Does midwifery need more male midwives?

[Dappy]

I was reading this article http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/time-to-challenge-stereotypes/story-fn6br97j-1226008326929

Do you think midwifery as a profession could benefit from having more male midwives? Would it benefit women? Can men bring something to the plate, that us women can't?

[MrsBanks]

I think it takes a special sort of man to become a good midwife, because childbirth is typically woman's business. Nursing is a different matter, and I do believe more men are needed in caring roles, but I would be wary of encouraging more men into midwifery specifically. The right man can bring a lot to the profession though if he truly embraces it.

[peru]

I have to agree with you Mrs Banks.
I personally would not want a male midwife and I have never worked with one but I thought the male midwife was very caring on OBEM.
I thought it typical that the polish mum and her mother both referred to him as the doctor!
Doctors are male and nurses are women is the steriotypical persepective.
My DD1 is a 2nd year Medic at Hammersmith Hosp through Imperial uni and there is a ratio of 1/4! She is also in the minority as British. Most of her contempories are Asian, very well off, sons of doctors!
Made me laugh the other night when she said no sane women would deliver without an epidural!! She has so much to learn!!!!

[Delilah]

I'm not sure that you can say it need more male midwives but, from my personal experiences the profession needs more caring people in it OR a system which enables midwives as a whole to be more caring!

I wouldn't care personally if my midwife was a man, as long as he could do his job.

[cscmadwife]

Interesting how men in traditional female dominated roles qucikly rise to the top.
I work in lactation - some of the top LCs are men - Jack Newman, Mike Woolridge. Midwifery is the same - think Dennis Walch