Concerning delivery...

[Peter_20]

This might be a stupid question. :rolleyes2

Anyway, nowadays bearing children naturally means going to the delivery ward, which we are very depentant on; but how did humans do before the modern ages?
I mean, the whole delivery thing seems to require skilled employees and whatnot, and what did the ancient humans do with the umbilical cord?
Did they bite it off? (lol)
How did the whole process work?

[Jowy]

I'd like to think they used swords.

[Christmas]

They cut it off.

[Renmiri]

Cutting it off and cauterizing the wound with fire (to avoid infections) has been done for over 3,000 years.

Don't know what caveman did though.

[Bunny]

Renmiri left out the part where they ate it.

[Mirage]

Believe it or not, childbirths can be done at home with just a few people present.

And uh, any clean, sharp object could be used to cut the umbilical cord.

[Momiji]

*heh* Navel-string? XD

[Alex151]

I'd like to think they used swords.

that or broad axes

[Roto13]

My parents used a morning star. That was scary.

[Renmiri]

Don't know about eating. Animals do it to be sure, so caveman might have done it.

Saliva does contain antibacterial agents, and that is why instinct tells animals to lick their wounds. Eating the cord and licking the area might have happened before man discovered how to cauterize wounds with fire and/ or herbs.

[rubah]

Rocks, guys. Rocks.

Peter, look up Lamaze.

[Bunny]

I was born in a large field. My father mounted his trusty stead, picked up his Lance of Great Justice and rode full charge, aiming for the umbilical cord. This is how I was detached.

[Harmless]

Midwifes. Midhusbands did not exist.

[Mirage]

Actually, they do.

[Iceglow]

the women of the villages and towns would perform the duties for the other women of mid wife though yes a hell of a lot more people died during child birth and infancy.

[Azure Chrysanthemum]

Actually deaths weren't quite as common as one might think, though they did happen with much larger frequency. Women are, after all, BUILT to bear children, so the function isn't exactly beyond their ability.

A common practice was to prop the woman up, allowing gravity to help aid in the birthing process. Really, the way we do it now is kinda unnatural and needlessly medicated and complicated. We have way more Caesarian Sections than need be, for example.

[Araciel]

little indian girls, in many tribes, birthed babies on their own...they would bite/cut the umbilical cord and bury the ..uhh...mess

[Mirage]

We're slowing down evolution these days, seriously! :p

[Peter_20]

*heh* Navel-string? XDYeah, I know the term "umbilical cord" is highly preferable, but I'm dead sure there is an English word like "navel-string". :D

Actually, the Swedish word for "umbilical cord" is "navelsträng", the "ä" being pronounced like the a in "man".