4 children by then. Then as the years passed by, out of those children, one of them would become a doctor or scientist and contribute advance medicine.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

We had more women in the medical field and more education regarding the female body.

[Lynx122]

Women just had to have enough babies to cover for the babies that would die.

[Anonymous]

It is a miracle that science cannot explain.

[Shelly2002]

Indeed it is. I'm trying to come up with an explanation to this because from a mathematical point of view, there would be much less humans. It took many years for even technology to get introduced but that means more mothers and babies would have to survive in order for that to happen. Yeah it's a mystery.

[HelpfulWoman]

large families and multiple wives being a thing.

[Shelly2002]

Good point

[slatyb]

Recover? Modern medicine.

[Shelly2002]

yes but many years later had to pass in order for modern medicine to be invented. It didn't just happen overnight

[slatyb]

No, and a lot of women died in childbirth. Then a lot of children died young.