Share

Male midwife delivers dad and his newborn boy

accreditation

Thirty three years ago Kevin McEnderry was born at Addington Hospital in Durban, and he was delivered by Sydney Grove, who was then second in charge of the labour suite.

On 6 March Sydney, who is an accoucheur (male midwife) specialist and general manager of Origin Family-Centred Maternity Hospital in Panorama, Parow, was in attendance when Kevin’s son Kieran was born.

Mother Nicole McEnderry had to have a caesarean, and Sydney was present in the operating theatre when Kieran was born.

He says: “I am always bumping into women whose babies I have helped them birth, and recently I even went to the 21st birthday party of the first baby that I delivered in water – but being in attendance at the birth of the baby of a baby that I delivered over 30 years ago is a first for me!”

Sydney was the first male clinical tutor to teach Midwifery in SA, and he has delivered over 23 000 babies. He pioneered the scientific procedure for water births in SA, including recognition of water birth as a medical procedure, and produced a DVD (Madison Productions) on the method for educational purposes, which was distributed both locally and internationally. 

His nursing career has seen him fill roles from consultant for training and development to nursing manager, maternity unit manager, hospital media spokesperson and training and development manager. He has also overseen hospital accreditation and related training both in South Africa and overseas.

Did you have a male midwife? Send us your birth stories to chatback@parent24.com and we could publish them.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE