[patrickwalton]

I would guess that the negative consequences of widespread adoption of full gestation out of the womb would be much worse than the consequences of epidurals and C-sections. There's evidence that epidurals are actually worse for maternal mortality, since the epidural disrupts the natural birthing process, leading moms to need C-sections, which increase mortality. The moms I know have had better, less traumatic and painful, birthing experiences by working with coaches that help them understand and listen to their body through the process.

Being around those moms, especially my wife, it's fascinating to learn about how pregnancy is the foundation of mother-child bonding. So it's easy to see how artificial wombs would be much worse. I guess that's the point of Brave New World, how destructive the loss of that and other bonds is.

[polski-g]

There is no longitudinal effect on "bonding". You are speaking like a religious zealot.

[MrDresden]

> There's evidence that epidurals are actually worse for maternal mortality, since the epidural disrupts the natural birthing process..

That is a bold claim, so please back it up with references to published peer reviewed research.