Birth and Breastfeeding by Michel Odent

March 12, 2009 by Monica
Filed under Book Reviews

Title: Birth and Breastfeeding – Rediscovering the Needs of Women During Pregnancy and Childbirth

Author: Michel Odent

Review by: Emma

Michel Odent is not afraid to deeply question practices in obstetrics, medicine in general and even our cultures in order to attempt to ascertain what could lead human kind to optimum health. His approach is thoroughly scientific- all his ideas and conclusions he supports with research, yet he has a lovely winding story-telling manner.

Odents main argument in this book is that the primal period (as he calls it) – from conception through to a baby’s first birth is crucial in shaping human health. He covers various topics including humans as mammals and their need for privacy during labour, the foetus ejection reflex, the old and new brain, the history of colostrum and what role oxytocin plays in our world. He looks forward to the “post-electronic era” and discusses why changes in childbirth care are urgently needed.

I had previously read Primal Health by the same author and I shall now try to get my hands on his most recent book The Functions of the Orgasms.

Share and Enjoy: