Men can get pregnant and give birth, student midwives taught
MIDWIFERY students have been taught in an errorstrewn training guide that biological males can get pregnant and give birth.
Undergraduates at Edinburgh Napier University were told how to administer catheters to biological males during labour.
Students were given a ‘Skills Workbook’ which contained guidance about caring for biologically male ‘birthing people’.
The book stated: ‘It is important to note that while most times the birthing person will have female genitalia, you may be caring for a pregnant or birthing person who is transitioning from male to female and may still have external male genitalia.’
In one section, instructions are given on how to insert a catheter into a man’s penis.
The errors were highlighted by whistleblowing students who did not want to be named out of fear for their future careers.
While tutors later realised the errors, a correction to the training guide only altered the wording in the introduction, changing ‘male to female’ to ‘female to male.’
All references to the handling of male biology remained, but also added the suggestion that a female to male transgender person could give birth through surgically constructed genitalia.
Dr Susan Bewley, emeritus professor in obstetrics at King’s College London, said: ‘This guidance is muddled and potentially dangerous.
‘There is no situation where a midwife in routine practice would have to catheterise a natural penis. There are no circumstances whereby qualified midwives can possibly be asked, or be expected, to catheterise a penis as part of their professional work.
‘Even if a trans man had undergone complex genital surgery and was giving birth, then that situation would require an individualised care plan.’
She added: ‘Institutions of learning need to teach fact-checking ... it looks like this university has not done its homework.
‘These materials are the opposite of the high-quality training that patients need from midwives and doctors.’
Elaine Miller, fellow of the Chartered Society for Physiotherapy, said: ‘It is not possible for a male person to get pregnant.
‘A female with a gender difference can become pregnant but will not have male genitalia.’
A spokesman for the university commented: ‘Edinburgh Napier University is committed to upholding the professional standards required of us by the Nursing and Midwifery Council and wishes to be inclusive of all people, including those who identify within the LGBTQ+ communities.
‘The teaching materials will be updated as required.’