Men as Midwives

[meg_bellamy]

well... quite a lot of female midwives have never given birth, it doesn't mean they aren't good midwives, as others have said a cancer doctor doesn't have to have had cancer to be a good doctor. But I also kind of agree with those who have said that they would prefer a midwife who has gone through it. I'm hoping to be a midwife one day and I do think experiencing pregnancy and birth will influence the way I practice, both positively and negatively. I've never met a male midwife (but have met a male midwifery student who was really nice, it was interesting having a male point of view in tutorials) however I have heard of other people who have had really good experiences with male midwives. Of course you want to have someone you feel really comfortable with, and if that person has to be a female then that's fine

 

[jools02]

I had a male midwife for my ante-natal care when I had Sean, but I was already good friends with him as we worked together. If I hadn't known him beforehand I probably would have requested a woman TBH. He was absolutely brilliant. He was extremely knowledgeable, gentle, very caring and understanding. I don't know if I would have been comfortable if I'd had to have any internal examinations or if he had delivered the baby. If we hadn't moved away I would have gone straight back to him this time round.

 

[Fluffy Bunny]

I'm a bit of a prude.

I wouldn't mind a male midwife for booking in appointments and ante natal appointments but honestly think that in the first throws of labour when you are so aware of being given internals and other intimate examinations I would be pretty horrified at a bloke doing it.

Probably once the drugs kick in and labour is established properly I wouldn't mind so much.