a male midwife??? :S

fergus51 · Mar 17, 2004

midwife means "with woman", so yes a man can be a midwife. Midhusband would kind of defeat the purpose, seeing as I don't think they need us as much;)

Dayray, RN · Mar 22, 2004

There have been 2 male midwives that used to post here. The College of Nurse Midwives site says that 1% of CNM's are male.

I suppose the name is unfortunate and that it would be a source of constant pedestrian wise cracking for them. As the other poster pointed out midwife means with women so it's actual not a gender specific title.

Cherish · Mar 22, 2004

Of Course they have male midwives...thats like saying females could never be a urologist...just cause they don't have the "parts" per se does not mean there not qualified for the job...in actuality they are probably more well rounded, and educated because of constant discriminatory comments...I wouldn't mind a male midwife just like I don't mind a male ob/gyn...it is 2004 not 1888 right?

texas-rn-fnp · Apr 10, 2006

I am a male OB nurse. I don't have a problem with it. Almost not of the patients even consider it either because I am a professional. Once in a while there is a patient that does not want any male provider involved with her care and I respect that. I would not want to impose and be part of seomthing that I am not wanted/invited to. However...I do have a rule that if there is a safety issue, safety takes priority.

lpn1217 · Apr 11, 2006

I work with a male midwife,and he has a soothing touch. Some clients prefer not to see him{usually the sexually abused or for religious reasons} but we cannot guarrantee whom they will have in labor.Some who were opposed to a male midwife come to see him for their annual exam by request.How the midwife treats the client is more important than the sex of the provider.

jen7393 · Apr 11, 2006

I was treated by a male midwife with my second child and he was WONDERFUL!

-Midget- · Apr 11, 2006

LOL Midhusband...believe it or not, I had this exact same thought today! I have some interesting thoughts.

RN34TX · Apr 11, 2006

As a male who has never worked in OB/L&D/post-partum whatever, I'm really disturbed at the number of topics that show up here on this subject.

I see them pop up from time to time and I'm wondering why.

Why can a female LPN/RN grab a man's genitals to insert a foley, yet so much controversy over a man working in OB/L&D?

Big double standard.

And why do the men have to explain their career motives?

Why is it so much different for a man to be in the vulnerable position as a patient than it is for a woman?

Along the same lines, why is there so much fuss over men working in these areas yet it remains unquestioned that a man chooses to be a MD specializing in these areas?

I am an outsider in these areas and have no idea outside of clinicals what goes on in OB, so I really want to know what the big deal is for men to be working in these areas.

texas-rn-fnp · Apr 11, 2006

It goes back to the notion that nurses are involved with patients at a much more personal level than the doctors are. The doctors come in and spend five minutes with the patients and go. It is very impersonal. The nurses spend day and night with them and get to know their every personal intimate details (sometimes things even their own family doesn't know). This is why some females are uncomfortable with male nurses. The male nurses get to know their female patients at a level that other males in their lives have not. For example...how many women discuss their discharge, lochia, sexual difficulties, bowel movements, urination, etc with thier male friends, family, or husbands? Not many! Women are uncomfortable doing this. I have not had many difficulties with this. I am very professional, yet caring and understanding (even sensitive). There are a few that just don't want a male health care provider no matter what. Typically there is some history of abuse. Sometimes they were just brought up that their body was bad and should be ashamed of it. If there is a female provider available I am glad to respect their wishes. Sometimes there is not.

futureTMA · Apr 12, 2006

Part of it is what texas-rn-fnp wrote, but the majority of it unfortunately, is just the traditional stereotype. It's pretty accepted that male patients don't mind or even prefer female nurses (whether it's true or not) but the opposite is not true.

epiphany · Apr 12, 2006

Our birthing center is run by a male midwife.