[beanie29]

I think it's wonderful if a man wants to be a midwife, just try to be respectful of those women who aren't ok with that (even if you don't understand it, which clearly many of you don't). I read the previous responses and none of them succinctly stated why I (and most other women I know) wouldn't want a male for a midwife.

I don't even understand the comparison between giving birth and having a catheter inserted. It's really almost comical. Giving birth is so much more.. personal. Not that having a catheter inserted isn't personal at all, but they're on two totally diffferent playing fields. And that lack of understanding really shows what I'm trying to point out here. When I'm giving birth, I like to be with women who have birthed before. There is a connection there, an understanding. Giving birth is a huge event in a woman's life. (I'm guessing that the man with the catheter won't look back on that day for the rest of his life with love and amazement!) and every woman has the right to shape that event to be what she'd like it to be.
I know some women aren't bothered by it, and I think that's great.. but it's necessary to understand and try to empathize with those who do.
If this really seems like such a foreign concept to you, pick up any book on midwives.. read up on the history. If you'd like suggestions, I'd be happy to provide a few titles. Read what women have written about what birth means to them. And then come to your conclusions about why so many feel that way.

[daisybaby]

I had two beautiful deliveries today with a male midwife whom I respect and admire. I'll take a CNM, male or female , over a MD delivery any day

[LDRNMOMMY]

I had a male midwife deliver my daughter. He was so WONDERFUL! I wouldn't change a thing about her birth.

[epiphany]

Originally Posted by futureTMA

Wow, what an epiphany!

Yes, and he hates all the terms that people have tried to use on him, especially midhusband. But he doesn't mind being called a Delivery Boy.

[Kiwimid]

I am a student midwife from New Zealand a just wanted to say that over here we have an openly gay male midwife. There is a few more but that one example stuck in my mind.