In a new book by a leading obstetrician who pioneered the use use of birthing pools in hospital, Michel Odent states that women risk being unable to give birth naturally or to breastfeed their babies in the future.
In the book, Do We Need Midwives?, Michel Odent disputes that childbirth has become overly medicalised. There are large numbers of expecting mothers who are given drugs and surgery in labour. This ultimately put women at risk of being able to give birth without any aid or relief.
Odent also provides evidence that women taking longer in labour, compared to 50 years ago. Michel Ordent also cites research which display how women who gave birth between 2002 and 2008 took 2 ½ hours longer in the first stage of labour, in comparison to those who gave birth during 1959 to 1966.
