André Levret (8 January 1703 in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

– 22 January 1780) was a French

obstetrician Obstetrics is the field of study concentrated on pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. As a medical specialty, obstetrics is combined with gynecology under the discipline known as obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), which is a surgi ...

who practised medicine in

. He was a contemporary of famed English obstetrician William Smellie (1697–1763), and along with Jean-Louis Baudelocque (1745–1810), helped advance the science of

obstetrics Obstetrics is the field of study concentrated on pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. As a medical specialty, obstetrics is combined with gynecology under the discipline known as obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), which is a su ...

in 18th century France. Levret is considered by many to be the most influential figure in 18th century French obstetrics. He is known for his work involving breech maneuvers and

Caesarean section Caesarean section, also known as C-section, cesarean, or caesarean delivery, is the Surgery, surgical procedure by which one or more babies are Childbirth, delivered through an incision in the mother's abdomen. It is often performed because va ...

s. He wrote a number of influential books in the field of obstetrics and attracted students from all over Europe, among them German obstetrician Johann Lukas Boër (1751–1835). He is credited with improving the birth

forceps Forceps (: forceps or considered a plural noun without a singular, often a pair of forceps; the Latin plural ''forcipes'' is no longer recorded in most dictionaries) are a handheld, hinged instrument used for grasping and holding objects. Forcep ...

by adding a "pelvic curve" to the instrument. A classical procedure for assisted

breech delivery A breech birth is when a baby is born bottom first instead of head first, as is normal. Around 3–5% of pregnant women at term (37–40 weeks pregnant) have a breech baby. Due to their higher than average rate of possible complications for th ...

is sometimes referred to as a "Mauriceau-Levret manipulation", named after Levret and physician

François Mauriceau François Mauriceau (1637 – 17 October 1709) was a French obstetrician. __TOC__ 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, ...

(1637–1709). This procedure is also known as "Lachapelle’s manoeuvre", named after

midwife A midwife (: midwives) is a health professional who cares for mothers and Infant, newborns around childbirth, a specialisation known as midwifery. The education and training for a midwife concentrates extensively on the care of women throughou ...

Marie-Louise Lachapelle (1769–1821). He was a member of the Académie Royale de Chirurgie.

Principal works

* ''Observations sur les causes et les accidents de plusieurs accouchements laborieux'', fourth edition, Paris, C. Osmont, 1747–1770. (translated into German)—Treatise on difficult deliveries. * ''Observations sur la cure radicale de plusieurs polypes de la matrice, de la gorge, et du nez''. 1749. third edition, revised and expanded, Paris, 1771—About a radical cure for polyps of the matrix, throat and nose. * ''L’art des accouchements'' etc. Paris, Delaguette, 1753; 1761; 1766. (translated into German)—Treatise on birthing.Bibliography of Levret
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References

''André Levret''
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Levret, Andre French obstetricians 1703 births 1780 deaths Physicians from Paris

Principal works

See also

References