I had very long labors and very short deliveries and to tell you the truth, by the time I was ready to deliver I didn’t care if the Janitor delivered my baby, I just wanted that baby out safely and healthy. That is the most important thing. It would be great if everyone can follow their “Birth Plan” but when things get to an emergency level the birth plan is thrown out the window and one should be grateful to have any EMT or qualified person there to deliver a healthy baby into the world. Life is complicated enough and a delivery can be dangerous and complicated. Anyone with any knowledge of birth and delivery is a brocha to have close by. Yes it would be ideal to have a midwife, doula, or female Hatzola member come to one’s rescue but there is no guarantee of that even if women do join Hatzola. And of course when you get to the hospital there is no guarantee that you will have a female doctor deliver your baby either. Even women who choose to have a female OB, there is no guarantee that she will be the one to deliver your baby. She could be in with another patient, she could be in the office, she could be on vacation, she could be stuck in traffic. There are no guarantees.
So although both sides have good points, pros and cons, no matter what decisions are made, there are no guarantees that those who want a female responder will get what they want. And to be stubborn and hold out for one, will only result in dangerous situations and antagonism among Hatzolah members.