https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 18 Jul 2026 00:55:45 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-685014 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:36:29 +0000 Shutterbug 685014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsCB: ahh shoot!!!! I think we're going to the same place... I just went to the website and there's a man on there! :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-685006 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:35:02 +0000 Shutterbug 685006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsCB: My RE is the first male doctor (of any kind) that I've had since I was a kid! I used to go to an all female OB/GYN practice but I just switched this year to one with 3 female midwives &amp; 1 female OB). I also picked them both because the name of the practice inferred they were all women. So there are at least two all female practices in the area! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-684924 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:11:17 +0000 ShootingStar 684924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. bird: Ooh, that's a good point. I can hope, at least ;). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-684919 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:09:48 +0000 mrs. bird 684919@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsCB: it might even be lower than that if he is the OB covering all the patients from the midwives since anyone needing a scheduled section would need him to deliver, so he might spend more of his L&amp;D time covering those &amp; less covering laboring patients. trying to be optimistic =) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-684894 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:04:09 +0000 ShootingStar 684894@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. bird: Oh, I meant to mention the odds! So since there's only one male it's not very likely that I'd get him. I just like to be prepared. There 4 females in the practice (1 OB, 3 midwives) and the 1 male OB. So I guess I have a 20% chance of getting him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-684883 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:01:13 +0000 mrs. bird 684883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsCB: how many midwives are there? just trying to see what your odds are of ending up with the male OB =) is there a group that is all midwives? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-684838 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:52:09 +0000 ShootingStar 684838@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: Ha, that's a good question! Maybe explain that I'm uncomfortable and ask if a different one would be possible? When we toured the birthing center, the staff seemed to be overwhelmingly female. I think the only male I saw was an anesthesiologist. Of course that doesn't mean that NO men work there, but hopefully there would be a female available. </p> <p>@Mrsbells: I also specifically picked out a non-teaching hospital because I don't want tons of random students going in and out. I am just horribly shy about my body. </p> <p>@hergreenapples: You're right, an induction of course comes with risk and it would probably be silly. I tend to get anxious about things I can't plan or control. </p> <p>@mrs. bird: That's so nice that they have midwives there 24/7! My understanding from the person I talked to on the phone is that everyone at my practice is in the rotation, including the new male OB. Which seems weird to me if you specifically wanted an OB or a midwife. I'll have to ask at my appointment if that's really the way it works. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-684824 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:49:43 +0000 Raindrop 684824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I first started working, I picked the cheapest health insurence and when I was looking for a OBGYN through that health insurence I was asked if I preferred female or male? I didn't think about it and said either was fine, but after a minute I said oh I take that back I would really like a female. </p> <p>The person on the line started giving me a lecture how I just said a minute ago I was fine with either! I said well I changed my mind. She still gave me some very rude comments about my preference for a female but set me up with a female anyways. I was quite upset. So upset I even changed my health insurence when my enrollment period came around.</p> <p>Now I have a female OBGYN but when I went into labor group of on call people one person was a male and he was the one that checked up on me when I came in. I was suprised, he was very nice and gentle! He was also very funny and had a med student following him and he was teaching her all the ins and outs of the delivery room. </p> <p>He was also very comforting I was super scared of giving birth and he gave me a compliment that helped me through. He said something to the effect that wow I was a super women not being on meds even though I was 5 cm dialiated. For some reason that comment made me feel like I could give birth and that I was ready.</p> <p>His shift ended before I actually gave birth, but I wouldn't have minded if he delivered my baby. :)</p> <p>I think it depends on the situation. Definitely don't put yourself in a situation you are uncomfortable with. This is already a pretty stressful time in your life! You are not silly at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-684813 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:47:06 +0000 mrs. bird 684813@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsCB: i'm soooo with you on this one! i am not comfortable with a male OB &amp; DH would not be pleased about it either. i switched to a midwife office (old office was all woman, but shared on call hours with office that had a few male OBs) and until recently they didn't cover all hours at the hospital, so you were still likely to end up with a male OB for delivery =/ now they have midwives at this hospital 24/7 so no matter when labor/delivery takes place, there is always midwife there. that said, should something come up and support from an OB is needed, i could still end up with a male delivering, but even in the case of a c-section, the midwife is second scrub so she stays with you the whole time. there aren't any male nurses at my hospital in L&amp;D, postpartum or the nursery. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-684782 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:40:45 +0000 T.H.O.U. 684782@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsCB: Just curious, what would you do if at induction you ended up with a male nurse? </p> <p>I know for my delivery, my nurses probably saw a lot more of me than the Dr. did! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-684778 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:39:45 +0000 Honeybee 684778@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I prefer female doctors, but ended up with a male doctor on-call when I delivered both of my kids. When the time came, I jonestly did not care who was on the other end; I just wanted those babies OUT! </p> <p>I would ask your midwife if you can request a female OB, if the male doctor happens to be on-call when you go into labor. Some practices are very accomodating that way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-684777 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:39:45 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 684777@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not even pregnant and I worry about the same thing. I want to have a midwife just so I can ensure it's a woman. I'm not comfortable at all with my doctor being male! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-684753 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:36:13 +0000 prettylizy 684753@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I saw a male OB through my entire pregnancy, but he was in Florida golfing when I went into labour. I had a very nice female OB on call the day she arrived and I liked her a lot. I've never been uncomfortable seeing male practitioners though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-684602 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:13:08 +0000 looch 684602@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does the male OB have a specialty that none of the other staffers cover? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-684594 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:10:00 +0000 Mrsbells 684594@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My OB's practice is all female too but there were still male doctors at the hospital, and male student doctors </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-684568 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:05:29 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 684568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went with an all woman group. It just worked out that way, but I really liked them all and felt pretty comfortable with them. Luckily, labor and delivery happened when my OB was on call! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-684559 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:03:37 +0000 heartonastring 684559@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsCB: I totally hear you on not being comfortable with a male doctor. I am lucky to see a midwife exclusively, so the whole practice is female.</p> <p>While I completely understand where you're coming from and don't in any way want to trivialize what you're feeling, I don't think that scheduling a potentially unnecessary induction is the right solution. Inductions come with risks that are probably best avoided unless 100% necessary for yours or your baby's health and safety. </p> <p>I would say that you should speak to your midwife and/or doctor and explain your concerns and see if you can reach some sort of solution that meets both your needs :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-684544 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:58:50 +0000 regberadaisy 684544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsCB: Honestly, your OB is virtually non existent during labor &amp; delivery. The nurse is with you 99% of the time. Not sure if this is different with a midwife.<br /> re: inductions. I know my practice was uncomfortable/not willing to schedule inductions unless I was over a week late or for the baby's safety. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-684530 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:55:15 +0000 MamaG 684530@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My OB practice is all female. I was fortunate that I needed an induction and it was scheduled for when my doctor was oncall. As luck would have it I ended up with a c-section, performed by my doctor in the after hours. THe only male I saw during my stay was the anesthesiologist who was a godsend. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-684458 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:22:00 +0000 ShootingStar 684458@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone for making not feel ridiculous! I thought for sure someone would tell me to get over it, haha. </p> <p>I'll have to ask the midwife and see what she says, though I doubt there's any all female practices in the area if I decide to switch. Would it be crazy to consider an induction when the time comes so that I can see the practitioner that I want to? I also think it's weird how it works, because what if you went there specifically to see a midwife and ended up with an OB during delivery? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-684436 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:15:26 +0000 BelugaBean 684436@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had this issue too. I only wanted a female doctor and really wanted her to be on call when I went into labor. Well, a male doctor was on call. But honestly, I didn't care at all at the time and even postpartum I let a male student help out my nurses. I just didn't care at all and I actually really liked the doctor that delivered LO. I still think on a regular basis I'd prefer to see a female doctor but I didn't care during labor at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-684429 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:12:56 +0000 Mrs.Someone 684429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not silly at all! I'd feel the same way. Definitely ask questions, and if you're not comfortable with the answers, find a different office. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-684418 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:08:31 +0000 regberadaisy 684418@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm with you, I'm uncomfortable with males in a OB practice as well. That being said he probably is on hospital rotation which means there is no way to control if he will be on call when you go into labor. Because of that you probably should see him. :((</p> <p>I will say though during labor and delivery I had no shame. Boob hanging out, male nurses coming in, no problems. I was completely OK with it then. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-684406 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:05:27 +0000 pui 684406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think this is a pretty common concern... I'm sure they will be as accommodating as they can! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-684399 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:04:13 +0000 swurlygurl 684399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes!! Ugh, I feel for you. Pretty much the same exact thing happened to me. And... guess who was on call the weekend I had my baby?! Yep - the male Doctor. Still upset about it... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-684393 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:01:51 +0000 MsLipGloss 684393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsCB: What you are or are not comfortable with is not silly at all! I would definitely ask about appointments and delivery. If you are not satisfied with the answer, I would consider changing practices. I am sure you are not the only patient to ever feel the same way! </p> <p>As an aside, it may not be possible to avoid all men during the delivery process, as you may have male nurses come in and out of the room. But to the extent possible, let your comfort be your guide! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/uncomfortable-with-male-ob#post-684380 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:56:53 +0000 ShootingStar 684380@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not sure if this will be perceived as silly or not, but I am not comfortable with being seen by a male OB for any appointments that involve removing clothing. I specifically picked out a midwife/OB practice with words "All Female" in their title, and then found out that they had recently added a male OB to their staff.</p> <p>I have my first appointment with a female midwife next week and I'd like to ask some questions about whether I get the choice to see him or not. I'm also concerned whether he could be the doctor on call when I go into labor, how that would work.</p> <p>Did anyone else have any similar experiences where they preferred not to see a male? How did you handle it? </p>