doctors don't want the stomach or the bladder or bowels full. So that the woman's body focus on labor & delivery.
* So most women are only allowed ice chips for dry mouth *

I always thought " Spring Fever " also.... like a lot of other animals. But apparently the human animal is different.

My daughter was born in May, I was born in June..
I think most couples meet in the spring, so after all the courting and all late summer would be a likely time for women to get pregnant. I don't know that's my theory and it makes sense to me.

Hummm... you may be on to something there..
Because apparently it takes 4-12 months for the average couple to conceive.
Any longer & doctors begin testing & possibly fertility treatments.

When my daughter was born, naturally, I was not allowed any water for 12 hours of labor. I think it's just part of the abuse by the medical experts. Ice chips sound silly and cold, a sip of water would be the exact same thing. I was not even given ice, and labor is like running a marathon the way you get dehydrated. I think women in labor are fully capable of hydrating themselves properly even in their 'condition'. Inducing labor sounds about right to what the doctors want, which is nothing but a quick birth so they can get off work.

I agree. Hospital/ Doctor assisted births are for the doctors convenience!! I was very thirsty with my first delivery ( over 18 hours labor) & so hungry during my second.
IMO, & many midwives opinions women are NOT meant to lie down during childbirth.
* I wanted to squat with my 2 deliveries*
Lying down is for the convenience of the doctor.
* And if an epsiotomy or C- section is necessary *

I've never heard of this. I could drink as much as I wanted during labour. Threw it all up of course just before second stage but I would have been spitting chips if ice chips was all they would "allow" me. I didn't have any medical people near me anyway for my last two babies.

For the actual birth the doctor tied my legs to those stir up things against my will. And he shoved his hand into my vagina with full force using anti bacterial gel (which I had brought and was for different purposes obviously), it is full of alcohol as we all know and that hurt like hell and made me bleed. There's more but I digress. That's the first and the last time I would ever use a doctor for a birth. They are worthless and cause harm and trauma in my experience. My jerk boyfriend was with me drinking beer and was little to no support. I don't hate men, I just know how many of them operate (selfishly). Some men are great (in bed) lol.

That sounds horrific. I've only ever had midwives, friends or family there. A paediatrician was supposed to turn up for my eldest child's birth but he didn't make it and wasn't needed as everything they had tried to worry me with while I was pregnant (small baby, slow heartbeat etc) turned out not to be true.

I kind of agree with the empty stomach, bladder & bowel reasoning.
Vomiting is normal - as with any intense pain. And many hospitals/ doctors give women enemas to empty the bowels. A bowel movement during labor is also normal.
Midwives used to give women castor oil etc. , to empty her body & relieve some of the pressure.

I had my second child completely natural & totally alone. No one believed me that it was time.
But I never could have with my first.

Story of my life, horrific is just an everyday thing for many women. I think most women don't want to talk about it on this forum, because we are not supposed to talk, but everyone here knows I always tell it like it is here.

Yes all mine were natural, no pain relief births. All were pretty quick. My first was about 7 hours and the others were all around 3 hours labour.

I'm kind of happy about that.. getting caught dry humping the tree, like my dog does.. would be embarrassing.

I don't think pregnancies and birth are necessarily related to "mating season". "Mating season" is about the urge, the itch, the desire to couple. As far as I know, most ppl feel like having sex during spring. Doesn't mean they want to start a family. I think the wish and desire to start a family may be higher during winter, as it's lots of family get-togethers, cuddling close to stay warm (in the past) etc.

Indeed wonder how it worked in the past, giving birth can't have been great during winter, possible shortage of food, warmth etc...

I filed for divorce 8-9 months after my 2nd child... My husband (& others), NOT believing me that it WAS time for delivery. In MY mind was unforgivable. There was NO logical reason for my having to be alone. It was me,God & then a premature baby (under 5lbs).
But I certainly realized then... all the things I can do & was willing to do alone. I got steriled & went on my life.

A bit crude & old fashioned, but apparently true.
Most women would be conceiving in the harvest season * If most recorded pregnancies are in winter & most recorded births in summer*
Science just had to catch up & document it.

I wonder how many women have stories about birth where the main problem is the treatment of others towards her. I did not expect to be treated worse as a woman while pregnant, during birth and after as a mother. But I can assure anyone that it is worse not better and that I've been really shocked about it. I think modern culture does not respect life or those who give life.

Depends on the country you live in. First of all the level of healthcare in that country and of course norms and values regarding pregnancies and delivery.

Over here it was quite normal for women to deliver their babies at home, in their own bed. In the presence of a midwife - which is a fully trained professional, not some old lady from the village - assisted by a maternity assistant.
After birth there are regular checkups by the midwife, both baby and mother. And the maternity assistant comes over full-time for a week to help out the new family. This is covered by healthcare.
So during and after giving birth, you're in your own bed, in your own home, your own bedroom.

These days women are more scared, thinking it isn't safe to deliver at home. Americanism seeping into our culture. Most now go to hospital to give birth, still natural childbirth though, no painkillers, unless it's necessary.

I think the Netherlands and Scandinavian countries still have real good care concerning pregnancy and birth etc.
Most of the world seems to be awkward about it, regarding it as a scary thing, like a dis-ease, requiring doctors and tranquilizers and shrieking, screaming women. Such a shame, creating life, giving birth to new life is Divine!

I would of LOVED to have been given choices.. how I wanted to do it ( like walking around & squatting) & to be able to choice to have a female relative in the room. And to have midwives.
I'm hoping for change for the future & more comfortable choices for women.
But in the USA it is ALL about the doctors/hospitals/ insurance companies, lawsuits and money... & NOT making the laboring mom comfortable. She is ' Just another patient having a short procedure ' & booted out of the hospital in less than 24 hours & is on her own!

I think the natural birth group are trying to sell something that doesn't normally exist with the silent birth videos. I knew it wouldn't be like that and it wasn't. I also knew I needed to demand a natural birth from the doctor. The whole birth thing is messed up in the world, I agree. I like the idea of birth centers but they don't exist everywhere. That way they are not around sick people and they are still safe.