Jean-Louis Baudelocque
Encyclopedia
Jean-Louis Baudelocque was a French obstetrician who studied and practiced medicine in Paris
. He was born in Heilly
, in the region of Picardie
.
Baudelocque is known for making obstetrics
a scientific discipline in France. He advanced and popularized the methodology of William Smellie
(1697–1763), who modernized obstetrical practices in England in the 18th century. Baudelocque is credited for correcting errors regarding childbirth
and wrote a popular book on midwifery
. He refined André Levret
's (1703–1780) "pelvic forceps
" and constructed a pelvimeter for use in obstetrics. His pelvimeter were anthropometric calipers used to measure external pelvic dimensions. This was to become known as "Baudelocque's diameter". In England, William Smellie created a method for measuring internal pelvic dimensions.
In 1806, Emperor Napoleon appointed Baudelocque as the first chair of obstetrics in France. In this function he was also obstetrician to royalty in Naples
, Holland and Spain as well as France. In this time period, he also became chief physician of Maternité (later named Maternité Baudelocque) where he taught classes on midwifery.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He was born in Heilly
Heilly
Heilly is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Heilly is situated on the D52 road, some northeast of Amiens.-History:...
, in the region of Picardie
Picardie
Picardy is one of the 27 regions of France. It is located in the northern part of France.-History:The historical province of Picardy stretched from north of Noyon to Calais, via the whole of the Somme department and the north of the Aisne department...
.
Baudelocque is known for making obstetrics
Obstetrics
Obstetrics is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy , childbirth and the postnatal period...
a scientific discipline in France. He advanced and popularized the methodology of William Smellie
William Smellie (obstetrician)
William Smellie was a Scottish obstetrician.He practiced medicine before getting a licence, but enrolled later at the University of Glasgow and received his M.D. degree in 1745. After training in obstetrics in London and Paris, he opened a practice in London and began teaching...
(1697–1763), who modernized obstetrical practices in England in the 18th century. Baudelocque is credited for correcting errors regarding childbirth
Childbirth
Childbirth is the culmination of a human pregnancy or gestation period with the birth of one or more newborn infants from a woman's uterus...
and wrote a popular book on midwifery
Midwifery
Midwifery is a health care profession in which providers offer care to childbearing women during pregnancy, labour and birth, and during the postpartum period. They also help care for the newborn and assist the mother with breastfeeding....
. He refined André Levret
André Levret
André Levret was a French obstetrician who practised medicine in Paris. He was a contemporary of famed English obstetrician William Smellie , and along with Jean-Louis Baudelocque helped advance the science of obstetrics in 18th century France.Levret is considered by many the most influential...
's (1703–1780) "pelvic forceps
Forceps
Forceps or forcipes are a handheld, hinged instrument used for grasping and holding objects. Forceps are used when fingers are too large to grasp small objects or when many objects need to be held at one time while the hands are used to perform a task. The term 'forceps' is used almost exclusively...
" and constructed a pelvimeter for use in obstetrics. His pelvimeter were anthropometric calipers used to measure external pelvic dimensions. This was to become known as "Baudelocque's diameter". In England, William Smellie created a method for measuring internal pelvic dimensions.
In 1806, Emperor Napoleon appointed Baudelocque as the first chair of obstetrics in France. In this function he was also obstetrician to royalty in Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, Holland and Spain as well as France. In this time period, he also became chief physician of Maternité (later named Maternité Baudelocque) where he taught classes on midwifery.