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Original poster

To ask if you counted fingers and toes when your baby was born?

64 replies

ThatRedBeaker · 19/12/2025 18:09

I’ve always heard people say they check their baby’s fingers and toes right away and I wonder if that’s really something most parents do in the moment? Is it instinct? Tradition? Sentimentality? Or were you too overwhelmed or emotional to even think of it?

Curious what others did and whether it actually mattered to you in that moment.

OP posts:
DysmalRadius · 19/12/2025 18:16

Well, this is embarrassing... 😂😂

To ask if you counted fingers and toes when your baby was born?
CleoFigaro · 19/12/2025 18:15

I think it's an expression, you don't actually count fingers and toes but sort of inspect your baby from head to toe and marvel at them being so perfectly formed. I always thought it meant that anyway.

TheChosenTwo · 19/12/2025 18:15

I didn’t but remember the midwives doing it, counting to ten out loud each time!

HippeePrincess · 19/12/2025 18:15

No I never did.

CuddlyBlankets · 19/12/2025 18:14

No! I was just happy that they arrived safely, were breathing, feeding etc. fingers were the least of my worries!

moondip · 19/12/2025 18:14

The midwives did. (July this year!)

IndigoIsMyFavouriteColour · 19/12/2025 18:14

I didn’t check any of mine. I suppose I thought it was something the midwives did

FlashingFairyLight · 19/12/2025 18:14

Not straight away, no!

I probably registered it subconsciously while marvelling at their perfection in subsequent days.

blueberrymojito · 19/12/2025 18:13

I didn’t need to, the midwife did it both times as soon as they were born. Different hospitals, born ten years apart. Just thought it was something they did routinely!

TeaandHobnobs · 19/12/2025 18:13

I didn’t count them as such, but I did realise straightaway that DD had a huge birthmark (a bit like a port-au-wine (?) stain) across a couple of her toes.

DysmalRadius · 19/12/2025 18:13

I sort of assumed the midwife would do that when they do their other checks. Not sure I ever bothered. Might just do a quick check now... 😬

DoingTheBestICanAsUsual · 19/12/2025 18:13

I did, but the 2nd and 3rd toes are all fused on both feet in their dad's family.

Curiousrobin · 19/12/2025 18:12

Don't think I counted them but then again I think it's always quite obvious when you look that there's an extra or one missing!

Nicknacky · 19/12/2025 18:11

No and 12 hours later while I was feeding her I realised she had two fingers fused together. No one noticed!

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