Is having pain when giving birh to a child a consequence of original sin?

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It is written:

“To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.””

I have been taught by some that the fact that a woman has pain when giving birth to a child, is due to original sin.

But I noticed that Genesis says “Greatly multiply (or increase) your pain”. Wouldn’t that suggest that the woman already was designed to have pain but in a lesser degree? I mean otherwise then the wording "multiply’ or “increase” makes no sense right?

I am really looking forward to an answer to this because, some people say that Mary didn’t have labor pains because she was free from original sin. But the argument wouldn’t make sense if the women were designed to have pain anyway (even if in a lesser degree).
 
Genesis 3:16 To the woman he said: I shall give you intense pain in childbearing, you will give birth to your children in pain.

I don’t see apes in the same pain, evolution anyone? 😃
 
I’m not gonna lie, I’ve wondered about this too, most specifically, if its true, would that mean that the fall of man would have to have affected the physical form of women? I mean, they suffer such pain because of the way they are physically built and the physical process of childbirth. If their physical makeup was changed, does that make a difference to our understanding of people pre/post fall?
 
I would say yes…

I have watched farm animals and dogs give birth and unless there is a complication in the delivery it is almost pain free. >> I would suspect if Eve gave birth prior to the fall it would have been pain free… >> Also, it is believed that Mary’s delivery of Jesus was pain free; after all she was conceived without original sin.
 
Since animals do not cry out when in pain, how do you know that animals don’t feel pain during labor.?
 
First you have to believe Genesis. See how everything always leads back to that? I’m staying clear though. 😉
 
I’m not asking a religious question. I am asking how one can tell an animal is in pain.
 
I would say yes from that Scripture from Genesis alone. And then there is this, although it doesn’t specifically address pain:

"And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety."

1 Timothy 2: 14-15
 
No other creature has such a disproportionately huge head at birth.
 
I’m not going to take the Genesis verse quite so literally, but there is a tie in.

Human birth is complicated by the size of the children’s heads relative to the Birth Canal. I’ve heard Dr.'s explain that we are the only species that needs help while giving birth and yes this is more painful.

The tie in is that we are the most intelligent species and able to have an immortal soul and deal with the consequences of choosing good and evil. We fell because we can and do rebel against God.

I believe the apple to be a symbol of sin and this fallen nature while Adam and Eve are real people and this is backed, more on the maternal side, by mitochondrial DNA that is exactly copied (with a few well known mutations) through out all sampled people.
 
Female animals feel pain during birth, ever saw a cat giving birth? I did and she was in extreme pain.
notself said:
Since animals do not cry out when in pain, how do you know that animals don’t feel pain during labor.?
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They do!
Jacob50 said:
It is written:

“To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.””
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Typical Man made desires.
 
coachkfan1 said:
I would say yes from that Scripture from Genesis alone. And then there is this, although it doesn’t specifically address pain:

"And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety."

1 Timothy 2: 14-15
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It appears that Adam was deceived since he ate the apple as well.

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Genesis 3:6
 
Some women have painless births, are they therefore sinless?
Seriously, humans have big heads, and birth canals, while stretchy, have their limits.
 
Let us not forget that 0 can still be “greatly increased.”

Let’s also not forget that just because some animals have pains doesn’t mean that the unfallen human race did. Animals are not mini humans.
 
Jacob50 said:
I am really looking forward to an answer to this…
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Look to the Catechism for the answer.

As we see - even for sins forgiven - there remains consequence. Labor pains, suffering and death.
The punishments of sin
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1472 To understand this doctrine and practice of the Church, it is necessary to understand that sin has a double consequence. Grave sin deprives us of communion with God and therefore makes us incapable of eternal life, the privation of which is called the “eternal punishment” of sin. On the other hand every sin, even venial, entails an unhealthy attachment to creatures, which must be purified either here on earth, or after death in the state called Purgatory. This purification frees one from what is called the “temporal punishment” of sin. These two punishments must not be conceived of as a kind of vengeance inflicted by God from without, but as following from the very nature of sin. A conversion which proceeds from a fervent charity can attain the complete purification of the sinner in such a way that no punishment would remain.
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1473 The forgiveness of sin and restoration of communion with God entail the remission of the eternal punishment of sin, but temporal punishment of sin remains. While patiently bearing sufferings and trials of all kinds and, when the day comes, serenely facing death, the Christian must strive to accept this temporal punishment of sin as a grace. He should strive by works of mercy and charity, as well as by prayer and the various practices of penance, to put off completely the “old man” and to put on the “new man.”
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Also remember that we are being made into new creations in Christ. True, we live in a fallen world and we will struggle with sin and temptation until our dying breath. However, many Christian women have experienced nearly painless births, especially Christian Scientist mothers. This is not due to their own efforts, so no one may boast of how holy they are because of this blessing. But God gives this particular blessing sometimes to help remind us what it means to be freed from original sin by virtue of our baptism. So it is very likely that Mary did have a pain free birth.
I myself have had three natural childbirths, with no medical intervention. And while it is definitely hard work, I wouldn’t call it pain, especially my third one. It is an intense experience, but I have felt very blessed to have never needed or wanted pain medication. During the final moments of preparation for the actual delivery, my mantra was “Jesus, I trust in You!” and the feelings of fear or tension just slipped away.
So, yes, pain in childbirth is a consequence of original sin, but God will sometimes free a person of that pain or fear so that we may learn to boast in the Lord.
 
Jacob50 said:
Wouldn’t that suggest that the woman already was designed to have pain but in a lesser degree?
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No.

Divine revelation informs us the original state of holiness and justice was harmonious. We understood things we now do not. I mean seriously, for us men, women were not a mystery then? 🙂
By the radiance of this grace all dimensions of man’s life were confirmed. **As long as he remained in the divine intimacy, man would not have to suffer or die. **The inner harmony of the human person, the harmony between man and woman, and finally the harmony between the first couple and all creation, comprised the state called “original justice”.
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CCC 376
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I have seen that. But I have worked with a lot of animals and most species don’t make noise when injured. Many do make noise when startled or in fear.
 
Jacob50 said:
It is written:

“To the woman he said, “I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.””

I have been taught by some that the fact that a woman has pain when giving birth to a child, is due to original sin.

But I noticed that Genesis says “Greatly multiply (or increase) your pain”. Wouldn’t that suggest that the woman already was designed to have pain but in a lesser degree? I mean otherwise then the wording "multiply’ or “increase” makes no sense right?

I am really looking forward to an answer to this because, some people say that Mary didn’t have labor pains because she was free from original sin. But the argument wouldn’t make sense if the women were designed to have pain anyway (even if in a lesser degree).
Click to expand...
Yeah, that was the interpretation of the writers of the Pentateuch.
 
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