Michel Odent
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Michel Odent, MD
Born in France in 1930. Medical studies at Paris University. In charge of the surgical unit and the maternity unit at the Pithiviers state hospital (1962-1985). Founder of the Primal Health Research Centre (London).
- Introduced in the 1970s the concept of birthing pools in maternity hospitals. Author of the first article in the medical literature about the use of birthing pools (Odent M. Birth under water. Lancet 1983; i:1476-77). - Introduced in the 1970s the concept of home-like birthing room in maternity hospitals (Jane Gillett. Childbirth in Pithiviers, France. Lancet 1979; i:894-96). - Author of the first article in the medical literature about the initiation of lactation during the hour following birth (Odent M. The early expression of the rooting reflex. Proceedings of the 5th International Congress of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, Rome. London: Academic Press 1977: 1117-1119). - Author of the first article applying the ‘Gate Control Theory of Pain’ to obstetrics (Odent M. La réflexotherapie lombaire. Nouvelle Presse Médicale 1975 (4):188) - Founded the Primal Health Research Centre (London, UK). The objective is to test the assumption that human health is shaped during the ‘primal period’, which includes fetal life, perinatal period, and year following birth. (Michel Odent. Primal Health. London: Century Hutchinson, 1986)
- Created the Primal Health Research database, the only specialized database compiling studies that explore the long term consequences of what happened during the ‘Primal period’ (www.birthworks.org/primalhealth).
- Created the website ‘wombecology.com’, in order to convince anyone that the most vital form of human ecology is prenatal ecology (concept already included in ‘Genèse de l’homme écologique’. Paris Epi 1979)
- Studies in progress to evaluate the effects of encouraging pregnant women to consume sea fish (Odent M, McMillan L, Kimmel T. Prenatal care and sea fish. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 1996 (68):49-51 and Odent M. Plea for a new generation of research in eclampsia. Clinical effectiveness in nursing 2006; 952: e232-e237)
- Author of 11 books in 21 languages. - Has appeared in documentaries such as the BBC film "Birth Reborn", shown twice in 1982 and once in 2007.
[edit] Publications
In addition to over 50 scientific papers, Odent has published 11 books which have been printed in 21 languages. His books demonstrate his approach of turning traditional questions around: "How do we develop good health?" instead of "How do we prevent disease?" or "How do we develop the capacity to love?" instead of "How do we prevent violence?"
His more recent books include:
- The Farmer and the Obstetrician Published by Free Association Books www.fabooks.com)
- The Caesarean (Free Association Books www.fabooks.com )
- Scientification of Love (Free Association Books www.fabooks.com)
[edit] See also
- childbirth
- lactation
- midwifery
- cesarean
