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Andrea's Diary
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Male midwives ?I have been contacted by a Spanish language midwifery magazine, Ob Stare, for a comment about male midwives. It seems they are canvassing opinion about whether men should be able to work in the field of midwifery. This is a question that has come up occasionally in my workshops. I am acquainted with a number of male midwives in both the UK and Australia, and although there are very few of them, they seem to be well liked by the women and by most of their colleagues. This is the comment I have sent to Ob Stare:.
It will be interesting to see what the other respondents write. I will have to ask my Spanish speaking staff member,Larissa, to translate for me! Posted by andrea at September 15, 2002 05:33 PM I agree with you that sensitivity etc are the most important qualities for a birth attendant, but how does the woman choose her caregiver in the current hospital system ? What if she doesn't feel comfortable with a male midwife and he is the attendant assigned to her ? I think that it could be incredibly upsetting for some women, to arrive at the hospital and be admitted and attended by a male midwife, but in the public system especially she would have little say in the matter. I am thinking of all women but specifically those with issues of abuse etc. It could cause a lot of unnecessary stress for some women to be faced with this dilemma in labour. Women in the hospital system in this country do not have the privilege of choosing their midwives. They can only choose their obstetricians who arrive near the end of their labour, and their support persons and doula who will attend them before, during and after the labour and help to be the advocate in such situations. A trusted, trained doula could help the woman and her partner to negotiate with staff to have her individual needs met in this situation. Posted by: Darienne on September 19, 2002 08:16 PM hi Posted by: selina on September 28, 2002 12:04 AM Hello, Posted by: Szaldowsky, Sandra on February 7, 2003 05:11 AM I am reading this site because I am a male nursing student who is fascinated by the idea of male midwives. As A nurse, I have seen already that there is a degree of discrimination in the workplace. Since I have witnessed and been subject to this it has been incredibly distressing. This poses the question that are men capable of caring for female OB patients in the same parameters as a female midwife. I have to say a hands-down yes. I became a nurse because I care about people in such a way that I realize there is so much more going on than a medical diagnosis. I feel as though we (males) are pushed aside and not taken as seriously. This has made me consider just going to medical school and becoming an obstetrician. I would love any comments you have to be addressed to erdoc1130@hotmail.com. In caring, Shawn Posted by: Shawn Frapp on March 16, 2003 03:27 PM Hi Posted by: David Papo on September 3, 2003 12:29 AM Hi, I'm a male in my final year of a Diploma in Child care and Education. Im 18, and have recently become interested in becoming a MidWife. I didn't have any worries about this until i started reading differant comments on this site and a couple of others. Its quite dis-heartening. If anyone has any information, or know how i could get in touch with a male MidWife, it would be very much appreciated. Please send information to tommie_eve@hotmail.com Posted by: Tom on October 13, 2003 06:32 AM well, i am a male student midwife in my first year degree, I have to ay that after my last week clinical placement did not get any problem with the mothers, just in some cases where religion does not allow males to be involved during birth, however midwifery is such an amaising rewarding career and i do not believe that male should be pushed away from it because what we are offering is care and support and that is the most important part, also us being males will never experience labour pain and might not go trough the same stages that mothers to be do does not make us less usefull and supportive, anyone who thiks in taking midwifery as a career either male or female is taking a great desition Posted by: alvaro baeza on November 5, 2003 02:38 AM Hi, I am a Registered Medical Assistant, being a male healthcare professional working in a female dominated job is a challenge, for me I can do the work because I like it, male midwives can use their healthcare skills by not only as birth attendant but more expanded role, registered medical assistant, in the Philippines, the midwifery curriculum is focusing on comprehensive health care and majoring in maternal child health, upon graduation and passing the midwifery board examination, the department of health dispatched them to rural areas as the primary health worker as they were exposed to field work during their two year studies, in the hospitals, for female midwives stationed in the delivery room and nursery and sometime in the general ward to function as assistant nurse or nurse assistant, I would suggest if any Filipino male midwives read this comment, if you find hard time to get employed as midwife, be a Registered Medical Assistant & utilize your health care skills in the hospital setting or ambulatory clinics. Posted by: Benji on November 5, 2003 07:20 AM How does a male midwife work without a chaperone, or with one, I had surgery once I was 22 and I had a male nurse care for me. I was so embarassed but too young to speak up, I think women feel better with women, I had my child with a female midwive and that was too personel enough, with a male midwive it would of been hell. Think about it Male obstetricians, male midwives, your husband as your birthing partner, can women have nothing that men dont control. Posted by: dawn on December 8, 2003 10:32 PM How does a male midwife work without a chaperone, or with one, I had surgery once I was 22 and I had a male nurse care for me. I was so embarassed but too young to speak up, I think women feel better with women, I had my child with a female midwive and that was too personel enough, with a male midwive it would of been hell. Think about it Male obstetricians, male midwives, your husband as your birthing partner, can women have nothing that men dont control. Posted by: dawn on December 8, 2003 10:33 PM Iam a regestered nurse with ten years experience and am currently about to finish a postgraduate diploma in midwifery at the university of western sydney NSW. I would have to say that my training has been a very positive experience both in terms of the reception I've had from female colleagues, and from the women (and their families) i've had the privilage of caring for. It is interesting to read the comments above and reenforces the importortance of individualising care. In my experience i have found that most women are not particularly bothered by issues of gender and place greater importance on being attended by someone who is professional, competent and caring. As with any health professional (of either gender) if you approach your patients/clients in an open and caring manner they are more likely to trust you and appreciate that you're on their side. In the course of my work i am required to do some fairly intimate things to women who are in quite a vaunerable position in terms of power and environment and effective communication between me and the woman is vital to ensure she understands what i'm doing and that she is happy and not feeling coersed. This is no different to my previous job as an ICU nuse where i looked after many women who were in an equally vaulnerable situation, yet there isn't the same level of debate about male nurses! There are naturally some women who are uncomfortable about having a male midwife and contrary to some of the above comments their decision is respected and they always have the option to be attended by a female, and no, this does not bother me. I will admit it is sometimes a little puzzling when a woman will not accept help from a male midwife but is happy to be examined by a male obstetrician, but i think that's more to do with and individuals expectations rather than anything else. Being a midwife is a great job that gives me a great deal of pride and personal satisfaction and as long as you possess the right attitude and and temperament it makes no diference whether you are male or female. Posted by: Richard Collins on December 22, 2003 06:10 PM I am a 24year old and 6 months pregnant with my first baby. In my first stages of pregnacy the thought of a male midwife horrified me,I just could not understand why a male would want to be a midwife but as my pregnacy has progressed i have become more attached to my unborn baby. What i am really trying to say is that when you care about your unborn child so much and want it born with sucess any women should be greatful for either a professional caring male or female. 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Posted by: fp292003 on January 21, 2004 01:57 PM Don't matter if you care, if you don't own what you care about. Posted by: Colangelo Josh on January 21, 2004 07:07 PM My name is Scott and I am an RGN with 3 years post-registration in surgical and an acute surgical medical ward. I have trained in Scotland and now work in Australia until I return to Scotland for February 2005 to begin my midwifery training. I have read the multitude of opinions posted above and I am heartened to read that in the main people from both genders have an open mind on this topic. Having worked as a male nurse caring for men and women I have seen how rewarding clinical bonds can be from male to female and male to male. Many women are initially reserved when approached by a male nurse when they would be unperturbed wmen approached my a male physician. However the issues raised within this discussion do not predominantly surround gender. What most individuals want, in my experience is honesty, compassion, empathy and respect. I have three pre-school children and should have had four,but unfortunatly my first born son Lucas died at four days old. I never encountered a male midwife during what was the most traumatic experience of my life. I encountered many midwives and neonatal specialists during that week and one thing that I remember from that time was how some of the practicioners involved were good at their jobs and some were not so good. But all of these people were female. The point that I am trying to make is that gender is irrelevant in as far as ability is concerned. Some people just have an affinity for the carers role where as some people can only be trained to try and fulfill the carers role. People who have a talent for offering support and empathy should not be penalised for their gender but embraced and encouraged, their skills fostered and given every opportunity to be the best practicioner they can be. Off course there should always be choice as there are people, that for what ever reason will not feel comfortable under the care of a male midwife. However choice and patients charter is pertinent within every field of nursing, not just midwifery. I think it would be doing not only women a dis-service, but the whole of society a dis-service if talented and skilled practicioners were allowed to slip through the net purely because of their gender. Posted by: scott Murray on April 25, 2004 05:27 PM I feel that men should be more involved and should not be stereotyped they should get equal opportunities. Posted by: kerry on June 9, 2004 09:02 PM I have read with interest the comments made in this discussion on midwives that are male, in may of 1980 I with my wife and 3 children travelled from New Zealand to Stirling Scotland for me a mere male to train as a Midwife. I personally have to put the Midwife/Nurse before Male, as it the role and priveledge of that role that has such signifigance, people with people supporting each other with the deepest of Love for our humankind. On meeeting another person we make an immediate connection establishing rapport, as nurses and midwives this developes to a high level where a unobtrusive relationship occurs that is based on respect leading to trust. For me I practiced as a midwife for approximately 10years following my training both in a clinical and education role and after a long period of practising in adged care and nursing management wish to return to midwifery. I strongly feel that there is a place for men in midwifery, as males we need to support men in there role as father and supporter of the mother. To compare an Obstetrian that is male and a midwife that is male as equal or simmilar,I find difficult midwifery has a different level of emotional intimacy and suppport to the woman and her family. Scott, I wish you well in your journey of lifes learrning and yes to have a fellow male acknowledge in whatever way your experience in loss even by a glance is so important. For me Males do have an important part to play as midwives. Posted by: Graham Keane on July 11, 2004 07:50 PM I'm not sure if I have the right website, but i wonder if anyone could help me. I'm a writer and i'm writing a novel about how a male midwife is accepted in a small village, i would like advice on how male midwives are accepted by not just mothers to be but by husbands too. I also need to know what made them what to become a male midwife in the first place and what trainning they had. Posted by: Colette Liversidge on August 17, 2004 04:59 AM Post a comment |
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