Dr. Grantley Dick-Read was often referred to as the “The Father of Natural Childbirth”. In his professional role as an obstetrician he witnessed and supported women giving birth. He identified that some women in labour suffered pain; whereas other women appeared pain free. He observed many women in labour and tried to identify predictors that made each group different.
Dr. Dick-Read published his first book Natural Childbirth in 1933. His ideas were at first ridiculed, but his second book, Revelation of Childbirth (which was later retitled Childbirth without Fear) was published in 1942, and aimed at a general readership. It became an international bestseller, and it is still in print today.
His hypothesis about the relationship in labour to the Fear-Tension-Pain Syndrome today is the foundation of how we teach the importance of relaxation and breathing in Hypnobirthing classes today.
Dr. Dick-Read's theory is that fear generates the hormone adrenalin, which is the fight-or-flight response. It diverts blood to the major organs mainly the heart, lungs and brain and, in doing so, it reduces the blood flow to the uterine muscles, inhibiting the endorphins and the hormone oxytocin, which are the body’s natural painkillers.
Dr. Dick-Read published his first book Natural Childbirth in 1933. His ideas were at first ridiculed, but his second book, Revelation of Childbirth (which was later retitled Childbirth without Fear) was published in 1942, and aimed at a general readership. It became an international bestseller, and it is still in print today.
His hypothesis about the relationship in labour to the Fear-Tension-Pain Syndrome today is the foundation of how we teach the importance of relaxation and breathing in Hypnobirthing classes today.
Dr. Dick-Read's theory is that fear generates the hormone adrenalin, which is the fight-or-flight response. It diverts blood to the major organs mainly the heart, lungs and brain and, in doing so, it reduces the blood flow to the uterine muscles, inhibiting the endorphins and the hormone oxytocin, which are the body’s natural painkillers.