Everyday Poise: New Study on Human Gestation

For today’s Everyday Poise, I’ll refer you to an article I came across talking about a new theory on human gestation. Specifically, it centers around what doctors refer to as the ‘obstetric dilemma’ – the idea that human offspring are born relatively helpless compared to other mammals because our increased brain size makes it necessary for the baby to leave the mother’s body early, before the birth canal is too small for the head to pass through.

This new research suggests that it’s not so much the size of the head compared to the birth canal as it is the mother’s metabolism. Gestating a baby requires a great deal of extra energy, and the scientists’ findings reveal that mothers tend to give birth right when they are about to pass into the metabolic ‘danger zone,’ when they simply cannot expend any more energy keeping the baby inside them without dangerous levels of strain on their system.

This new development makes me wonder if learning to use herself more efficiently through the Alexander technique might have a beneficial effect on the mother’s ability to expend less energy in carrying the baby, keep her metabolism steadier, and therefore result in the easier pregnancies that are often reported by pregnant students. It also makes me wonder, on the flip side, if expectant mothers who carry a lot of excess tension around with them might be more likely to have premature babies, as their metabolism would enter into the ‘danger zone’ much earlier than most.

It’s fascinating reading, and I can see quite a bit of potential for more studies on this topic. Any physicians who have experience with Alexander Tech out there, I’d appreciate your two cents! Any thoughts?

Forward and Up! is a Pittsburgh-based private practice offering quality instruction in the Alexander Technique in a positive and supportive environment.