Creating a child is a process which takes a while, depending on the species. Gestation periods vary from animal to animal, for humans, averaging 266 days. Horses can take anywhere from 330 to 342 days for their foals to be born. Sperm whales take an astounding 480 to 590 days to create a newborn. For tigers, however, it is only 108 days on average. This begs the question, which type of growth is better for a baby, whether human or rhinoceros, slow or faster? Well, this isn’t a simple question and cannot be answered with a simple slow or fast but a rather big, it depends.
Humans generally take 9 months for the baby to be fully formed and for the process of birth to take place. This being said, some women have given birth at 8 months, the babies coming out extremely light and fragile, having to spend at least a couple of weeks in an incubator, protected from the world until they are developed properly. Babies, however, which are overdue, can lead to multiple complications for the mother, for example, a very difficult birth. Babies which are overdue gain weight and are much more difficult to give birth to the regular way. A Caesarean is almost always a necessity when a baby is overdue. Either of these two is not an ideal scenario for a newborn, or the mother, who in both cases has to suffer physical or mental stress.
Other Animals and Their Embryos
With other animals, things can get complicated really quickly. Cats, for example, might give birth to their kittens too soon, leaving them even more helpless than they already are. They are born with their eyes shut, meaning that they don’t really get to experience the world with their eyes, which they most certainly use. Kittens who already have to wait for two weeks now have to wait a lot more before they actually open their eyes. That is not good for the kittens, nor the mother.
On the other hand, horses who fail to deliver their foal can get in trouble. The foal can die inside them and cause them to have a sepsis and eventually die, as well. Horses born in the wild experience this, unfortunately. For domestic horses, they have the benefits of having a veterinarian and midwife help them through the process, should they need help.
The Regular Period is the Best
Of the two options, fast or slow, the regular growth period of an embryo is the best kind. Whether it takes 9 months or 15, it doesn’t matter as long as the newborn is safe. Whether born too soon or too late, the newborn will be in trouble, as will the mother. Neither of those is a good option. Gestation periods should last as long as they have, with embryo growth also being with the specified or rather, observed, norm. Embryo growth in petri dishes is another story, for another time.