Do We Need Midwives? Michel Odent on the Importance of Midwifery

Michel Odent is a world-renowned obstetrician and author who has spent decades advocating for the importance of midwifery. Odent believes that midwives play a crucial role in ensuring safe and healthy births, and he has dedicated his career to promoting midwife-led care.

Do We Need Midwives?

by Michel Odent

4.9 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1236 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	144 pages
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In his book, "Birth Reborn," Odent argues that the medicalization of childbirth has led to a decline in the quality of care for women and babies. He believes that midwives are better equipped to provide individualized care that meets the needs of each woman and her family. Midwives are also more likely to support natural birth, which is associated with a number of benefits for both mothers and babies.

There is a growing body of evidence to support Odent's claims. Studies have shown that midwife-led care is associated with lower rates of cesarean section, episiotomy, and other interventions. Midwife-led care is also associated with higher rates of breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact between mothers and babies.

Despite the evidence supporting the benefits of midwife-led care, midwives are still not as widely available as they could be. In many countries, midwives are only allowed to practice in hospitals, which can limit their ability to provide comprehensive care to women and families.

Odent believes that we need to do more to support midwives and promote midwife-led care. He argues that midwives should be allowed to practice independently of doctors, and that they should be given the resources they need to provide high-quality care.

The benefits of midwife-led care are clear. Midwives are experienced, skilled professionals who are committed to providing safe and healthy births. If we want to improve the quality of childbirth care for women and babies, we need to support midwives and promote midwife-led care.

Here are some of the key points from Odent's work on midwifery:

• Midwives are essential to ensuring safe and healthy births.
• Midwives provide individualized care that meets the needs of each woman and her family.
• Midwifery is associated with lower rates of cesarean section, episiotomy, and other interventions.
• Midwifery is associated with higher rates of breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact between mothers and babies.
• We need to do more to support midwives and promote midwife-led care.

Michel Odent is a passionate advocate for midwifery. He believes that midwives play a crucial role in ensuring safe and healthy births, and he has dedicated his career to promoting midwife-led care. The evidence supporting the benefits of midwife-led care is clear. If we want to improve the quality of childbirth care for women and babies, we need to support midwives and promote midwife-led care.

Image credits:

• Michel Odent
• Birth Reconnect

Do We Need Midwives?

by Michel Odent

4.9 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1236 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	144 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE