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Geburt und Stillen. Über die Natur elementarer Erfahrungen.
A pioneer in the childbirth movement for 30 years, Michel Odent focuses on birth and breastfeeding and suggests some startling conclusions. The Nature of Birth and Breastfeeding has as its premise that in order to gain a truer understanding of the human experience, we must examine the way other mammals function during birth, breastfeeding, and parenting. Odent points out some habitual procedures which becloud the approaches to childbirth in Western society. On the one hand, privacy and minimal intervention are key to the ideal birth environment, yet hospitals and the advent of high-tech obstetrics often dictate the opposite, with a result of higher cesarean and morbidity rates.
Odent uncovers another irony--the proven need of mother and infant to receive support for an extensive period of breastfeeding may actually be endangered by the nuclear monogamous family structure. The necessity of allowing women to follow their instincts during labor, birth and breastfeeding is documented by Odent's studies of innate childbirth reactions in various cultures and traditions. The author successfully describes the medical, physiological, social, and emotional rationale behind the need to follow nature's design more closely. Expectant parents, childbirth professionals, psychologists, and all those concerned with our kinship to Mother Earth will find this a provocative and visionary book, which challenges many of our accepted social policies. With "The Nature of Birth and Breastfeeding" we are closer to the day when, as Dr. Odent puts it the cesarean section will become a rare and wonderful rescue operation, and the now-common terms such as support, assistance, and coaching may find themselves outdated.
Odent uncovers another irony--the proven need of mother and infant to receive support for an extensive period of breastfeeding may actually be endangered by the nuclear monogamous family structure. The necessity of allowing women to follow their instincts during labor, birth and breastfeeding is documented by Odent's studies of innate childbirth reactions in various cultures and traditions. The author successfully describes the medical, physiological, social, and emotional rationale behind the need to follow nature's design more closely. Expectant parents, childbirth professionals, psychologists, and all those concerned with our kinship to Mother Earth will find this a provocative and visionary book, which challenges many of our accepted social policies. With "The Nature of Birth and Breastfeeding" we are closer to the day when, as Dr. Odent puts it the cesarean section will become a rare and wonderful rescue operation, and the now-common terms such as support, assistance, and coaching may find themselves outdated.
151 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
99 people are currently reading
617 people want to read
About the author
Michel Odent
121 books83 followersFor several decades Michel Odent has been instrumental in influencing the history of childbirth and health research.
As a practitioner he developed the maternity unit at Pithiviers Hospital in France in the 1960s and '70s. He is familiarly known as the obstetrician who introduced the concept of birthing pools and home-like birthing rooms. His approach has been featured in eminent medical journals such as Lancet, and in TV documentaries such as the BBC film Birth Reborn. With six midwives he was in charge of about one thousand births a year and could achieve ideal statistics with low rates of intervention. After his hospital career he practiced home birth.
As a researcher he founded the Primal Health Research Center in London (UK), which focuses upon the long-term consequences of early experiences. An overview of the Primal Health Research data bank ( www.birthworks.org/primalhealth) clearly indicates that health is to a great extent shaped during the primal period (from conception until the first birthday). It also suggests that the way we are born has long-term consequences in terms of sociability, aggressiveness or, otherwise speaking, capacity to love.
Michel Odent has developed a preconceptional program (the "accordion method") in order to minimize the effects of intrauterine and milk pollution by synthetic fat soluble chemicals such as dioxins, PCBs, etc. His other research interests are the non-specific long term effects on health of early multiple vaccinations.
Author of approximately 50 scientific papers, Odent has 11 books published in 21 languages to his name. In his books he developed the art of turning traditional questions around, looking at the question of “how to develop good health” rather than at that of “how to prevent disease”, and at the question of “how the capacity to love develops”, rather than at that of “how to prevent violence”. His books The Scientification of Love and The Farmer and the Obstetrician raise urgent questions about the future of our civilizations. His latest book ('The Caesarean') has been published in April 2004.
As a practitioner he developed the maternity unit at Pithiviers Hospital in France in the 1960s and '70s. He is familiarly known as the obstetrician who introduced the concept of birthing pools and home-like birthing rooms. His approach has been featured in eminent medical journals such as Lancet, and in TV documentaries such as the BBC film Birth Reborn. With six midwives he was in charge of about one thousand births a year and could achieve ideal statistics with low rates of intervention. After his hospital career he practiced home birth.
As a researcher he founded the Primal Health Research Center in London (UK), which focuses upon the long-term consequences of early experiences. An overview of the Primal Health Research data bank ( www.birthworks.org/primalhealth) clearly indicates that health is to a great extent shaped during the primal period (from conception until the first birthday). It also suggests that the way we are born has long-term consequences in terms of sociability, aggressiveness or, otherwise speaking, capacity to love.
Michel Odent has developed a preconceptional program (the "accordion method") in order to minimize the effects of intrauterine and milk pollution by synthetic fat soluble chemicals such as dioxins, PCBs, etc. His other research interests are the non-specific long term effects on health of early multiple vaccinations.
Author of approximately 50 scientific papers, Odent has 11 books published in 21 languages to his name. In his books he developed the art of turning traditional questions around, looking at the question of “how to develop good health” rather than at that of “how to prevent disease”, and at the question of “how the capacity to love develops”, rather than at that of “how to prevent violence”. His books The Scientification of Love and The Farmer and the Obstetrician raise urgent questions about the future of our civilizations. His latest book ('The Caesarean') has been published in April 2004.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
May 18, 2020
Su perspectiva sobre el parto, como obstetra, es revolucionaria y de lógica aplastante.
Por destacar algo que no se suele mencionar mucho en referencia a este libro, hace una reflexión brillante acerca del impacto que tiene la forma en que nacemos sobre cómo vivimos en este planeta y cómo tratamos nuestro entorno natural.
Deseando leer algo más de este autor.
Por destacar algo que no se suele mencionar mucho en referencia a este libro, hace una reflexión brillante acerca del impacto que tiene la forma en que nacemos sobre cómo vivimos en este planeta y cómo tratamos nuestro entorno natural.
Deseando leer algo más de este autor.
March 21, 2023
Tiene partes muy interesantes, partes en las que profundiza para mi gusto en exceso y otras en las que se va por las ramas como con la lactancia y la poligamia...no me ha terminado de convencer, y no lo veo un libro imprescindible.
September 15, 2024
Love Dr. Odent's take of birth, it seems the most logical philosophy and approach to something that is natural and not a sickness or affliction.
August 26, 2010
Amazing book. must read for all mothers or birth professionals!
June 3, 2012
Very interesting questions raised.
June 14, 2021
Libro que nos acerca a todo aquello que hemos dejado atrás y que nos separa de nuestra naturaleza mamífera. Con evidencia científica nos habla de los beneficios de volver a nuestras raíces en el parto y la crianza, de la necesidad de privacidad, del silencio, la penumbra, de la desinhibición natural, del canto y los gritos, hormonas, del piel con piel y la lactancia materna, entre otras cosas. Los partos cada vez más medicalizados nos separan de nuestro origen, del parto natural para el que todas las mamíferas estamos preparadas.
October 13, 2025
This is an interesting book that unfortunately disorientates the reader from time to time. The author shares very insightful facts, but often jumps from one topic to another in a rather chaotic and unstructured way, making this book (in my view) not suitable for those who are after an entry book into motherhood/ pregnancy. It is however a good and quick-to-read complement for those who are already in the topic and interested in the the core of what makes us human and our capacity (and benefits) to birthing naturally.
December 27, 2024
mind-blowing. Una vez más los hombres lo destrozan todo. De hecho, me sorprendió que esté escrito por uno, pero lo aceptaremos entre las girlypops, se lo merece. Ya lo decía Macaco (gracias x tantos festivales del cole): "volver al origen no es retroceder." La sobre medicalización de la maternidad, la conexión con el cuerpo, la restauración de la confianza en el instinto maternal, incluso religión (muy bien tratada) desde un pov científico pero que se puede entender perfectamente si no eres del field. Estupendo.
July 20, 2020
Capital. Pour comprendre bébé. Pour comprendre une femme qui accouche.
November 22, 2020
Debería leerlo cualquier ser que se sienta en sintonía con el bienestar humano
February 9, 2021
El bebé es un mamífero
Maravilloso libro acerca del parto. Pero más allá. De la relación entre la madre y su bebé y de todos los procesos relacionados a ella.
Maravilloso libro acerca del parto. Pero más allá. De la relación entre la madre y su bebé y de todos los procesos relacionados a ella.
February 17, 2021
Muy bueno para "defender" nuestra parte mamífera en una sociedad cada vez más adultocéntrica y egoísta.
April 15, 2022
Forma però...
May 2, 2023
Just beautiful, EVERYONE should read this book. A must ! ❤️❤️
January 24, 2024
A lire avant d'accoucher !
January 5, 2025
Para mí, maravilloso haber podido descubrir a este obstetra.
January 10, 2025
El primer libro que cada mujer embarazada debería leerse. Increíble, como todo el trabajo de Dr. Michel Odent
January 31, 2025
Súper necesario e interesante.
August 3, 2025
Bien, pero se le va la pinza demasiadas veces.
June 20, 2020
I am due to give birth during the Covid 19 pandemic in Italy and will not be allowed to have my husband present at birth or visit the hospital. So, I was searching for an expert voice on the subject of having the partner in the room for childbirth when I came across this work by acclaimed obstetrician Michel Odent. Fortunately, Odent makes a sound, well grounded argument about the benefits of giving birth in private without a partner present.
Odent discusses child birth in comparison to other mammals and the historical and anthropological factors that have shaped childbirth practices around the world. He critically analyses modern technology and routine practices for child birth and pregnancy and argues many standard procedures have become normalised as the technology has become available but are not necessarily needed or effective. He advocates for each pregnancy to be looked at individually and of the important role of midwives.
A thought provoking and interesting read for medical professionals and anyone interested in birth, the body, anthropology, philosophy and sociology.
Odent discusses child birth in comparison to other mammals and the historical and anthropological factors that have shaped childbirth practices around the world. He critically analyses modern technology and routine practices for child birth and pregnancy and argues many standard procedures have become normalised as the technology has become available but are not necessarily needed or effective. He advocates for each pregnancy to be looked at individually and of the important role of midwives.
A thought provoking and interesting read for medical professionals and anyone interested in birth, the body, anthropology, philosophy and sociology.
August 23, 2011
I wouldn't say it was amazing as it's not that type of book but it's a must read for those who are interested in childbirth. It was opened my eyes to a few things about myself that I couldn't give a proper answer to.
I thought it was extremely good & surprised it took me so long to read it but I wanted to soak it all in.
I thought it was extremely good & surprised it took me so long to read it but I wanted to soak it all in.
April 30, 2017
Réédition d'un ancien livre de Michel Odent, parlant de la physiologie de l'accouchement et de la maternité plus généralement, de l'importance de respecter cette physiologie. Vraiment intéressant, surtout en ce moment, où l'on questionne notre façon d'enfanter de manière souvent (trop) médicalisée.
June 25, 2008
Many concepts in this book helped me to birth Tennyson naturally.
July 4, 2008
Really interesting book... Wish I'd read it before I even thought about having kids.
June 17, 2009
Excellent book. I learned a lot about the importance of privacy and birth being undisturbed, and how this affects the baby and mother.
December 15, 2012
Really interesting read, I really enjoyed this book. Ready for the colostral revolution.
June 24, 2013
For me the value of this book lies in the excellent first 6 chapters. They alone make reading the book worth it when preparing for birth.
March 12, 2018
Vuelvo a reforzar el concepto de la intimidad en el parto, me llamó la atención la comparación con el comportamiento de los gatos.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 27, 2014
Es un buen libro para conocer otras maneras de dar a luz, no muy en boga en nuestro país, pero a ratos es un poco dogmático.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews