To not be sure if a 17 year old boy can be in the right headspace to train as a midwife?

[Boysclothes]

I know a few male midwives, all older guys who are nurse converted and are all great. No problem with it at all.

However a friends son wants to be in a caring profession and she has asked me to have a chat with him about becoming a midwife, direct entry so training from next September. She knows a bit about it and thinks the autonomy/quicker progression/pay etc makes it more desirable than being a nurse.

So, I'm just musing here as I know the admissions tutors will make the decision they see fit, but I'm not sure if a just turned 18 year old lad could cope with or make sense of midwifery. It's just so very female isn't it? And if he hasn't got much experience of women, it just seems a bit... I dunno.... Inappropriate, possibly?

I'm going to tell him about the realities of the job but what are your thoughts?

Yes, the can certainly 'share the experience' as you put it. They are, after all, the father of the child. Until Jeremy Kyle proves otherwise in a parallel universe in any case. But 'sharing the experience' is a step back from what a midwife does. She is there to support, of course. But she is also the trained professional in the room, the one who knows what to do if the shit should hit the fan. Note all the 'shes' in that. I guess it's just ingrained in my sexist brain that midwives are female. Again, shoot me.

I don't think many posters have said that a man shouldn't be allowed to become a midwife have they? I have no objections to a man training to be a midwife, my only objection is to personally being treated by one. As long as women are given a free choice and don't feel pressured then I think that's fine.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the resurgence of water births in the West was pioneered by Dr Michel Odent.

Read your own original post to me Basgetti - yes you did, indeed, ask me "who was I to tell blah-de-blah". I responded, quoting you verbatim.
Please keep up.

UpSheFlew - Bang-bang (if only for watching Jeremy Vile)!

"Respecting the wishes of some women who want to have a female midwife is not the same thing as not allowing any man to become one, though, is it?"

No, it's not. And if that's how the cookie crumbles and the way the world's moving, so be it. Doesn't mean I personally have to agree that men should be allowed to become midwives.

And just to throw a spanner in the works, I wouldn't actually refuse to be attended by a male midwife. As I've already stated, I've no doubt they are (or at least should be if they're staring down the barrel of my vaj) capable. I just have a feeling, a belief, a I don't know what, but a something that midwives should be female. It doesn't even matter if they've given birth themselves, although that would be the ideal in my mind.

Up, 'share the experience' was how you put it in your previous post.

Not every man, Evans, must the one who feel more comfortable having a man do it.

The difference is that women are asexually attacked by men far, FAR, more than men are by women.

Haven't you noticed that in airports, at security, you are only allowed to be searched by a woman? There is a reason for that.

Evans that comment was in general about dismissing women, not in relation to a specific poster. But I'm not really interested in getting into a tit for tat argument, for me this issue is too serious and sensitive. I just find the idea that women should be labelled irrational for what I consider to be legitimate feelings upsetting. I apologise if I came across as rude.

OK SomethingOnce, my bad. 'Share the experience' as I put it. Note to self, reread your previously posted drivel before posting any more drivel.

What an outrageous thread!! So it's OK to have an gynecologist, or half a dozen male doctors staring at your vagina through labour, but not a young male midwife?

It is not only midwives who deliver babies. So are gynaecologists and obstetricians also only allowed to be female now, in your world?

Yip, AppleAndMelon. That's pretty much the gist of it.

Ew. No WAY would I let a teenage boy near my privates at a vulnerable moment. Sexism be darned. So inappropriate .

Crossed post with Apple

In my world, gynaecologists and obstetricians don't do what midwives do.

...do what you do do well.

They're all in the same area, in case you hadn't noticed . . .

Yeah, and that area is my flangalina. And I'm telling you now, I want my midwife to be a woman.

And if you're in an emergency situation, and you have a male Ob - will you refuse him? Just in case he might peek at your vag?? Or should he deliver your baby with his eyes shut tight?

Nah, he can have a wee goo. I'm a reasonable person.

Thank goodness for that, at least

Goo means look round these parts by the way. The Land of Sexism, Irrationality and Outrageousness.

For me it isn't just about the birth. I wouldn't want a male midwife at my booking in appointment either, or my check ups or helping me to establish bf or visiting me post natally. I wouldn't feel comfortable discussing my concerns with them. I think they differ from obstetricians in that respect as their role is far more personal and ongoing.

On that note - I'm off to bed. Night-night all!