Frédérick Leboyer

• Name — Frédérick Leboyer • Born — 1 November 1918 • Birthplace — Paris, France • Died — 25 May 2017 • Place of death — Vens, Switzerland • Education — University of Paris • Occupation — Obstetrician, author, activist • Works — Birth Without Violence

Leboyer graduated from the University of Paris School of Medicine. His own birth was traumatic and without anesthetics available, his mother had to be pinned down. Leboyer attributes his interest in birth to this experience.

Leboyer is often mistaken as a proponent for water births. Although Leboyer's disciple, Michel Odent, became known for introducing birthing pools in hospitals as an option for lower lumbar pain management. As a consequence, water births were seen as a birthing method that he encouraged. Odent has stated that being submerged in water longer than 2 hours can decrease the progress of labor. Odent developed an effective method of reducing pain in the lower lumbar region. Informed by the Gate Control Theory of Pain, Odent injected sterile water underneath the skin surface in the lumbar region. This technique produced a localized source of pain, which in turn reduced the more severe regional pain women experienced in the lower lumbar region during labor. Because this method of non-pharmacological pain management could be viewed as too simple, Odent introduced the birthing pool which could deliver a similar form of pain management. Many sources mistakenly attribute a belief that humans should birth in water to Michel Odent. He has stated that this option is possible, however he does not promote any method, he only points to information to better understand any method. Leboyer himself was against the idea of waterbirth. Leboyer speaks at length about his philosophy of "birth without violence" in the 1975 documentary Giving Birth: Four Portraits.

Leboyer died on 25 May 2017 at the age of 98.

Frédérick Leboyer was the uncle of prominent French psychiatrist Marion Leboyer.

Frédérick Leboyer was recorded at birth as Alfred Lazare Lévy. The authorities additionally record the heading Frederick Leboyer. His recorded language was French.