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François Mauriceau (1637 – 17 October 1709) was a French obstetrician.
Life
Born in Paris, he received his training in obstetrics at the Hôtel-Dieu. He was a leading obstetrician in 17th-century Europe — in 1668 he published, Traité des Maladies des Femmes Grosses et Accouchées, a book that helped establish obstetrics as a science. It was eventually translated into several languages. He is also known for development of a classical manoeuvre of assisted breech delivery (Mauriceau-Levret manipulation).[1] He gave a description of tubal pregnancy, and with German midwife Justine Siegemundin 1650–1705), he is credited for introducing the practice of puncturing the amniotic sac to arrest bleeding in placenta praevia.
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In 1670, English obstetrician Hugh Chamberlen tried to sell the secret of a specialized obstetrical forceps to him. Mauriceau became disgusted that the Chamberlen family kept such an important development a secret, and accused the Chamberlens of common swindling.[2] Mauriceau died in Paris.
Publications
- Les Maladies des Femmes Grosses et accouchées. Avec la bonne et véritable Méthode de les bien aider en leurs accouchemens naturels, & les moyens de remédier à tous ceux qui sont contre-nature, & aux indispositions des enfans nouveau-nés... Paris Henault, d'Houry, de Ninville, Coignard 1668.
- Observations sur la grossesse et l'accouchement des femmes et sur leurs maladies et celles des enfans nouveau-nez. Paris, Anisson, 1694.[3]
References
- ↑ Mauriceau-Levret manipulation @ Who Named It
- ↑ "Episode Two Tools of the Trade". Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-04-17. The History Of Childbirth: Tools of the Trade
- ↑ "Francois Mauriceau (1637-1709) and maternal posture for parturition. Archives of disease in childhood, 1991". Francois Mauriceau (1637-1709) and maternal posture for parturition. Research Gate. Retrieved 2019-02-24.