Natural childbirth advocate Sheila Kitzinger dies aged 86

Sheila Kitzinger, author and anthropologist, has passed away at her family home after a short illness. Ms Kitzinger was a strong supporter of natural birth, having written many books on the subject, and a firm believer that mothers should be in charge of the births of their babies. Midwives, doctors and mothers are now paying their respects to one of the pioneers of the natural birth movement.

The concept of the birth plan was created by Kitzinger, who was awarded an MBE for her work in the field. She was also a strong advocate for both mothers and midwives, believing that women should be the focus of childbirth, and not clinicians. With books such as the 1962 Experience of Childbirth and Birth Crisis, Kitzinger campaigned hard to empower and educate women across the world. She helped to set up the Birth Crisis telephone help line to support women who had experienced a traumatic birth, and was integral to campaigns supporting home births.

Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives, said:

“Ms Kitzinger had a pioneering and inestimable influence on modern midwifery over the last 40 years. She challenged the orthodoxy of a passive, over-medicalised approach to childbirth, from the 1970s to today, and gave women a sense of their entitlement to choice. A doughty feminist, an influential author, and a committed campaigner, she was a great friend of the midwifery profession, and will be as greatly missed as her legacy will be celebrated.”

Sheila Kitzinger leaves behind a wonderful legacy of freedom and choice for women and a knowledge that passionate individuals have the power to initiate change where it is needed. A powerful campaigner for natural childbirth, home birth and women’s rights, Sheila’s extensive bibliography has had a profound effect on many women and midwives and her tireless work to educate and empower will not be forgotten.

Sheila is pictured right, next to our Medical Advisor, Amanda Burleigh – taken in 2012.

“Birth isn’t something we suffer, but something we actively do and exalt in” Sheila Kitzinger

RCM tribute can be found here