If you go back four or five hundred years into the middle ages, you’ll find that medieval people bred like rabbits. They would have as many as twenty children in the hopes that 2 or 3 would live to become adults. Preferably, one was male so that he could inherit the family land. Those that did survive childhood had a much lower life expectancy. Living to your fortieth year was longer than average and 50 was not common. There was little scientific knowledge in medieval times.

The discovery of bacteria and virii was also an incredible step forward in terms of enhancing human lifespans. The use of soap created a remarkable decrease in illness and child mortality. It helped protect us from the “evil spirits” that made us sick, which were really microscopic organisms. Also realize that until the 20th century, life for an infant was pretty dangerous. The mother had other children to watch, boiling pots on open fires (for laundry and food), no child safety gates or cribs, and no sealed bottles from gerber. When mom was working, the baby had to be nearby, even if that was outdoors with snakes and insects.

For a good idea of what life was like then, take a trip to sub-Saharan Africa (pretty much anywhere except S. Africa) and see first hand what life in the non-developed world is like. Homes are filled with children whose parents are already dead because they refused to believe that AIDS or virii in contaminated water is what was killing them. Failure to embrace science because of their tribal customs kills them by the million. Infant and child mortality is also endemic, mainly because of inadequate knowledge. They have no need for a snip snip because ignorance and lack of food and medicine kills them soon enough.

You and I are fortunate. We grew up with a vast body of scientific knowledge behind us. Our view of the world is colored by standing on the shoulders of the giants who proceeded us. Our doctors and the researchers creating the wonder drugs that keep us healthy and strong into our 70th and 80th years have increased the population of the planet not just by preventing death (infant and child mortality) but also by prolonging our lives. If our baby survives the first few months in the womb, it will almost certainly become a reasonably healthy adult that lives a good long life.

here’s my question, at what point on planet earth did the “snip snip” procedure become normal protocal. The thought of that is rediculous, and I realize the thought of having unplanned kids can’t be rough as well…

But come on, they didn’t do this back in the day when the procedure was not around, and they got by…of course they didn’t have dishwasher’s either…

i just dunno about that……