Michel Robert Fortuné Odent (7 July 1930 â 19 August 2025) was a French obstetrician and childbirth specialist.
Born in Bresles, France, on 7 July 1930, Odent studied medicine at the Sorbonne in Paris and trained as a surgeon in the 1950s. He has been described in The Lancet as âÂÂone of the last real general surgeonsâÂÂ.
Odent died from complications of a stroke on 19 August 2025, in London, at the age of 95.
In charge of the surgical and maternity units of the Pithiviers hospital in France from 1962 to 1985, Odent developed a special interest in environmental factors influencing the birth process. He introduced the concepts of birthing rooms, birthing pools, and singing sessions for pregnant women.
After his hospital career, Odent was involved in home birth, founded the Primal Health Research Centre in London, and designed a database (primalhealthhresearch.com) to compile epidemiological studies exploring correlations between conditions during the natal âÂÂprimal periodâ and subsequent child and mother health. Odent was Visiting Professor at Odessa National Medical University. He received an honorary doctorate from Brasilia University in 2015.
Odent was the author of the first articles about the initiation of breastfeeding during the hour following birth, the first article about the use of birthing pools during labour, and the first article applying the Gate control theory of pain to obstetrics.
In a book published in 1986 (âÂÂPrimal HealthâÂÂ), Odent provided evidence that homeostasis is established during the âÂÂprimal periodâ (fetal life, birth and the months following birth): this is the phase of life when human basic adaptive systems are adjusting their âÂÂset point levelsâÂÂ. Odent later focused on the possible evolution of Homo sapiens in relation to the modern modes of childbirth.
Odent was the author of 17 books published in 22 languages. In his books he constantly referred to the concept of reduced neocortical activity as a key to rediscover the basic needs of labouring women and to make possible a real âÂÂfetus ejection reflexâÂÂ.
His books include: