How would you feel about having a male midwide

[Lardlizard]

Just interested in the points of view

I think you're right actually bowl. But then I wasn't given any choice about the female midwife I had with my first baby who was hungover, useless and nearly killed the baby either.

I think ideally women should be able to choose to be assisted by someone they feel comfortable with and have a rapport with - so really, someone they have met before. I dont think NHS resources are up to that though.

I have to say, by the third time, I really didnt give a shit who was there and would have been quite happy to give birth on my own, with someone keeping an eye at the end. Which to be fair is pretty much what he did. I think its more important first time around.

I personally wouldn’t mind, as long as they acknowledged were Male, and that the option was given to me with an alternative if I wasn’t comfortable. But I can completely understand why some women would insist on a female midwife.

No, wouldn’t want a male midwife.

I’ve always stated female staff only on all my birth plans.

Hmm. My midwives checked my stitches, and spent a lot of time trying to jam my boob into my baby’s mouth.. for me, I was more comfortable with female nurses.

Or by midwife, do you just mean for during the birth?

WRT to chaperones, male registrars and consultants regularly came to take non invasive tests (although not intimate examinations) and I was not given the choice to have a chaperone in the room, which was separate to the ward. That did feel a little weird.

It wouldn't bother me. One of my babies was delivered by a male obstetrician, it was fine.

I can see that some women might find it difficult though.

I think I would be ok with it, as long as the person was professional, caring etc.

I would not be ok with a male midwife who 'identified as a woman' though. A male person who believes that they fit in the same category as me because of inner feelings - that view is so very far from my world view. I would struggle to believe that such a person could approach childbirth in an appropriate way.

I had a male midwife when I had my second. He was a beautiful man. I had complications immediately post birth and he was so reassuring and explained everything so well. Even though I'm a HCP myself it's a bit different when it's happening to yourself, I appreciated the time he spent with me and DH.

It's not a thread about inadequate versus adequate MW though,it male v female.

They were not hung over because of their sex,but because they don't value their work highly enough. Male and female ditto.

Would you have a issue with a male gynaecologist

And would you have a issue with a male doctor before you see the midwife

Tbh I actually felt they are better my female midwife just kept telling me she had 5 and didn’t understand why I was making such a fuss’s

As long as they are sensitive then I wouldn’t have a issue

No, I’ve always had female health professionals for anything like that, for personal reasons. Both men and women have a choice on who provides this type of intimate care and most of us should be able to understand why that is. Anyone questioning why women would prefer female midwifes hasn’t been paying attention.

I had a male community midwife for both my pregnancies. He is fab and has looked after generations of women in my area.

Generally I would always prefer a female one because giving birth is such an intimate, emotional time and I can connect more easily to a woman than a man, generally speaking. I do get that a midwife could be an absolute dragon with absolutely no sensitivity and a man could be highly sensitive and caring, so it's down to the individual.

I used to work in a German hospital (not as a HCP). There was one Turkish male patient who had a hierarchy of demands for his nurse: first choice, a male Muslim. Second choice, a female Muslim. Third choice, male non-Muslim. Last choice, female non-Muslim.
Unfortunately, most of the nurses were female non-Muslim but we did try to accommodate him and found a Muslim female from another ward!

No, I’ve always had female health professionals for anything like that, for personal reasons. Both men and women have a choice on who provides this type of intimate care and most of us should be able to understand why that is. Anyone questioning why women would prefer female midwifes hasn’t been paying attention.however my husband who is a nurse has experienced woman who have a examination by a male doctor then go on to ask for a female nurse sometimes people by into conspiracy of professionalism

that should be "female midwife" in the first paragraph. I really need to start previewing my posts!

The males that I came across were missing ears

Wait, what now?

I had a make midwife. It was fine.

I would not be ok with a male midwife who 'identified as a woman' though.

This.

A male Dr delivered my first baby and probably saved his life. A male student was in the room Observing when I had my second. Not a problem with either.

Do they have gas and air and morphine/pethidine? If so, their gender/colour/species doesn't matter to me! Satan carrying my G and A? Come on in!