Male Midwives

Noo · #21 (**permalink**) 30-Mar-2008, 19:52

Originally Posted by katie

i had a boy at my interview for cardiff

Was he any good?

Sorry....

TallPoppy · #22 (**permalink**) 30-Mar-2008, 22:57

Originally Posted by Smudged1733

I read somewhere there are only 112 in the UK. That's not many at all.

It's debatable whether women make better midwives than men. On one hand, a a female midwife can relate to how the woman is feeling and what she is going through.

But some men are excellent at caring for people and can be charming.

I agree, however I also think many women cant relate to what the women are feeling even if they have had kids they may have had very different pregnancies and births, so this in my view doesnt set them apart from male midwives.

Its about who is women centered, caring and reassuring, aswell as excellent clinically - and this is down to training more than anything.... in my view.... but then Ive only worked with one and he is excellent

TallPoppy · #23 (**permalink**) 30-Mar-2008, 23:02

Originally Posted by Freefall

So is tracyb , I recognise the uni.

No, not on yours, I'm on his and seen you on his too..lol. I'll PM my facebook name to anyone who wants it, I'd rather not give my full name on here, as I have disclosed which uni I am at.

He's on my facebook too

lol

Babycatcher1980 · #24 (**permalink**) 31-Mar-2008, 10:00

Originally Posted by Smudged1733

It's debatable whether women make better midwives than men. On one hand, a a female midwife can relate to how the woman is feeling and what she is going through.

But some men are excellent at caring for people and can be charming.

No, I don't agree. No-one can relate to what every woman in labour is going through, nor her feelings, because every labour is different, every womans perception of labour is different and every woman will have different feelings about her labour.

A female midwife will not necessarily have experienced childbirth herself, will she still be able to relate to her woman any differently than a male would?

Jen · #25 (**permalink**) 31-Mar-2008, 16:06

In Holland about 2 percent of the midwifes are male. Not very much. Ironically the president of the dutch association of midwifes is a man

Smudged1733 · #26 (**permalink**) 31-Mar-2008, 16:19

Okay, Babycatcher, I do agree with what you are saying, different women have unique experiences.

I was just imagining a woman in labour yelling at a male midwife "HOW THE HELL DO YOU KNOW?? YOU HAVE NO IDEA!!!" Never having been in this situation before, maybe women in labour yell this to female widwives too?!!

tracyb · #27 (**permalink**) 31-Mar-2008, 19:41

Read one of Denis Walshes books, he's a researcher and lecturer at our uni, all for normal birth, I think he pushes a few boundaries (and rightly so) he's a brilliant inspirational midwife x

smwife · #28 (**permalink**) 31-Mar-2008, 20:53

To play devil's advocate here. The male midwife is very expereinced and though he does not know how it feels, he is a competent practitioner and has cared for many women and delivered lots of babies over the years. I have often seen him make a good call and he does have an eye when things are not right.

I can empathise with women and do understand mostly how they feel, but have never had an epidural, C/S, ventouse etc. But many incidences I can identify with and I think this does help, the flipside is some time personal experiences do get in the way.

They say a brain surgeon deosn't need to have had brain surgery to be good, the same is true for male midwives....

lucy35 · #29 (**permalink**) 02-Apr-2008, 13:09

Hi, we have a male student midwife! He's on the short course, (I'm on the long but we share lectures at the mo) used to be a gynae nurse. He is absolutely lovely and apparently is fantastic with the women...who love him!

We also have one Senior lecturer who is male, who we love. (Not sure he's practicing much at present tho). I know of one male midwife at the John Radcliffe.

There are a few of them out there!
Best wishes,
Lucy

Butterfly · #30 (**permalink**) 17-May-2008, 15:25

there is one where i am too, but he has a very bad attitude towards students in general- and you really have to stick up for yourself around him aswell!!

having only worked one shift with him, i don't know exactly how he is with the women, but the woman we were caring for in labour did shout as the head was crowning to him, who was resting his hand on her stomach to feel for contractions as his third year student was delivering "F**** OFF, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!!!" but afterwards she did say she had enjoyed his care.

I think male midwives can be very good though- i know of another at another hospital who is inspirational- it just goes to show that your sex doesnt really matter, it's whether you're a good midwife or not.......

Male Midwives

Male Midwives

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