Male Midwife Breaks Barriers at France’s Largest Maternity Hospital

Omar Touirsi, born in Denain to Moroccan parents, is one of the 641 male midwives in France and is "a ray of sunshine at Jeanne de Flandre", according to his colleagues. "He’s the cream of the crop," confides a trio of midwives to La Voix du Nord. Other colleagues testify to "Omar’s humor, his gentleness, his professionalism, the magic that operates in his presence".

"I didn’t know the midwife profession and the year of my Bac C, during a dinner with friends, I found myself at the table with one of them... I went with her to see how it was going. In this job, we take care of people who are doing well, who are waiting for a happy event. In the end, it’s just joy and good humor. We age less quickly by being in the positive!" says Omar, 49, always smiling.

The male midwife does not count the number of deliveries he has already performed. "It’s a new event every time. I invest as much for each birth," he assures. And Clémentine, a patient who has just given birth to Ismaël, won’t say otherwise. "The night was very complicated, with a lot of stress. The baby’s heart was slowing down and I was afraid of a C-section. And then Omar arrived. His humor, his feeling, his professionalism: everything changed in the room as soon as he arrived," she testifies.

"I had very good teachers. It’s thanks to them and their benevolence that the hospital is still running," Omar replies modestly, recalling the crucial role of midwives and the courage shown by all these mothers. The Moroccan is convinced that "women are stronger than men", calling on the authorities to declare the Mother’s Day holiday.