Do animals feel pain in giving birth?

1. 66

   jim.shengposted 12 years ago

   Do animals feel pain in giving birth?
   
   Today, my Bible teacher told me that animals don't have birth pain like human does. When Adam and Eve were deceived by the Serpent and sinned, then God cursed Eve to suffer the pain in childbirth.

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2. 73

   crazyhorsesghostposted 12 years ago

   I have watched horses, goats, and dogs give birth and yes they most certainly do feel pain. I've also seen cows giving birth in pain. So your Bible teacher doesn't know what he or she is talking about.

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3. 85

   Lucky Catsposted 12 years ago

   Yes, they also feel pain, discomfort, etc.  If  you've ever seen an animal give birth; cats, dogs, cows; you'll have no doubt that they, just like we, experience pain, suffering as well as pleasure, enjoyment, etc.  They are LIKE us more than they are unlike us.  Your teacher is ill  informed.
   
   The nature of physical existence does not differ according to philosphy; it is similar according to physiology.

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4. 90

   peeplesposted 12 years ago

   No offense but ignorant comments like your bible teachers is why I don't do religion. I have seen many animals give birth and they all feel pain. Yesterday my husband and I were driving down the road and saw what looked like a cow giving birth. We turned around and got out. The cow was crying out in pain while pushing her newborn out. Does anyone really believe a vagina can be stretched that far and not hurt? What an ignorant comment!

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      Gretchen Threetposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with you that this Bible teacher should have done his or her homework on the subject before actually teaching about it. However, please don't let mistakes like this turn you completely against religion. People who believe in God are human!

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      WileeKattposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      All people have differing belief systems and they all are human, that is to say make mistakes.

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5. 61

   xanzacowposted 12 years ago

   Great answers all three. I concur. Watch any animal give birth and you decide for yourself. There is definitely pain and heightened anxiety.

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6. 61

   cascolyposted 12 years ago

   it's likely animals do experience pain, but it's probable that women experience proportionately more pain when giving birth  since the development of the human brain has progressed faster than evolution has been able to adjust the female anatomy, so births are more difficult for humans than for other mammals, including apes
   
   but the answer from your teacher is disturbing because it also perpetuates attitudes that set women in a submissive role -- eg
   http://cascoly.hubpages.com/hub/Whos-re … dam-or-Eve

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   1. 47

      WileeKattposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      The answer from your teacher is disturbing for many reasons.

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7. 68

   Rosana Modugnoposted 12 years ago

   I am a little blown away by your bible teacher's comment.  It's amazing how she feels animals don't feel pain giving birth and directly attributes it to the bible.  What she's saying is all animals don't feel any pain because humans do and that makes no sense.  I just hope she isn't running a pet sitting service anywhere, please don't take your dogs to her.
   
   Of course they feel pain.  Have you never heard a dog cry out if you pull it's tail or a cat cry out if you do something to it?  Why wouldn't they feel pain?  Any animal that has nerve endings and a brain will feel pain, it's science, not fiction.

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   1. 54

      Gretchen Threetposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I don't think the Bible teacher was saying that animals don't feel ANY pain, but just don't have birth pain the way humans do.

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      WileeKattposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      It's a big mistake to answer a child's biology question using the Bible as a reference text.

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