Male midwives

[Magneto]

How many of you would be happy to be cared for by a male midwife during pregnancy/labour? Before I had ds I probably wouldn't have been comfortable with it because I was shy/self concious/naive, but now I really wouldn't care all dignity and decorum was lost on the day ds was born.

I have just been reading this facebook post and a couple of the comments are asking questions along the lines of why would a man want to be a midwife, but I say why not?

Is it really that different to having a male gynaecologist (of which there is an abundance!)?

It would not bother me at all - but I don't have any opinions about people having a preference. Even when I phone my GP to book an appointment i'm asked if I have a preference for a male/female doctor. In the same way - I'm under the impression that I can ask for any caregiver to be changed if they make me uncomfortable - e.g. If I feel they are brusque or unsupportive of my birth choices - though you obviously run the risk of running out of potential staff!

I was a bit unsure too but the male midwife who looked after me on the ward after DC1 was excellent in manner and knowledge.

DC2 was an unplanned homebirth which progressed so quickly the (excellent, female) midwife arrived just in time for his arrival. The male paramedic who helped me through labour was also excellent and I remain eternally grateful to him for how well he dealt with the situation and how safe and focused he made me feel.

I saw a male midwife during my pregnancy and my postnatal care but he didn't deliver DS2. He was lovely and very reassuring when my stitches weren't healing and I had to have a icky swab taken. He was also very pro active birth, pro choice on things such as induction where the baby is not at risk and generally a bit of a hippy on my wavelength. Would highly recommend him to others.

i had a male midwife break my waters with baby no 5, dd, given that three female midwives had already tried and failed, i was just enormously grateful that he managed to do it, i sucked away merrily on the gas and air as he did it and it could have been a frigging elephant breaking my waters for all i cared!

apparently ihad very 'tough' membranes, i was alreayd 5cm dilated but needed my waters breaking to get labour started (was overdue and am allergic to prostin so it has be done by breaking my waters) anyway hwen he broke my waters i gave him a big thumbs up and thanked him profusely

Duckdodgers

A CPN (Community Psych Nurse) isn't necessarily a RGN also. A RMN qualification is a stand alone one although many RGN's have gone on to qualify as RMN's too.
A friend worked as a CPN then did HV training without being RGN.