Male midwife tells pregnant women to take the pain

14/Jul/2009

news.com.au

Comments: 4 readers have left a comment

WOMEN should embrace the full pain of childbirth to bond with their babies instead of resorting to anaesthetic drugs, a leading male midwife has said.

UK professor Dr Denis Walsh said the pain of labour should be considered a "rite of passage" and a "purposeful, useful thing".

The pain prepares women for the responsibilities of motherhood, he wrote in an international journal published yesterday.

Australian obstetricians responded by saying women need to be free to make their own decisions.

"It is a woman's choice and I don't think we have any good evidence to show that you have to have pain to be a good mother," Melbourne obstetrician Dr Louise Kornman said.

While more women are relying on pain relief instead of opting for a natural birth, "there is a time and place" for epidurals, Associate Professor Hannah Dahlen of the Australian College of Midwives said.

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What everyone else is thinking

G M Joseph

10/10/2009

While I see the humor in Marlene's comment, I would have preferred to use "Pine apple" instead of "bowling ball" because a bowling ball is smooth surfaced. Whoooaaaa.

Marlene from Mullaloo

28/07/2009

Typical, I doubt that a female midwife (always amuses me how blokes now get to be called midwives.....just does'nt work does it?) would be so opinionated. Mind you I guess, he has never tried to squeeze a bowling ball out of his ass eh!

Meredith

14/07/2009

A midwife suggested this - a MALE midwife. Hahahaha! Like he would know....

Mother , Perth

14/07/2009

Where on earth does this foolish comment even come from? Are we living in the dark ages, without the medical advancements of todays society??? "Take the pain, it will make you a better mother" translated means " I am a physopath that enjoys watching others discomfort and pain, and have no idea what it feels like for every and each individual. I am not even female, but would love to watch them in pain giving birth" You sick man, how dare you, when you are able to give birth, you are able to comment - get a new job, nurses are supposed to show compassion or should anyway. I sincerely hope you are not a parent, as you do not seem to know what enhances good parenting, it is CERTAINLY not taking the pain, try caring, communicating, nurturing, guiding and supporting ... oh words you would not even understand...