What do you think?
Rate this book
Water, Birth and Sexuality: Our Primeval Connection to Water and Its Use in Labour and Therapy
Known for his pioneering work in natural childbirth the author in this book looks at what water has meant in the past through myths and legends and what it means for us now. He also wrote "Entering the World", "Birth Reborn", "Primal Health" and "The Z Factor".
- GenresNonfiction
156 pages, Paperback
First published October 2, 1990
2 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Michel Odent
122 books84 followersFor several decades Michel Odent has been instrumental in influencing the history of childbirth and health research.
As a practitioner he developed the maternity unit at Pithiviers Hospital in France in the 1960s and '70s. He is familiarly known as the obstetrician who introduced the concept of birthing pools and home-like birthing rooms. His approach has been featured in eminent medical journals such as Lancet, and in TV documentaries such as the BBC film Birth Reborn. With six midwives he was in charge of about one thousand births a year and could achieve ideal statistics with low rates of intervention. After his hospital career he practiced home birth.
As a researcher he founded the Primal Health Research Center in London (UK), which focuses upon the long-term consequences of early experiences. An overview of the Primal Health Research data bank ( www.birthworks.org/primalhealth) clearly indicates that health is to a great extent shaped during the primal period (from conception until the first birthday). It also suggests that the way we are born has long-term consequences in terms of sociability, aggressiveness or, otherwise speaking, capacity to love.
Michel Odent has developed a preconceptional program (the "accordion method") in order to minimize the effects of intrauterine and milk pollution by synthetic fat soluble chemicals such as dioxins, PCBs, etc. His other research interests are the non-specific long term effects on health of early multiple vaccinations.
Author of approximately 50 scientific papers, Odent has 11 books published in 21 languages to his name. In his books he developed the art of turning traditional questions around, looking at the question of “how to develop good health” rather than at that of “how to prevent disease”, and at the question of “how the capacity to love develops”, rather than at that of “how to prevent violence”. His books The Scientification of Love and The Farmer and the Obstetrician raise urgent questions about the future of our civilizations. His latest book ('The Caesarean') has been published in April 2004.
As a practitioner he developed the maternity unit at Pithiviers Hospital in France in the 1960s and '70s. He is familiarly known as the obstetrician who introduced the concept of birthing pools and home-like birthing rooms. His approach has been featured in eminent medical journals such as Lancet, and in TV documentaries such as the BBC film Birth Reborn. With six midwives he was in charge of about one thousand births a year and could achieve ideal statistics with low rates of intervention. After his hospital career he practiced home birth.
As a researcher he founded the Primal Health Research Center in London (UK), which focuses upon the long-term consequences of early experiences. An overview of the Primal Health Research data bank ( www.birthworks.org/primalhealth) clearly indicates that health is to a great extent shaped during the primal period (from conception until the first birthday). It also suggests that the way we are born has long-term consequences in terms of sociability, aggressiveness or, otherwise speaking, capacity to love.
Michel Odent has developed a preconceptional program (the "accordion method") in order to minimize the effects of intrauterine and milk pollution by synthetic fat soluble chemicals such as dioxins, PCBs, etc. His other research interests are the non-specific long term effects on health of early multiple vaccinations.
Author of approximately 50 scientific papers, Odent has 11 books published in 21 languages to his name. In his books he developed the art of turning traditional questions around, looking at the question of “how to develop good health” rather than at that of “how to prevent disease”, and at the question of “how the capacity to love develops”, rather than at that of “how to prevent violence”. His books The Scientification of Love and The Farmer and the Obstetrician raise urgent questions about the future of our civilizations. His latest book ('The Caesarean') has been published in April 2004.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 26, 2024
I've enjoyed other books by Dr. Odent, but this one dragged quite a lot, especially after the 50% mark. Too much statistics,numbers and "cold" facts rather than his usual analysis.
The importance of water for humankind, birth, and babies becomes evident, though.
"The sage who wants to change the world will have to look towards the water"
Tchouang-Tsu
The importance of water for humankind, birth, and babies becomes evident, though.
"The sage who wants to change the world will have to look towards the water"
Tchouang-Tsu
February 5, 2014
i love Michel Odent.
October 11, 2020
Un libro trovato per caso in un cestino nel quartiere dove abito... ma che in pochi giorni mi ha permesso di creare fantastici collegamenti sull’elemento dell’acqua e la femminilità dell’universo.
Iniziando dai vantaggi del parto in acqua sulla vita del feto e della donna, l’autore ripercorre quelli che sono i legami dell’acqua con le emozioni e gli istinti degli esseri umani in quanto animali, fornendo degli interessanti paragoni con altri mammiferi terrestri come le scimmie e marini come i delfini.
Il nostro legame vitale con l’elemento dell’acqua ha origini lontane, vive nel profondo, e secondo Michel Odent determinerà il futuro del nostro pianeta. È con questo messaggio di speranza che l’autore conclude la sua riflessione su questo potente elemento che è in grado di liberare in noi le emozioni più profonde e di abbattere le più restrittive barriere della razionalità, disvelando l’animale che è in noi, restituendoci ai nostri istinti più arcaici.
Iniziando dai vantaggi del parto in acqua sulla vita del feto e della donna, l’autore ripercorre quelli che sono i legami dell’acqua con le emozioni e gli istinti degli esseri umani in quanto animali, fornendo degli interessanti paragoni con altri mammiferi terrestri come le scimmie e marini come i delfini.
Il nostro legame vitale con l’elemento dell’acqua ha origini lontane, vive nel profondo, e secondo Michel Odent determinerà il futuro del nostro pianeta. È con questo messaggio di speranza che l’autore conclude la sua riflessione su questo potente elemento che è in grado di liberare in noi le emozioni più profonde e di abbattere le più restrittive barriere della razionalità, disvelando l’animale che è in noi, restituendoci ai nostri istinti più arcaici.
September 24, 2022
If I could teach the world something, I would teach the substance if this book: “civilization will commence on the day when well being of the new-born babies prevails over any other consideration.”
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews