Male midwives

[lollypoplady]

Just curious, would you feel as comfortable having a male midwife as a female one?

I was induced with DS. When I was Sitting on the ward waiting for something to happen, a huge bloke appeared at my bedside. He held out a hand like a bunch of bananas and said 'hello. I'm mark and I'm going to be your midwife for this afternoon'! I took one look at his massive hands and crossed my legs! He was a lovely bloke but crikey......

no, wouldn't have a problem with it at all. i assume male midwives are trained the same as female?

Other than that, I don't have a problem with male midwives. When I'm in labour, they could bring anyone into the room and I wouldn't give two hoots!

pmsl bucharest!

before birth of dd i'm not sure how comfortable I would have been. But while in the hospital (had to stay in for a while after the birth cos of blood pressure complications) I had a male MW look after me, sit up with me at like 2.30am helping me with bf'ing positions and he was SO kind and supportive and wonderful. I found out later that he'd been at the birth of my friend's dd and we had a little cry together about how wonderful he was!

For me, I really don't think I will mind if it is a woman or a man.

I have had so many problems with my cervix and abnormal smears in the past that half of London and Leeds must have seen my nether regions.

Therefore if a doctor who is male can treat you, then why not a midwife who is male?

I agree it depends on their ability and bedside manner. My community midwife is rather humourless and sour and if I could swap her for a more kind and empathetic male midwife I would.

It does make you wonder why some women become midwives in the first place if they can't even try to be a tiny bit comforting.

I had a male midwife for my second DC and honestly I didn't care - I just wanted someone who knew what they were doing to help me push the baby out. I had a very fast very painful labour and became a bit deranged which included me throwing off all my clothes and ending up completely naked on all fours on the floor - the lovely Steve didn't bat an eyelid and camly covered me with a sheet........

Although he did do that annoying thing that men are told to do in antenatel classes i.e. rubbed my back during contractions. After the 2nd time of doing it and a sharp "please stop doing that!" from me, he stopped!