Episode 399
Some aspects of childbirth have remained surprisingly mysterious – and scientists haven鈥檛 been able to agree on what actually kicks off the labour process. But they鈥檝e finally worked out what鈥檚 going on – and the discovery could turn birth into a much more predictable occasion.
The labour process in humans is much more complex than in other mammals. But researchers have now worked out the driving force that kicks it all off is the immune system – a special type of inflammatory macrophage sending mitochondria to the uterus just before birth.
To explain this new discovery and why it might be game-changing for avoiding pre-term births, Rowan Hooper and Penny Sarchet are joined by Australia reporter Alice Klein.
To read more about these stories, visit /
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit