I have heard it said that most births and most deaths occur at "The Hour of
the Wolf" -- about an hour before first light.  This was in reference to humans.

It is also the case that most farm animals give birth at night.  I'm not
sure what zoo animals do, or animals in the wild.  Anyone know?

At that time of the night, the nocturnal predators have already fed and are
returning to their lairs for daylight, and the diurnal predators are not yet
awake.  So it is the safest time of the night.

In Mali, where women miss periods for various reasons (lactation, sickness,
undernutrition, pregnancy/miscarriage), no one ever knows when the baby is
officially "due."  One woman was so humongous with pregnancy that I
confidently but jokingly predicted twins, to be born late that night.  When
I was right (just a lucky guess), she and her family thought I had special
powers!  The women don't know how long they've been pregnant, or when the
baby is due or overdue, and they just don't worry about it.  The baby comes
when it is ready.  I will admit to hurrying along labor with my first (two
weeks past her due date) by mowing the lawn for 2 hours a night for the 3
nights prior to going into labor, and to hurrying the last one along (two
days past his due date) via endogenous oxytocin production [ :) ], so that
my mother-in-law could be present for the birth.

Kathy Dettwyler

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