A group of men on the island, who are strong proponents of home births and midwives, want people to realise that men are an important part of the birthing process.

Michael Watson and his wife Sophie Cannonier caused quite a stir when they went ahead with their plans for a home birth seven months ago, despite the medical establishment?s ?we don?t do that here? mentality.

?At first I was very tentative about it but I knew it?s what Sophie wanted, so I got involved,? Mr. Watson said. And he?s happy he listened to his wife?s wishes. He found the experience ?beautiful and profound?.

He feels he has a special connection with his son because he played a large role in the delivery. The physician that was expected to deliver their child at their Cavendish Heights home was actually off the island when his wife went into delivery so it was left to Mr. Watson to assist his wife with the help of a trained labour companion.

A few of Mr. Watson?s friends have told him they feel very alienated from their child?s birth and the first few months of its life because such a small emphasis is put on the role of men in delivering and rearing a child. Mr. Watson feels that it is crucial that men are involved in the birthing process because it ?brings a male energy to the child?s life right away.?

He also said that, ?in Bermuda a lot of fathers are very distant from their children and that needs to be rectified. I think that begins with the birth.?

Colwyn Burchall felt that many of recent stories about alternatives to hospital births failed to mention the role of men in the process.

He is very passionate about home births and feels that men are a big part of the process: ?we?re one half of the unit but we?re often pushed aside.?

Mr. Burchall feels the birth of a child is one of the most important events in a man?s life.

In 2004 Mr. Burchall and his partner experienced the birth of their first child in Toronto with the help of two midwives.

He said that he did a lot of research about the birthing process and the alternatives to a hospital birth.

They wanted to be in control of the situation and feel comfortable with the people delivering their child. He was also astonished by Bermuda?s inception rate, which he said is around 25 or 30 per cent and felt that the number was too high.

Luckily both his partner and him were studying in Canada at the time which he?s happy about because, ?I realised that there are not many options in Bermuda.?

Iman Gibbons is another man involved in the loose network of people interested in home births. His wife gave birth to their daughter in Maryland in 2000.

By all accounts it was stress free and their child was brought into the world in a very loving environment.

Prior to the birth they went to many sessions with their midwife and regularly visited their doctor. Mr. Gibbons feels that Bermuda needs to catch up with the rest of the western world, which is moving towards using midwives in the delivery process.

He also thinks that the safety of home births is not an issue: ?If it?s done right it?s just as safe and you can get to the hospital quickly if a complication arises. Generally they (midwives) know early on if there is going to be a problem.?

All of the men want to see more options for Bermudian couples, including the option to have your child at home. However, they also said that home births aren?t for everyone.

Mr. Burchall feels that the island needs a birthing centre with water tanks and midwives that are actively involved in the delivery.

He feels this is important because it will meet the needs of couples who want more than the Maternity Ward currently offers but feel home births are too ?left of centre?.

Mr. Watson agrees with Mr. Burchall, he also feels that there is a bit of a movement starting because people are talking about the issue more: ?There is the need and the want for change. I don?t think the system is geared towards the family, it?s geared towards the process of delivery. The key is to give people a choice.?

All of the men felt the use of midwives and home births allow a couple more involvement in important decisions and provides a more comfortable environment for the birth.

As Mr. Burchall said: ?Pizza?s are delivered but babies are born.?