Natural Childbirth Expert Sheila Kitzinger Dies From Cancer At 86

Many women today are opting for natural childbirth, a birthing procedure that does not involve any types of medications and that may even take place in a home or facility that is not a hospital and with the assistance of a midwife instead of an OB/GYN.

Renowned childbirth expert from Oxfordshire, Sheila Kitzinger, died in her home today after a long battle with cancer. She was 86.

The Oxford University graduate had written over 25 books on childbirth, women's rights and maternity care. She had also recently completed an autobiography that is due to be published next month, according to The Guardian. 

She is survived by her husband Uwe Kitzinger, 86, who noted that she was quite a remarkable woman.

"Until three days ago she was eating chocolates and drinking champagne."

She was born in Taunton in 1929. It was during the 60s and 70s that she prompted the belief that mothers and not clinicians should be able to focus on their childbirth, developing the concept of a "birth plan." 

She worked hard to bring out new information for the natural birth movement, working on extensive research on childhood and midwifery in many different cultures throughout New Zealand, the Caribbean, Japan and South Africa. She also ran workshops on the social anthropology of birth and breastfeeding well into her 80s, according to The Independent.

The couple were married a year after she graduated in 1951 and had five daughters - Celia, Nell, Tessa, Polly and Jenny.

Her autobiography A Passion for Birth: My Life, anthropology, family and feminism, will be published by Pinter and Martin next month.

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