Does the Midwife 'Birth' the Babies? - Page 2

[MegBoz]

Originally Posted by mama in the forest

It is semantics, but words communicate ideas in our world and I feel those words do put the midwife in a position in which they do not belong.

I have to agree.
"I Birthed 1,000 babies"
is a dramatic difference from:
"I attended / assisted/ supported the birth of 1,000 babies."

The former statement DOES put the MW in a lead position of doing something. & we all know good MWs know that, most of the time, they don't really need to do much at all!

[JennTheMomma]

When I tell people I'm going to school to be a Midwife, they always say something about birthing babies. I always say "well I've birthed 1 baby, my son. The women are doing the birthing, I'm just there to make sure it all goes ok."

[cottonwood]

I agree with mwherbs that it's probably just local vernacular. It doesn't really make sense any other way. Regardless, by it he's still meaning that he had a direct hand in getting those babies born.

[Veritaserum]

Strange. I always use "catches" or "attends the birth of".

[Peppamint]

Originally Posted by hotwings640

I prefer "attended" or "caught".

[LaurenAnanas]

He was one of my midwives too!

There's an old interview with him from a magazine (Time, maybe), framed and on the wall in the BC waiting area. In that interview, he is quoted as saying that women give birth, he's just there to help.

When we discussed our birthplan with him, he reiterated that all the midwives were there to help me give birth, and he detailed several ways that they would support me. Then he asked us if we wanted DH to catch the baby.

[micah_mae_]

Yeah I think he was misquoted or he mispoke. He is one of the sweetest, most caring men I've ever met. And the only man I would trust to attend my birth. He was one of my midwives and when I delivered, I caught my own baby! I think a lot of people are upset about this for no reason.

[groovynaturemama]

a midwife attends a birth. the mom births the baby! perhaps it's mincing words, but a doc or midwife isn't birthing a baby unless they're the ones in labor, IMO. at any rate, i think he was just speaking the way he is used to speaking and the sentiment behind it was quite sweet.

[AngelBee]

Originally Posted by mama in the forest

I'm not upset angelbee.

I would find it just as disgusting if female midwives used that type of phrasing. It is semantics, but words communicate ideas in our world and I feel those words do put the midwife in a position in which they do not belong.

Makes sense Thank you for clarifying.