How would you feel about having a male midwide

[Lardlizard]

Just interested in the points of view

Is this a Turing test?

How many births do you think there are every year in the big London hospitals, Bertrand? Maybe all of us on this thread were in the same one...

No. Just NO.

For intimate examinations definitely a woman. However, not all of the female mid-wives or doctors I have had experiences with have been that great, or that tuned in to the process to be honest. Disappointing!
So just being female doesn't necessarily make you a great birth companion. It would feel weird being assigned a male mid-wife though, even in terms of emotional support I don't see why a man, in principle, could not be as supportive as a woman.

There should be a full stop after " though". And new sentence should begin with " In terms of emotional support".

I wouldn't want one.

I don't understand why a male would choose the job tbh. I find it a weird choice. Flame away.

I had a male midwife with my last one , nearly 30 years ago, he was brilliant

Pre birth and after birth care I would prefer a woman midwife

While in labour I don’t think I would have cared quite a few male students studying my foo foo at one point I was beyond caring

Having a very young woman who hadn't had a child as my midwife didn't instill much faith in me; having a man who has be er and will never be pregnant or have a child would instill even less.

I feel like it's something you gave to have been through: pregnancy, birth, recovery, newborn insanity etc to really be able to do your job well. Perhaps it's horrible but if they haven't, when they're giving advice, opinions etc I just think "seriously youte talking out if you'd arse, or a text book, you don't have a clue".

At least with female midwives, the vast majority will, at some point, join the ranks and of the traumatised, exhausted, worried minions that parenthood makes you.

Do people actually ask or think it’s their business whether a female midwife has had children of her own?!

*your arse

My only caveat would be when a female is truly shite and has no empathy, sympathy, manner etc in which case a make who does would be better; but that says more about how such female midwives and other health/caring professionals shouldn't be tolerated rather than anything else.

It's completely obviously s, you don't have to ask.

Midwives who haven't been through pregnancy, birth and the new born phase are imho not going to be able to make free the same level of understanding, empathy and practical knowledge.

*make free?

Provide.

It really is not completely obvious!

No. I'm not that bothered by male gynaecologists but my midwives were so special and it was a very female experience. I would not have wanted a male midwife, it would have been uncomfortable and weird.

Would not care, male or female, it's not that relevant as long as they are trained and know what to do.
I've always felt males can be more sensitive dealing with women than females.

It really is not completely obvious!

Yes it is; because they a mention their pregnancies, births, breast feeding etc experiences at some point.

*all

Makes no difference, I had three doctors come in the room during my labour, all men. Wasn't asked and couldn't have cared less. Different if doctors not midwives is it?

@Bowlofbabelfish I hope you have the same worry about men having women doctors/nurses then

For the sake of argument, doctors fulfil a different function from midwives; midwives have a reasonable amount of personal contact with you before and after the birth in your own home etc. They're supposed to (!) help you with breast feeding, birth injuries, emotional issues, domestic abuse etc. Doctors don't generally get involved in any of that.

Haha let's agree to disagree since the doctors had their arms inside me for quite some time

Wouldn't bother me. In my city most consultants are Male so dong see why someone would mind a midwife being Male but not a consultant.

The consultant had both hands and arms inside me trying to get my baby out before he had to do emergency section. I couldn't have cared I'd it was an alien doing the OP as long as they were qualified and got my baby safely to me!

I'm not referring to contact during the labour and birth, I'm referring to all the stuff before and after; it's extremely personal and (after) all in your home. Trying to establish breast feeding for example - very challenging and the female midwives are crap enough, and can't imagine how a man who doesn't have breasts and has never even tried to breastfeed I'd supposed to offer practical empathetic help. As anyone whos tried knows, you can read books and watch videos all day long but it's different when it comes to actually doing it.