Entering the World

Michel Odent, a leading figure in the natural childbirth movement, explains the techniques used at his Pithiviers (France) hospital where he was in charge of the surgical and maternity units for 25 years. His many achievements include introducing he concepts of birthing rooms, birthing pools, and singing sessions for pregnant women. He has stressed the importance of breast-feeding and was the first to publish on the application of the Gate control theory of pain to obstetrics.