Birthing realization

Today I was able to witness a birth. I watched a man and woman gaze into each others eyes and moan together. I am amazed at the power and skill of the human body.
    In anticipation of this event I watched a National Geographic special on babies. I was shocked to learn about the difference in proportion of the size of our heads compared to other mammals, and even more shocked to learn that a newborn uses 80% of its caloric intake just to operate its brain. The brain of the newborn has not yet discerned what is important information from the abundant stimuli of our world (light, texture, sound). All of the information his brain takes in goes on a super highway. Over the first year of life, the brain starts to discern where to build strong dendrites (nerve pathways) and where to let some atrophy. So much happens in the first year of life!
    When I was living in Hawaii, there was a huge marker on the baby's first birthday. It was when the piko ("place of being centered"....related to soft spot on the head and naval) closed and their unobstructed connection to the spirit world changed. Before this year marker, this giant brain, that is often 1/3 the size of the baby, can do so much at a cost of independence and movement.
   Even with this huge brain that wants to rationalize everything, we need companionship, love and support. And we have animalistic needs. Being with these people birthing their baby in their home proved it more to me than anything. The way they were relying on each other, and the way they roared. Our bodies and brains are so very awesome!