Malta’s first-ever male midwife will graduate in November, marking a historic milestone for the female-dominated profession.
At University of Malta – where generations have trained to support life’s greatest miracle – Nathan Zahra Piscopo, 22, is “breaking new ground”, UM said.
As the first male student to have just successfully completed his studies in midwifery at the university, he has earned his place as the country’s first registered male midwife, it said, highlighting that he has “made history”.
When he was told, at his first meeting with the lecturers at the Department of Midwifery, that he would not only be the first male student to start the course, but also the first male midwife once he graduated, Zahra Piscopo was “a bit shocked”.
He had known he would be the first male student, but “getting the confirmation that I would be the first male midwife made it all the more real”.
Zahra Piscopo said he had always wanted a career in healthcare and had been exposed to midwifery from a very young age.
“When I came to apply for university, I decided to go with my gut and choose the ‘unusual’ option.”
He had kept his plans to pursue a BSc course in midwifery a secret from everyone until he got accepted on the course.
“When I told my family, my mum, in particular, was over the moon. The rest have been nothing but supportive throughout the last four years and I am eternally grateful,” he said about their reaction.
Looking back, the Faculty of Health Sciences graduand said he did not face many challenges along the way, despite being the only male… that is “until our clients understand that I am a midwife.
“Usually, when I enter the room, I am met with: ‘Look, the doctor’s here’, or ‘the nurse is here to check me’. I always have to say: ‘Listen, I am the midwife’.”
Zahra Piscopo takes it in his stride: “I just take it upon myself to explain that I am a midwife and what I am there to do.”
Apart from that, he said he did not feel he faced any particular “backlash” that was different from other female students.
“Having gynaecologists who are men helped introduce males into the obstetrics scene from a very early age,” he maintained.
“Admittedly, there are instances where I would not be the best to provide care due to cultural beliefs. But our role as midwives is to be ‘with women’ and working for their best interest.”
The word ‘midwife’ literally meant ‘with women’, he explained, so it did not discriminate between genders. A midwife was someone who was simply ‘with woman’ during childbirth, offering a supportive, skilled help at one of the most intense and miraculous moments of life.
Gender plays no role in being able to provide women-centred care
“I always say that a good midwife is someone who is compassionate, caring, shows empathy and is respectful to women and their families. Gender plays no role in being able to provide women-centred care.
“One of the best parts of being a midwife is meeting parents and different families and helping them both during pregnancy and labour and then to transition into parenthood, which is what the role of the midwife is.
“A midwife is able to help as much as possible to make the transition to parenthood a seamless experience,” he said, encouraging anyone who has these traits and loves sharing birth experiences with couples and families to go for the profession.
Zahra Piscopo acknowledged that men have reached out about wanting to apply for midwifery in the past but held back due to certain beliefs.
The University of Malta said that like in other countries, the midwifery profession in Malta was historically female dominated. Formal training began in the 19th century, but through medical lecturers, not practising midwives.
Its Department of Midwifery has since made strides, with its members of staff all conducting research in areas such as the transition to parenthood, neonatal care and perinatal mental health, while passing on the discipline and preparing effective and efficient midwives.
However, so far, all the individuals who have graduated from the Midwifery course have been females, it pointed out.
Zahra Piscopo’s achievement marked a “historic milestone in Malta’s healthcare and reflected broader global shifts towards inclusivity in the profession”, the university said, looking forward to seeing him cross the graduation stage at Sir Temi Zammit Hall in November.
“His journey is just beginning, but he is already making an impact,” it said about the man who is “bringing compassion, skill and dedication into every delivery room”.