24/08/2025
Honouring Dr Michel Odent (1930 ā 2025)
This week, the world of childbirth lost one of its greatest pioneers.
Dr Michel Odent, French obstetrician and visionary, passed away at the age of 95 in London.
Odent transformed the way we think about birth. He championed ideas that now feel obvious, but at the time were revolutionary:
- Introducing water birth into maternity wards
- Designing birthing rooms that feel more like home and less like hospitals
- Emphasising the importance of immediate skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding in the first hour after birth
- Exploring the primal health connection ā how the way we are born shapes our physical and emotional wellbeing for life
One of his most quoted insights is:
"To change the world, we must first change the way babies are being born."
Odent also spoke candidly about the role of fathers in the birthing space. He recommended caution, noting that an anxious or unprepared father could unintentionally disturb the calm, safe environment needed for labour to progress.
Far from excluding dads, this perspective actually shows us how vital it is that fathers are well prepared, educated, and confident in their role. When partners know how to support effectively ā calmly, protectively, and without unnecessary stress ā they become one of the most powerful assets in the birthing room.
At Beer and Bubs: Childbirth and Parent Education for Dads at the Pub, we couldnāt agree more. Our mission has always been to equip dads with the knowledge, tools, and mindset to step into this role ā not as bystanders, but as active, supportive partners who help create the safe space Odent envisioned.
As we reflect on his passing, we celebrate his legacy. His work is woven into every childbirth education program, every birth that honours instinct and connection, and every dad who learns how to support their partner in this extraordinary moment.
Thank you, Michel Odent, for helping us reimagine birth.
www.beerandbubs.com.au
