Anyone else feel men should not be delivering natural births?
I constantly ask myself...why in the world are there so many male obgyns? Have they ever delivered a baby? Do they really know what it feels like? Why are they the ones coaching women through the normal birth process. I understand they might be great in surgery but really are they great in the delivery room for a natural birth?
I know I wouldn't ever go to a male obgyn...besides that I delivered with a midwife.
In the new book Get Me Out, Epstein really explains the history of childbirth and how male doctors became obgyns...
Around the sixteenth century, well-meaning men began experimenting with ways to make money from childbirth. One man, whom Epstein calls “one of the greatest marketing wizards ever,” wrote a 200 year-long best seller called The Rose Garden for Pregnant Women and Midwives. It turns out that the doctor who wrote it never studied childbirth, understood
current practice, or even saw a baby born….a theme that repeats over and over in Get Me Out. One tale from this first chapter is of Dr. Wert, who was sentenced to death in 1522 when he was caught in the delivery room pretending to be a woman. Until only very recently (the last 100 years or so) labor and birth was definitely not considered a place for a man. But, times do change. Epstein writes, “Suffice to say, by the end of the 1500’s doctors were beginning to bad-mouth female helpers as a way to make room for themselves in this female-only business.”
I know I wouldn't ever go to a male obgyn...besides that I delivered with a midwife.
In the new book Get Me Out, Epstein really explains the history of childbirth and how male doctors became obgyns...
Around the sixteenth century, well-meaning men began experimenting with ways to make money from childbirth. One man, whom Epstein calls “one of the greatest marketing wizards ever,” wrote a 200 year-long best seller called The Rose Garden for Pregnant Women and Midwives. It turns out that the doctor who wrote it never studied childbirth, understood
current practice, or even saw a baby born….a theme that repeats over and over in Get Me Out. One tale from this first chapter is of Dr. Wert, who was sentenced to death in 1522 when he was caught in the delivery room pretending to be a woman. Until only very recently (the last 100 years or so) labor and birth was definitely not considered a place for a man. But, times do change. Epstein writes, “Suffice to say, by the end of the 1500’s doctors were beginning to bad-mouth female helpers as a way to make room for themselves in this female-only business.”
Along with bad-mouth marketing, however, doctors did create a very useful tool that would prove to be a very useful weapon for getting men
into the birthing profession.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Rachel Hiser on -
I don't think that men should be disqualified simply because they are male. Considering the fact that husbands make the best coaches (generally), I think there is definitely a place for men in the delivery room. Also, consider the facts that Dr. Grantly Dick-Read made such strides to pave the way for natural child birth (see his book: Childbirth without Fear) and Dr. Bradley, who pioneered bringing natural childbirth in the hospital and fought for the woman's right to have her husband in the delivery room with her.
I personally prefer to see a woman for my womanly medical needs, particularly women who have already had children. However, I know that there are really bad women practitioners out there too - like the L&D nurse a friend told me about who came into her delivery room and said, "Forget everything you learned in your childbirth classes, we are delivering this baby MY way."
There will be good and bad doctors for everything! I read a great book a few months ago titled "The Other Side of Pregnancy". It was written by a chiropractor about back issues for pregnant women. He had cared for his wife during her several pregnancies and was uniquely qualified to provide excellent advice for pregnant women - despite his "status" as a man. :) So, we really shouldn't discount the role men could play in pregnancy and childbirth. Some men may have valuable contributions.
That's my 2cents anyway! lol :)
-
Permalink Reply by Mandy Hand on -
I also would not discount men simply on their gender, or because they could not have experienced childbirth. Both my midwives are excellent but neither have given birth yet!
On the other hand, I do agree with points about the development of modern obstetrics - that it was perhaps more money-driven than anything. I will probably read "Get Me Out" soon.
-
Permalink Reply by askyourfriendkira on -
Midwives in general, female and male, treat pregnancy differently than OBs. An amazing primary source document is the Laurel Thatcher Ulrich book A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812 which shows first hand a doctor coming into conflict with a midwife, and why.
A compassionate person who has experience with birth can, in my opinion, be a man or a woman. Male midwives are few, but many have flourishing practices.
I would say there is a huge difference between a midwife who has birthed her own baby, and a midwife who has not her own experience with labor. A midwife in the practice I delivered in was much more attuned and clearly made sense of things in a much different way after her own labor, and I can't imagine she is alone. Even with labors though, experiences are different, and the challenge is to help a mother through.
And another point I'm sure is made in the book, is that mothers in the early 1900s (and before) were much more likely to visit their midwives for post-baby care, rather than pediatricians, and doctors realized a good way to ensure follow up care was to be there when the child was born.
www.askyourfriendkira.com
-
Permalink Reply by Cindy Lerner on -
I would personally never go to a male OB, but I don't think that all male OBs are bad. I think it all has to do with their education and understanding of the female body. For example, Dr Biter who we've been hearing a lot about, he obviously cares very much about natural birth. There are also just as many female OBs who will push hard for medical interventions. The most important thing is to know what your OB will and won't do, their cesarean rates and how often they induce. It's really up to the pregnant woman to make an informed and educated decision. I had a midwife who was a mother and had helped to bring almost 600 babies into this world. I never once doubted that she always had my best interest in mind and not her own agenda or policies (as many drs do).
-
Permalink Reply by Libby Combs on
-
In response to Kim's commentary above. Wow, what a sexist reply. Please insert women everywhere you put "men" and see how you would feel. So a female urologist should only see women? and young docs who have never had a heart attack or stroke should be forbidden to treat those patients having heart attacks and strokes? yes, having a shared experience can add value, but empathy, support and compassion are not guaranteed by gender, trust me. Yes OB/Gyn is an intimate specialty that requires special talents and special people, but many of those are doctors and are men (don't faint). Also, did you know there are male midwives?
-
Permalink Reply by Samantha on -
I don't agree with this at all. Yes there are crappy OB's out there(but hey there are equally crappy midwives), but I don't think it has to do with them being males or not. Some of the biggest pioneers in the natural birth world were male OBsmedical professionals. Think about Leboyer and Odent and all they have done for the water birth movement. Or think about Abby Epstein's OB, Dr. Jacques Moritz. He is a great OB and very supportive of natural birth.
Personally working as a birth doula of all the OB's I have worked with the males have been the best. I have one I like in particular who is just amazing. I had one mom where the baby had been going on for 24+ hours, we had a brow presentation and mec at 9cm and he let us try to turn the baby. Mom ended up with a vaginal delivery and no interventions. He ever let dad do all the catching. A few months later I was at another completely intervention free(well there was a heplock)delivery of a 10lb7oz baby and he never once said anything about the baby being too big or that it may need help coming out. He let mom push when she wanted to in what ever position she wanted after she labored down for an hour plus.
I think a providers ability to be be helpful and supportive during a natural birth comes down to mindset and their beliefs about the birth process, not their gender.
-
Permalink Reply by Kim Nelli GetFitForBirth.com on -
thank you all for your responses! Yes my comment was sexist...
I think there are plenty of great male obgyns! I prefer to birth with women, especially those who have gone through the birth process:)
I studied to be a midwife, and during my schooling i was pregnant. I had the ability to assist and coach in hundreds of births. I thought i was a great coach, but let me tell you, after i delivered my baby, i had a completely different style of coaching:)
I now knew what if felt like to birth naturally. Does this mean that those who have not experienced natural birth can't be great coaches? NO!!! it is just a different perspective.
and there has yet to be a man who has given natural birth. and thus man does not know the emotional feelings and physical feelings of natural birth:)
I am extremely thankful for ODENT and other male obgyns who have helped encourage natural birth:)
and for male obgyns who support the natural birth process.
Not all midwives are great, i have heard plenty of horror stories, same as female obgyns:) thus the importance of really doing your research when choosing your health care provider.
-
Permalink Reply by Holly C on -
I have a female GP and delivered with a female midwife and would any day, but I also know many female friends who are very uncomfortable with the idea of both of these. While I hate to bring it up, they really are uncomfortable with the perceived lesbian and/or maternal undertone of being examined by another elder woman. They're simply more comfortable with someone of the opposite sex and of course there should be that option for them.
It is unfortunate what an effective smear campaign men did do on this wonderful female environment, but let us also not forget that that was over 100 years ago and has nothing to do with current-age Doctors of either gender or any specialty.
© 2013 Created by MyBestBirth Admin.
