From: altamira (altamira@ecpi.com)
Date: Wed Jun 28 2000 - 15:59:58 MDT
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-extropians@extropy.com
> I wouldn't at first. While I agree that in vitro wombs make excellent
> sense (once the technology is developed far enough) *rationally*,
> childbearing is an intensely emotional, (dare I say it?) spiritual and
> socioculturally enmeshed affair that radical changes of it will at
> best take time.
As someone who has given birth, I'd go for the artificial womb in a
heartbeat (and I'd reccommend it to my daughter as well, if she wanted to
have babies), if I could be sure that the child weren't missing out on any
important aspects of development. Thinking of the research done on baby
humans and non-human primates who were deprived of nuturing bodily contact
during the early parts of their lives, I predict that the period in the womb
will turn out to be significant for the child.
Breastfeeding is another thing entirely. I wouldn't want to give it up. I
found it to be a delightful, sensual experience and, from what I hear from
mothers who use bottles, far easier to deal with than artificial feeding
methods. And apparently it's emotionally good for the babies as well. But
breastfeeding does not require giving birth.
In many
> > cultures, female children are not valued as much as men
> children.
Well now, those cultures may just be...No! I'm absolutely NOT going to
start this particular conversation!
Good bye all,
Bonnie
>
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