Frédérick Leboyer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frédérick Leboyer
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Leboyer in 1996
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| Born | 1 November 1918 |
| Died | 25 May 2017 (aged 98) Vens, Switzerland
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| Alma mater | University of Paris |
| Occupation | Obstetrician, author, activist |
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Works
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Birth Without Violence |
Frédérick Leboyer (born November 1, 1918, died May 25, 2017) was a doctor from France who specialized in childbirth. He is famous for his 1974 book, Birth Without Violence. This book helped make gentle birthing methods popular.
One of his ideas was to gently place newborn babies in a small tub of warm water. This is known as a "Leboyer bath." It was meant to help babies adjust to the world outside the womb. He also suggested keeping the birth room quiet, warm, and dimly lit. This was to make the baby's arrival less shocking. Leboyer also believed that newborns should be placed on their mother's stomach right away. This helps them bond instead of being taken away for tests.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Frédérick Leboyer studied medicine at the University of Paris. He became interested in how babies are born because his own birth was very difficult for his mother.
Understanding Water Births
Many people mistakenly think Leboyer was a big supporter of water births. However, he was actually against the idea of giving birth completely in water.
His student, Michel Odent, did introduce birthing pools in hospitals. These pools were mainly used to help mothers manage lower back pain during labor. Because of this, some people thought Leboyer also encouraged water births.
Odent has explained that staying in water for more than two hours can slow down labor. He developed a way to reduce pain in the lower back. He would inject sterile water under the skin in that area. This created a small, localized pain that helped reduce the more severe pain of labor. Odent also introduced birthing pools as another way to help with pain. He states that water birth is an option, but he does not promote any single method.
Leboyer himself talked a lot about his idea of "birth without violence" in a 1975 film. The documentary was called Giving Birth: Four Portraits.
Later Life and Death
Frédérick Leboyer passed away on May 25, 2017. He was 98 years old.
Family Connections
Frédérick Leboyer was the uncle of Marion Leboyer. She is a well-known psychiatrist in France.
See also
- Michel Odent, a French doctor who helped make water birth popular
- Bradley method of natural childbirth
- Pre- and perinatal psychology
