Foreword (extract) by Michel Odent
from Childbirth without Fear by Grantly Dick-Read

Michel Odent is best known as the ostetrician who introduced the concepts of birthing pools and home-like birthing rooms. He has published 11 books in 21 languages and recently completed a trilogoy of books, The Scientification of Love , The Farmer and the Obstetrician and The Caesarean . For more information on Michel Odent visit MichelOdent.com

At a time when we are learning so much about the cocktail of 'love hormones' a woman releases when giving birth naturally, a 21st-century edition of this historic – even legendary – book must be warmly welcomed. Today it is urgently important to rediscover the basic needs of labouring women. Grantly Dick-Read, as an experienced practitioner and as an excellent observer, had realised that the focus should be on the need for women in labour to feel secure. He would be fascinated by the way modern physiologists can confirm and interpret his findings. They are now in a position to explain how adrenaline (an emergency hormone released in particular when there is a possible danger) and oxytocin (the hormone necessary to produce uterine contractions) are antagonistic.

All mammals, including humans, share the same basic needs when they give birth. In a wild environment a female mammal cannot give birth while there is a predator around. Thanks to a release of adrenaline – associated with fear – she can fight or flee. She will give birth later, when her adrenaline level has dropped; that is, when the danger has gone and she feels secure.

Today the history of childbirth is at a turning point. Most women have babies without relying on the release of their natural hormones. Many have a caesarean and most of those who give birth by the vaginal route use drugs. These pharmacological substitutes block the release of the natural hormones, but they do not have their behavioural effects. For example, when a labouring woman cannot release her natural oxytocin, she is given a drip of synthetic oxytocin, which inhibits the release of this hormone from her pituitary gland. This intravenous injection will be effective at stimulating uterine contractions, but the drug will not reach the brain: it will not have the effects of a 'hormone of love'. And even if, by chance, a woman has given birth to her baby without any intervention and without any drug, there is a high probability that she will be given an injection of synthetic oxytocin for the delivery of the placenta. In other words her release of 'love hormone' will be blocked just after the birth of the baby. The history of childbirth is in an unprecedented situation. The questions must be raised in terms of civilisation: how will our civilisations evolve after several generations of women giving birth without releasing a flow of 'love hormones'?

Let us hope that a resurgence of the common sense of an experienced and wise practitioner will contribute to induce a necessary positive step in the history of childbirth.

© Michel Odent . All rights reserved.

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