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Birth Without Violence: The Book That Revolutionalized the Way We Bring Our Children into the World
The classic guide to gentle birth that revolutionized the way we welcome our children into the world.
â The first book to express what mothers have always babies are born complete human beings with the ability to experience a full range of emotions.
â Shows how gentle lighting, a quiet atmosphere, and a warm bath allow a newborn to ease the transition from womb to world without trauma or fear.
â New translation overseen by the author himself; also includes a new author preface.
Birth without Violence revolutionized the way we perceive the process of birth, urging us to consider birth from the infant's point of view. Why must a child emerge from the quiet darkness of the womb into a blaze of blinding light and loud voices? Why must an infant take its first breath in terror, hanging upside down as its vulnerable spine is jerked straight? Why must the infant be separated from its mother after spending nine months inside her nourishing body?
Examining alternatives to technocentric approaches to childbirth, this classic text shows us how we can create an environment of tranquillity in which to welcome our a relaxed mother, gentle lighting, soothing atmosphere, and a warm bath that mirrors the child's prenatal surroundings. Dr. Leboyer's simple techniques show us how a birth without violence has far-reaching implications for improving the quality of human life physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
â The first book to express what mothers have always babies are born complete human beings with the ability to experience a full range of emotions.
â Shows how gentle lighting, a quiet atmosphere, and a warm bath allow a newborn to ease the transition from womb to world without trauma or fear.
â New translation overseen by the author himself; also includes a new author preface.
Birth without Violence revolutionized the way we perceive the process of birth, urging us to consider birth from the infant's point of view. Why must a child emerge from the quiet darkness of the womb into a blaze of blinding light and loud voices? Why must an infant take its first breath in terror, hanging upside down as its vulnerable spine is jerked straight? Why must the infant be separated from its mother after spending nine months inside her nourishing body?
Examining alternatives to technocentric approaches to childbirth, this classic text shows us how we can create an environment of tranquillity in which to welcome our a relaxed mother, gentle lighting, soothing atmosphere, and a warm bath that mirrors the child's prenatal surroundings. Dr. Leboyer's simple techniques show us how a birth without violence has far-reaching implications for improving the quality of human life physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
114 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
16 people are currently reading
615 people want to read
About the author
Frédérick Leboyer
48 books11 followersFrédérick Leboyer was a French obstetrician and author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
July 15, 2023
روان و ساده بود و با اینکه توقع داشتم دو سه روزی همراهم باشه ولی تو کمتر از نصف روز تموم شد😁
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خدا رو شکر حداقل از ته گرفتن بچه ها منسوخ شده😅 هرچند کارکنای قدیمی لیبر و استادای سن بالاترمون معتقدن که نه،خیلی هم خوب و مناسب بود😅
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و پایان چالش ۵۰ کتاب گودریدز ۲۰۲۳😁
البته تعدادش رو دوباره تنظیم میکنم و به امید خدا شاید تا ۱۰۰ تا برسونمش😃(البته که کیفیت مهمه، نه کمیت 😉)
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خدا رو شکر حداقل از ته گرفتن بچه ها منسوخ شده😅 هرچند کارکنای قدیمی لیبر و استادای سن بالاترمون معتقدن که نه،خیلی هم خوب و مناسب بود😅
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و پایان چالش ۵۰ کتاب گودریدز ۲۰۲۳😁
البته تعدادش رو دوباره تنظیم میکنم و به امید خدا شاید تا ۱۰۰ تا برسونمش😃(البته که کیفیت مهمه، نه کمیت 😉)
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January 16, 2011
Written by a French doctor, this book is actually poetry, which I did not expect. However, as the birth story is told, new ideas are presented that I will definitely remember. I hope to experience an easy unmedicated birth with this baby as I did with my two boys. From my experiences with the boys, I understand how the birth experience impacts the mother - this book gives insight into what it is like for a baby to leave the womb.
Quotes I liked:
"To be born is to suffer.
Birth is pain...
The nightmare of being born is not so
much the pain as the fear.
For the baby, the world is a terrifying place.
It is the vastness, the enormity or the whole
experience of being born which so terrifies this little traveler.
Blindly, madly, we assume that the newborn baby feels nothing.
In fact, he feels...everything.
Everything, totally, completely utterly,
and with a sensitivity we can't even begin to
imagine.
Birth is a tempest, a tidal wave of sensations
and he doesn't know what to make of them.
Sensations are felt more acutely, more strongly by the child,
because they are all new, and because his skin is
so fresh, so tender,
while our blunted deadened senses have become indifferent.
The result of age, or maybe of habit." (p21)
I like this quote because if you think about personal rebirths as you go through life, they are painful...but with the birth comes a fresh start that is exhilarating. Rebirths can be rebuilding after a relationship ends, after a loved one passes on, or any other life transition...it can even be as simple as letting an old view go and replacing it with the new you...no matter what caused the rebirth to occur, there is pain involved.
In short, everything begins in paradox.
The child was in prison,
and as soon as he's free,
he yells!
This, they say, often happens to prisoners.
We open the cell doors,
and the freedom makes the prisoners disoriented,
goes to their heads!
In fact, they begin to behave as if they missed
their cells, their jail, and would prefer to be locked up
again!
And unconsciously they do everything they
can to find themselves once more safely behind bars!
In the same way, seeing the newborn baby panic-stricken
by his freedom, you feel like saying:
"Why are you crying?
You are absolutely miserable when you should be
rejoicing!
Try and understand what's happened,
so you can enjoy your new freedom!
See how you can stretch yourself'
play and move around!
What are you crying about?"
At that point everything seems to be in a state of
complete confusion, almost impossible to repair.
And yet it is all very simple.
As we shall see.
To communicate we must speak to the child in a language
he can understand, one which doesn't rely on words
and yet may be understood by anyone.
Love.
Speak ... the language of love ... to a newborn!
Why, yes, of course!
How else do lovers communicate?
They don't say anything, they simply touch.
Because they are modest and shy, they shun the
light,
prefer darkness, night.
In obscurity, in silence, they
reach for each other, wrapping their arms around
each other, they re-create the old prison,
in which they feel safe, protected
from the world outside.
Their hands speak,
and it is their bodies that understand.
So this is the way to talk to the newborn:
in silence and darkness,
with gentle but loving hands,
that reassure and move slowly,
and in time with his breathing.
But let us go step by step,
sense by sense as it were.
*******
Fear.
How few of us are aware of how
much unconscious fear there is in our lives!
All this fear linked with the horror which is
birth.
One can only imagine what it would be like to be born
without this fear
or with this fear immediately extinguished like a fire
that's caught before it
gets a hold and becomes out of control.
Yes, if this fear could be extinguished before it can take
hold, how extraordinary life would be for one
so blessed.
The point of this book, of this whole story, is not just
to make birth something nice. It is far, far more
ambitious: it amounts to nothing less than a plan to give
birth to heroes, those extraordinary beings who seem free of
fear, and so can drink fully from the cup of life.
5
A plaguing question was why it seemed no one
was ever concerned about the child's plight, and even
ignored his anguish and despair.
Maybe there is something there that we ourselves do not
want to look at,
possibly because it might awaken something unpleasant
deep within ourselves that we'd rather not know about:
our own fear of death.
Strange, isn't it, that there seems to be such a deep
secret link between birth and death?
It is as if the fear of death, the dark shadow that casts
its gloom over our whole lives, is nothing but the
unconscious memory of... the fear we felt when
we were born.
So that ... but then it's nearly too good to be true ...
one born free of this fear would travel
through life as free as a bird.
Quotes I liked:
"To be born is to suffer.
Birth is pain...
The nightmare of being born is not so
much the pain as the fear.
For the baby, the world is a terrifying place.
It is the vastness, the enormity or the whole
experience of being born which so terrifies this little traveler.
Blindly, madly, we assume that the newborn baby feels nothing.
In fact, he feels...everything.
Everything, totally, completely utterly,
and with a sensitivity we can't even begin to
imagine.
Birth is a tempest, a tidal wave of sensations
and he doesn't know what to make of them.
Sensations are felt more acutely, more strongly by the child,
because they are all new, and because his skin is
so fresh, so tender,
while our blunted deadened senses have become indifferent.
The result of age, or maybe of habit." (p21)
I like this quote because if you think about personal rebirths as you go through life, they are painful...but with the birth comes a fresh start that is exhilarating. Rebirths can be rebuilding after a relationship ends, after a loved one passes on, or any other life transition...it can even be as simple as letting an old view go and replacing it with the new you...no matter what caused the rebirth to occur, there is pain involved.
In short, everything begins in paradox.
The child was in prison,
and as soon as he's free,
he yells!
This, they say, often happens to prisoners.
We open the cell doors,
and the freedom makes the prisoners disoriented,
goes to their heads!
In fact, they begin to behave as if they missed
their cells, their jail, and would prefer to be locked up
again!
And unconsciously they do everything they
can to find themselves once more safely behind bars!
In the same way, seeing the newborn baby panic-stricken
by his freedom, you feel like saying:
"Why are you crying?
You are absolutely miserable when you should be
rejoicing!
Try and understand what's happened,
so you can enjoy your new freedom!
See how you can stretch yourself'
play and move around!
What are you crying about?"
At that point everything seems to be in a state of
complete confusion, almost impossible to repair.
And yet it is all very simple.
As we shall see.
To communicate we must speak to the child in a language
he can understand, one which doesn't rely on words
and yet may be understood by anyone.
Love.
Speak ... the language of love ... to a newborn!
Why, yes, of course!
How else do lovers communicate?
They don't say anything, they simply touch.
Because they are modest and shy, they shun the
light,
prefer darkness, night.
In obscurity, in silence, they
reach for each other, wrapping their arms around
each other, they re-create the old prison,
in which they feel safe, protected
from the world outside.
Their hands speak,
and it is their bodies that understand.
So this is the way to talk to the newborn:
in silence and darkness,
with gentle but loving hands,
that reassure and move slowly,
and in time with his breathing.
But let us go step by step,
sense by sense as it were.
*******
Fear.
How few of us are aware of how
much unconscious fear there is in our lives!
All this fear linked with the horror which is
birth.
One can only imagine what it would be like to be born
without this fear
or with this fear immediately extinguished like a fire
that's caught before it
gets a hold and becomes out of control.
Yes, if this fear could be extinguished before it can take
hold, how extraordinary life would be for one
so blessed.
The point of this book, of this whole story, is not just
to make birth something nice. It is far, far more
ambitious: it amounts to nothing less than a plan to give
birth to heroes, those extraordinary beings who seem free of
fear, and so can drink fully from the cup of life.
5
A plaguing question was why it seemed no one
was ever concerned about the child's plight, and even
ignored his anguish and despair.
Maybe there is something there that we ourselves do not
want to look at,
possibly because it might awaken something unpleasant
deep within ourselves that we'd rather not know about:
our own fear of death.
Strange, isn't it, that there seems to be such a deep
secret link between birth and death?
It is as if the fear of death, the dark shadow that casts
its gloom over our whole lives, is nothing but the
unconscious memory of... the fear we felt when
we were born.
So that ... but then it's nearly too good to be true ...
one born free of this fear would travel
through life as free as a bird.
February 28, 2019
I liked the respect for the baby, and the clever evaluation on what it needs and how it might perceive standar assistance.. but not the viewpoint of the doctor that takes away the baby from the mum to give it a bath. Now we know how important the first two hours are for mum and baby, how to promote a successful breastfeeding during this time, how the instinct of the baby sends him toward the nipple.
But before such knowledge was made public, this must have been an extremely revolutionary text, and it's still very needed.
But before such knowledge was made public, this must have been an extremely revolutionary text, and it's still very needed.
December 2, 2019
كتاب فوق العاده جذاب و آموزنده پيرامون لحظه تولد كه نه تنها براي مادران بسيار مفيد است بلكه مي توان همانند يك رمان جذاب كوتاه آن را مطالعه كرد. نويسنده احساسات مادر، نوزاد، فضاي حاكم بر اتاق زايمان را با ظرافت تمام توصيف مي كند به طوري كه نمي توان كتاب را زمين گذاشت.
March 22, 2021
Man nebija nekādu ekspektāciju sākot lasīt esejas. Vien biju dzirdējusi, ka F.Leboijē sarakstot šo krājumu iedibinājis septiņdesmitajos gados dabisko dzemdību kustību, liekot paskatīties no bērna skatpunkta. Viņa esejās spilgti jūtama ciešanu, sāpju, baiļu klātbūtne. F.Leboijē aktualizē jautājumu vai tik tiešām tā tam jābūt? Viņš saka - var un vajag būt citādāk. Emocionāls darbs, liek domāt nemitīgi un līdzi jušana stīga tiek skarta neizbēgami. Parasti nesaku tā, jo katram savs, tācu šoreiz nevaru citādāk, tāpēc - iesaku!!
February 26, 2024
این کتاب به قدری شیرین بود که نفهمیدم کی تموم شد.
بخونید و لذت ببرید.🤍
بخونید و لذت ببرید.🤍
March 24, 2021
To sa ale našeho dobrodruha netýká.
On je od strachu osvobodzen.
Kráčel od objevu k objevu, od nového k novému s takovou opatrností, tak pomalu, následován s takovou pozorností a tak rozumně, že nebude mít strach z ničeho.
Ví, ze jsme pochopili.
Že jsme ho pochopili.
Ví, že víme, že ví že je tady.
Proto důveřuje.
On je od strachu osvobodzen.
Kráčel od objevu k objevu, od nového k novému s takovou opatrností, tak pomalu, následován s takovou pozorností a tak rozumně, že nebude mít strach z ničeho.
Ví, ze jsme pochopili.
Že jsme ho pochopili.
Ví, že víme, že ví že je tady.
Proto důveřuje.
October 4, 2014
Incredible and profound piece of art. Leboyer describes birth from the perspective of the child as it experiences the trauma of being separated from the omniscient, perpetually nurtured state of the womb to life on earth. This isn't a practical medical text in the same vein as the Mayo Clinic's Guide to Pregnancy, What to Expect or any other mainstream commercial book. It's a story, told from the child's perspective.
Leboyer draws from the Ancient Mysteries and the Classics with language that captures the profound nature of birth - transition, creation, enlightenment - with great love and empathy for the child. This is by no means light, fluffy reading. Anyone with any developed sense of empathy will be deeply moved.
Above all, this is about respect for Nature and respect for the natural process of birth and life.
Leboyer draws from the Ancient Mysteries and the Classics with language that captures the profound nature of birth - transition, creation, enlightenment - with great love and empathy for the child. This is by no means light, fluffy reading. Anyone with any developed sense of empathy will be deeply moved.
Above all, this is about respect for Nature and respect for the natural process of birth and life.
May 28, 2017
Beautiful book that helps you to step back and imagine what it must be like for a baby to be born from the baby's point of view. It encourages giving the child a softer environment when they first emerge from the womb. It had some great ideas in it that I hope to implement in my own birth plan.
November 14, 2020
Skaists, maigs, poētisks, mierpilns stāsts par piedzimšanu. Vannošanu gan es izlaistu un atstātu bērniņu pie mammas.
February 21, 2022
Un piccolo grande capolavoro.
February 13, 2024
Lyrique, instructif, superbes photos
July 9, 2010
This book is by an obstetrician, and I expected it to be much more informative. Supposedly Leboyer came up with different standards and techniques for childbirth, but this does not present them in any sort of concise or logical way.
It seemed like the main force of his effort was to be artsy and poetic, and his main idea seems to be that babies feel excruciating pain at birth.
He has a few logical ideas, but any other book on natural childbirth would probably present them better.
Birth into water is the most unusual, but is now becoming slightly more mainstream, especially since it does wonderful things for the mother's pain during labor. Good luck finding actual water birth available unless you do home birth, though.
He also recommends a less abrupt and dramatic transition for the baby upon birth: the room should be dim, warm, and quiet with a minimum of fuss and bustle.
That's basically all the useful information. I actually recommend NOT reading this book for expectant mothers, an overdose on poetic descriptions of pain and increased worry about the baby is NOT what is needed in anticipation of birth.
It seemed like the main force of his effort was to be artsy and poetic, and his main idea seems to be that babies feel excruciating pain at birth.
He has a few logical ideas, but any other book on natural childbirth would probably present them better.
Birth into water is the most unusual, but is now becoming slightly more mainstream, especially since it does wonderful things for the mother's pain during labor. Good luck finding actual water birth available unless you do home birth, though.
He also recommends a less abrupt and dramatic transition for the baby upon birth: the room should be dim, warm, and quiet with a minimum of fuss and bustle.
That's basically all the useful information. I actually recommend NOT reading this book for expectant mothers, an overdose on poetic descriptions of pain and increased worry about the baby is NOT what is needed in anticipation of birth.
February 6, 2011
It was ok, I can't say I liked it though. I did like many bits of useful advice, but the style and tone are anywhere between excessively poetic and nearly offensive. At first, it tried to get on my nerves, but I was alert because my wife couldn't get past the first couple of pages due to the writing style.
However, the content is interesting and useful, it explains things fairly reasonably (makes them easy to understand) but many times it makes me feel I'm witnessing a pedantic hammering ideas into someone who s/he (the pedantic) thinks is all ignorance.
Personally, this book has helped me understand the very natural methods that are common practice in the hospital where my daughter will soon come out, saving me the potential embarrassment of asking why some things are done the way they are.
As little as I may like how this book is written, it's much better than what "school book" doctors seem to consider a "traditional" birth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcHdF1...
However, the content is interesting and useful, it explains things fairly reasonably (makes them easy to understand) but many times it makes me feel I'm witnessing a pedantic hammering ideas into someone who s/he (the pedantic) thinks is all ignorance.
Personally, this book has helped me understand the very natural methods that are common practice in the hospital where my daughter will soon come out, saving me the potential embarrassment of asking why some things are done the way they are.
As little as I may like how this book is written, it's much better than what "school book" doctors seem to consider a "traditional" birth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcHdF1...
December 24, 2009
So here's what this book says:
brand-new babies have feelings
don't bombard them with bright lights or loud sounds
don't cut the chord right away
put them in a warm bath
let all the transitions be gentle
...and that's it.
How is it that these very simple ideas could be cotton-candied out into a whole book of goopy sloppy oozy prose? "Yes, this hell exists. And burns. It is not a fable... it's flames assail the child from every direction; they burn the eyes, the skin, penetrate down through the flesh; they devour." p20. Bleh!
The best part is the pictures of the cute newborns. And the fact that the book only takes half an hour to read.
brand-new babies have feelings
don't bombard them with bright lights or loud sounds
don't cut the chord right away
put them in a warm bath
let all the transitions be gentle
...and that's it.
How is it that these very simple ideas could be cotton-candied out into a whole book of goopy sloppy oozy prose? "Yes, this hell exists. And burns. It is not a fable... it's flames assail the child from every direction; they burn the eyes, the skin, penetrate down through the flesh; they devour." p20. Bleh!
The best part is the pictures of the cute newborns. And the fact that the book only takes half an hour to read.
January 1, 2019
Būtiskas informācijas bagāta un emocionāli spēcīga lasāmviela ikvienam, kam ir interese par to,ko piedzīvo cilvēks nākot pasaulē un savas dzīves pirmajos brīžos.
November 9, 2022
Le thème est très intéressant (ce que peuvent ressentir les bébés à la naissance et comment leur assurer une venue au monde moins violente et plus respectueuse de leur personne), mais je n'ai pas supporté l'écriture du livre. Certaines personnes seront sensibles à ce côté poétique, surprenant de la part d'un médecin, mais moi, c'est ce qui m'a profondément horripilée.
Les informations transmises par le livre gagneraient selon moi à s'appuyer sur des sources scientifiques plutôt que la seule opinion de l'auteur, ce qui tend à les discréditer (et c'est dommage) et à être développées (à l'heure actuelle, le contenu du livre pourrait tenir sur une page, tant le reste n'est que blabla pseudo-poétique).
Par ailleurs, le texte est parfois d'un sexisme et d'un paternalisme crasses (l'insupportable supériorité du médecin qui sait, face à ces gourdes de mères qui croient leur enfant mort.e parce que celui- ou celle-ci ne pleure pas immédiatement après la naissance...). On peut mettre ça sur le compte de l'époque (le texte original a été écrit dans les années 70s), mais ça donne quand même envie de régulièrement jeter le livre par la fenêtre.
Les informations transmises par le livre gagneraient selon moi à s'appuyer sur des sources scientifiques plutôt que la seule opinion de l'auteur, ce qui tend à les discréditer (et c'est dommage) et à être développées (à l'heure actuelle, le contenu du livre pourrait tenir sur une page, tant le reste n'est que blabla pseudo-poétique).
Par ailleurs, le texte est parfois d'un sexisme et d'un paternalisme crasses (l'insupportable supériorité du médecin qui sait, face à ces gourdes de mères qui croient leur enfant mort.e parce que celui- ou celle-ci ne pleure pas immédiatement après la naissance...). On peut mettre ça sur le compte de l'époque (le texte original a été écrit dans les années 70s), mais ça donne quand même envie de régulièrement jeter le livre par la fenêtre.
August 7, 2017
Pewnej nocy nie mogłam spać i zabrałam się za czytanie tej książki, kupionej na wyprzedaży. Zaciekawiła mnie, ponieważ byłam w ciąży, ale byłam nastawiona do całej idei sceptycznie - narodziny z perspektywy dziecka, które nic nie rozumie? I właśnie o to się w książce rozchodzi - to, że noworodek nie rozumie, nie znaczy, że nie czuje... Przeczytałam jednym tchem i dzięki tej lekturze poczułam przedsmak tego, czego później doświadczyłam na porodówce. Warto wsłuchiwać się w potrzeby małego człowieka. Trudno to zrozumieć, póki się żadnego nie pozna, ale kiedy już trzyma się w ramionach bezbronne dzieciątko, punkt widzenia się zmienia (szczególnie, jeśli to twoje własne dziecko).
Książka dla tych, których fascynuje fenomen narodzin, obojętnie czy chcą zostać rodzicami czy nie. Polecam przeczytać, żeby rozumieć więcej.
Książka dla tych, których fascynuje fenomen narodzin, obojętnie czy chcą zostać rodzicami czy nie. Polecam przeczytać, żeby rozumieć więcej.
January 5, 2022
Jāņem vērā, ka grāmata savā laikā (70.gadi) bijusi revolucionāra, parādot dzimšanu no bērna perspektīvas, mēģinot veicināt dziļāku empātiju un izpratni par to, ka bērns izjūtas ir daudzkārt spēcīgākas kā tajā laikā uzskatīja - ka viņš īstenībā visu saprot, dzird, redz un sajūt.
Pamatā ir uzskats, ka piedzimšana bērnam ir bezgalīgas mokas, bailes un ciešanas, kuras ar savu darbību vēl vairāk pastiprina neiejūtīgais un nevērīgais medicīnas personāls. Laimīgs mazulis piedzimst klusējot un smaidot, nevis ar kliedzienu un saspringtu seju.
Gribētos domāt, ka mūsdienās tomēr daudz kas ir mainījies, bērnus pēc dzimšanas netur aiz kājām gaisā un neliek un aukstiem metāla svariem, tāpat arī gribētos domāt, ka personāls nav viscaur naidīgas un nevērīgas attieksmes pilns.
Pamatā ir uzskats, ka piedzimšana bērnam ir bezgalīgas mokas, bailes un ciešanas, kuras ar savu darbību vēl vairāk pastiprina neiejūtīgais un nevērīgais medicīnas personāls. Laimīgs mazulis piedzimst klusējot un smaidot, nevis ar kliedzienu un saspringtu seju.
Gribētos domāt, ka mūsdienās tomēr daudz kas ir mainījies, bērnus pēc dzimšanas netur aiz kājām gaisā un neliek un aukstiem metāla svariem, tāpat arī gribētos domāt, ka personāls nav viscaur naidīgas un nevērīgas attieksmes pilns.
December 28, 2020
This book was certainly important when it was written, but I don't think it aged well at all.
The author tries to imagine gestation and birth from the point of view of the baby and comes up with a horror tale of "pure hate" towards the mother, deep fear and desperation - and this is when everything goes normally and naturally. I guess he wasn't aware of the role of oxitocin during birth? Or maybe he just never heard any positive birth story told by a woman who felt deeply connected with her baby during birth, and who could counter his idea of birth as a "fight for life between woman and baby"?
The author tries to imagine gestation and birth from the point of view of the baby and comes up with a horror tale of "pure hate" towards the mother, deep fear and desperation - and this is when everything goes normally and naturally. I guess he wasn't aware of the role of oxitocin during birth? Or maybe he just never heard any positive birth story told by a woman who felt deeply connected with her baby during birth, and who could counter his idea of birth as a "fight for life between woman and baby"?
March 11, 2025
"Questo momento fragile, impercettibile, voi, con le vostre mani rozze, non dovete toccarlo, senza capire"
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Il libro più consigliato ai corsi preparto, oggi considerato un must, ma al tempo un vero e proprio testo rivoluzionario. Non troppi anni fa si credeva che i neonati non sentissero dolore, si è lavorato per rendere il parto meno traumatico per la madre ma invece che ne è del suo bambino, abituato a stare accomodato in un ambiente ovattato che con la nascita si trova catapultato in un mondo di estrema - insopportabile - libertà, freddo, rumore, luci accecanti? Oggi sembra banale, ma con il pensiero agli anni in cui è stato scritto non si può davvero non commuoversi di fronte all'intuizione amorevole di questo bravo medico, che si è piegato all'altezza dei suoi piccoli pazienti per osservarli e capirli intimamente.
"Ecco. Tutto è pronto: penombra, silenzio, raccoglimento. Il tempo si è fermato. Il bambino può giungere".
.
Il libro più consigliato ai corsi preparto, oggi considerato un must, ma al tempo un vero e proprio testo rivoluzionario. Non troppi anni fa si credeva che i neonati non sentissero dolore, si è lavorato per rendere il parto meno traumatico per la madre ma invece che ne è del suo bambino, abituato a stare accomodato in un ambiente ovattato che con la nascita si trova catapultato in un mondo di estrema - insopportabile - libertà, freddo, rumore, luci accecanti? Oggi sembra banale, ma con il pensiero agli anni in cui è stato scritto non si può davvero non commuoversi di fronte all'intuizione amorevole di questo bravo medico, che si è piegato all'altezza dei suoi piccoli pazienti per osservarli e capirli intimamente.
"Ecco. Tutto è pronto: penombra, silenzio, raccoglimento. Il tempo si è fermato. Il bambino può giungere".
January 30, 2025
La delicatezza e umanità che emanano le parole di Laboyer sono un vero regalo per tutti noi, non solo perché ci insegnano quanto è importante la consapevolezza del tocco umano, del contatto e della coscienza con cui noi vi muoviamo e tocchiamo gli altri esseri umani, ma di quanto questo incida soprattutto nei neonati, dove dopo l'udito il senso più sviluppato è proprio il contatto.
Di quanto sia importante toccare con mani attente e consapevoli e di quanto tutto venga trasmesso attraverso questo canale.
Di quanto sia importante toccare con mani attente e consapevoli e di quanto tutto venga trasmesso attraverso questo canale.
December 9, 2025
Iesaku izlasīt katram vecākam, kas ir sava bērna gaidībās. Lasot gramatu, nevarēju vien beigt smaidīt un pateikties Dievam par manu brīnišķīgo iespēju piedzīvot 6 fantastiskas dzemdības no kurām man nekad nav bijis bail. Pustumsa, klusums, miers, pārliecība par sevi, lūgšanas, slavēšana un pateicība par gaidāmo mazuli, blakus mīļotais cilvēks, Dievs un stūrītī vecmāte ir mans dzemdību stāsts. Pret "veco laiku" sistēmas taktiku nemaz nerunāsim... Sirds sažņaudzas un gribas iekliegties: Ko Jūs darāt? Jā, un bērni visu jūt, redz un dzird!
April 10, 2019
A fine book that helps us understand the perspective of a baby going through birth. Even if it’s not completely accurate, and who knows if it is, It’s a good starting point to at least think about the baby’s perspective, and how we can alleviate the dramatic experience it goes through during birth.
As for the author, he represents a kind of doctor that no longer exists: cultured, aware, astute and not just hyperspecialized.
As for the author, he represents a kind of doctor that no longer exists: cultured, aware, astute and not just hyperspecialized.
August 7, 2022
Em pouco menos de 2h, entre GRU e BSB, li este que é um choque de terrores e amores sobre o nascer. Nascer é nosso primeiro trauma, é sabido. Vir ao mundo sempre será um trauma, mas dá para nascer sorrindo, com cuidado as crianças podem chegar em melhores condições. Meu filho, Nicolas, chegará melhor do que eu cheguei, parte a este livro, e todos aqueles profissionais que o leram.
August 18, 2025
Such an influential book in my life .. as I gave birth at home to my first child and deleted the preconceptions about giving birth in a male dominated medicalised world .. Alicia is special and still at 30 I can see how she operates .. I really believe birth and pregnancy are pre conditions that prepare our children for a better world .. whatever place they take in it ..
April 26, 2020
Première partie un peu difficile à lire. Peut être parce que je suis proche de l'accouchement et que ça m'a vraiment touché. La suite est plus agréable. Ce livre se lit en quelques heures et est tout de même intéressant lorsque l'on cherche à avoir un accouchement physiologique.
April 19, 2021
Jāizlasa visiem, kas piedalās dzemdībās - vecmātēm, ārstiem, dūlām, jaunajām māmiņām un tētiem. Ļoti viegli lasāma un ļauj paraudzīties uz to cik milzīga ietekme visai cilvēka dzīvei ir viņa piedzimšanas piedzīvojums. Patika!
January 13, 2025
Poetic, beautiful introduction to the concept of gentle birth. I'm not sold on the idea of water immersion immediately after birth, but I agree with most of the other suggestions. An early visionary work - short and sweet, definitely worth a read.
December 7, 2025
Caldamente consigliato dall'ostetrica che tiene il nostro corso preparto: sembra di leggere un racconto per bambini, scritto da bambini. Meraviglioso, penso me lo metterò nella borsa per il travaglio, come amuleto e promemoria ♥️
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