Odent, the leading pioneer for natural childbirth, indicates that the period between conception and a child's first birthday is critical to lifelong health. In this prophetic book, first published in 1986, Odent argues that different parts of the "primal adaptive system" develop, regulate and adjust themselves during fetal life and the time around birth and infancy. Everything that happens during this period of dependence on the mother has an influence on this primal health.

The author suggests that the later well-being of adults, and their ability to withstand hypertension, cancer,...

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 cesarean 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...

"After the historic student revolt in France, a period of audacious creativity resulted. The watchword was: 'It is forbidden to forbid.' We took advantage of this transient cultural folly to do what would have been impossible ten years before or ten years after, introducing into the maternity unit of a state hospital an inflatable outdoor pool as a way to replace drugs during birth." (from the Introduction)

In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Odent starts with the world-famous work on childbirth at Pithiviers (a commune in north-central France), where he first noticed the strong...

What is the future of the human capacity to give birth? What is the future of underused physiological functions? Should we expect an evolution of Homo sapiens in relation to the way babies are born? Can fast-developing scientific disciplines induce a new awareness? In this wide-ranging, interdisciplinary look at the future of birth, renowned obstetrician Michel Odent takes the question 'Do we need midwives?' as a starting point. If a paradigm shift occurs, what kind of midwives shall we need? For how long can we go on neutralizing the laws of natural selection? Are human beings able to raise...

Focusing on obstetrics, this first book about the history of medicine in relation to the plastic revolution asks vital questions about childbirth today - and tomorrow - and demonstrates that the current turning point in the history of childbirth is also a turning point in the history of humanity.