El bebé es un mamífero

by Michel Odent

Humanity, argues Michel Odent, stands at a crossroads in the history of childbirth - and the direction we choose to take will have critical consequences. Until recently a woman could not have had a baby without releasing a complex cocktail of "love hormones." In many societies today, most women give birth without relying on the release of such a flow of hormones. Some give birth via caesarean section, while others use drugs that not only block the release of these natural substances, but also do not have their beneficial behavioral effects. "This unprecedented situation must be considered in terms of civilization," says Odent. It gives us urgent new reasons to rediscover the basic needs of women in labor. At a time when pleas for the "humanization" of childbirth are fashionable, the author suggests, rather, that we should first accept our `mammalian' condition and give priority to the woman's need for privacy and to feel secure. The activity of the intellect, the use of language, and many cultural beliefs and rituals—which are all special to humans—are handicaps in the period surrounding birth. Says "To give birth to her baby, the mother needs privacy. She needs to feel unobserved. The newborn baby needs the skin of the mother, the smell of the mother, her breast. These are all needs that we hold in common with the other mammals, but which humans have learned to neglect, to ignore or even deny." Expectant parents, midwives, childbirth educators, those involved in public health, and all those interested in the future of humanity will find this a provocative and visionary book.

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting, Science, Childrens, Feminism, Health

Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

For 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.

Reviews

[Gabriela Herrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Susi Frik · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Alexandra_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing book. must read for all mothers or birth professionals!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting questions raised.

[Juli · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5/5

[Marga Luengo · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[JGP · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Maia Apk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trae tematicas interesantes para debatir respecto al parto y gestacion respetadas, asi como de lactancia materna. Sobre los ultimos capitulos se pone raro todo y trae el concepto de poligamia como potenciador de la lactancia…

[Camille Renard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Capital. Pour comprendre bébé. Pour comprendre une femme qui accouche.

[Paulina Nuñez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debería leerlo cualquier ser que se sienta en sintonía con el bienestar humano

[citlali marroquin · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Jeannette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muy bueno para "defender" nuestra parte mamífera en una sociedad cada vez más adultocéntrica y egoísta.

[Helena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forma però...

[Samy Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just beautiful, EVERYONE should read this book. A must ! ❤️❤️

[Sab · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lire avant d'accoucher !

[Lucía Izquierdo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Para mí, maravilloso haber podido descubrir a este obstetra.

[Lisa Tarallo · Rating 5 out of 5]

El primer libro que cada mujer embarazada debería leerse. Increíble, como todo el trabajo de Dr. Michel Odent

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Súper necesario e interesante.

[Romina Rojas Filártiga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bien, pero se le va la pinza demasiadas veces.

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Kelda · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Cecilie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Suzanne Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many concepts in this book helped me to birth Tennyson naturally.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting book... Wish I'd read it before I even thought about having kids.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. I learned a lot about the importance of privacy and birth being undisturbed, and how this affects the baby and mother.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting read, I really enjoyed this book. Ready for the colostral revolution.

[Soledad · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vuelvo a reforzar el concepto de la intimidad en el parto, me llamó la atención la comparación con el comportamiento de los gatos.