Babies are able to handle going through the birth process because
A) the baby's sense of touch and pain are not functional until after the baby is born.
B) the anesthetic that is given to the mother during her labor is transferred to the baby and desensitizes the baby to pain.
C) the baby's cardiac and respiratory functions cease when labor begins.
D) the uterine contractions and oxygen deprivation that the baby experiences release stress hormones that prepare the baby to survive.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The uterine contractions and oxygen deprivation that the baby experiences during labor release stress hormones that prepare the baby to survive the birth process. Babies also have a high pain threshold due to the presence of endorphins in their bodies, but they are still able to feel the sensations of pressure and movement during labor. Anesthesia given to the mother during labor is not usually transferred to the baby in high enough amounts to desensitize them to pain. Additionally, the baby's sense of touch and pain are functional before birth, and their cardiac and respiratory functions continue throughout labor.

Babies Are Able to Handle Going Through the Birth Process