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Original poster

Keeping a baby's belly button

53 replies

PollyWollyDoodleAllTheDay · 26/07/2023 10:00

Can anyone tell me if this is normal practise? And what you views are on it?

I've recently found out that my FIL has kept my DH's belly button/cord stump, whatever you want to call it and I'm disgusted by it!

I didn't even know this was a thing, since it's basically rotting flesh. He seemed quite proud when he announced it, it made me want to throw up and has since made me feel a bit weird about him.

OP posts:
Franklin2000 · 26/07/2023 10:37

I’ve kept both of my ds’s umbilical cords. I can’t throw bits of them away! They’ve just gone really hard, no smell or rotting involved! I’ve also kept all their baby teeth 🫣

Mammyloveswine · 26/07/2023 10:40

My sister has my nephews 🤢 she also has all of his teeth as "but they are his smile".., I am not sentimental like that and did not follow suit.

Mrsjayy · 26/07/2023 10:40

ElizaWinter · 26/07/2023 10:02

Umbilical cord

this op I did keep.them but I eventually threw them away ,I don't think it's disgusting or that unusual !

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Families
CindersAgain · 26/07/2023 10:40

I find it a bit unappealing, but DH wanted to keep them, so we have.

In terms of not understanding how it all works, I don’t think it’s totally obvious from biology lessons. It’s only when you have your own baby. Actually, even then, my own mother tells me my sister has an outie tummy button because the drs didn’t do a good job of cutting it. Which is obviously crap. I guess things can be a bit fuzzy when you’ve just had a baby.

Original poster
PollyWollyDoodleAllTheDay · 26/07/2023 10:40

Franklin2000 · 26/07/2023 10:37

I’ve kept both of my ds’s umbilical cords. I can’t throw bits of them away! They’ve just gone really hard, no smell or rotting involved! I’ve also kept all their baby teeth 🫣

The teeth, the hair. I can totally get. It's just this belly button business that's not sitting right with me. It's interesting to know that others do it and it's not something that the FIL conjured up! 😬

OP posts:
Franklin2000 · 26/07/2023 10:43

Oh yes the hair! I only kept a lock from DS1 but ds2 had masses of blond curls which I now have stuffed in 3 envelopes from various hair trims and his final chop to go short 😂. Luckily my hairdresser is as mad as me and happily went with my bonkers requests.

Mrsjayy · 26/07/2023 10:44

It's the umbilical cord nobody has littlenavels In jars 😄 I guess it's a connection to "you" thing as it fed a baby for gestation it's a fascinating concept.

watcherintherye · 26/07/2023 10:46

I would have felt the same as you, op, but then I’m quite squeamish and not into keeping redundant body parts as mementos. I hope this thread is reassuring you that your FIL isn’t weird! Don’t let it colour your opinion of him, if you get on well otherwise. Seems it’s a fairly common thing to do!

SmileyClare · 26/07/2023 10:46

I’m baffled that you don’t understand the difference between a “belly button” and an umbilical cord Confused

Hopefully that’s been cleared up for you now.

I find your visceral reaction a bit off. Try to be a little more open minded, instead of pulling sick faces, and a little less squeamish about the human body.

Snoopsnoggysnog · 26/07/2023 10:49

Never occurred to me to keep it, I know it’s part of them but I just saw it as how you might dispose of nail clippings really. Now slightly regretting it!
I do have locks of hair and I seem to have kept quite a few baby teeth…

Emmamoo89 · 26/07/2023 10:49

I've kept my sons and didn't even clean it Blush

Littlegoth · 26/07/2023 10:50

I’ve kept both of mine 😂

LaPerduta · 26/07/2023 10:55

PollyWollyDoodleAllTheDay · 26/07/2023 10:08

@CombatBarbie I've actually never heard of it myself, so no need for the eye roll.

You've never heard of an umbilical cord??

HarrietSchulenberg · 26/07/2023 10:58

Yeah, I've got all 3 of my kids' umbilical cord stumps with clamps still attached. Lots of people do, lots of people don't. Nothing unusual about it.

eatdrinkandbemerry · 26/07/2023 11:08

I kept the umbilical cord clamps 😂
But the actual cord would be gross

SmileyClare · 26/07/2023 11:13

Misaki · 26/07/2023 10:30

I live in Japan where everyone keeps the umbilical cord. The hospital even sends you home with a little wooden box to keep it in. Japanese people believed that if the umbilical cord is lost, then the child's soul is also lost - so people traditionally keep them. My husbands parents still have his, and they also have their own which they received after their own parents died.

This is a good point. Im surprised you’ve never heard of this practice/ tradition in other cultures?
Calling it gross and disgusting is all rather narrow minded, just because it’s something outside your own experience.

postitnote8 · 26/07/2023 11:15

I remember being horrified as a child that my mum had kept my baby brother's.
Fast forward 30+ years...I found my own 8 month old baby's in his changing box last week! I don't know why, I can't bring myself to throw it out. I don't think it's gross, but I can see why some people might.

TomWambsgansSwans · 26/07/2023 11:25

I kept my DD's for a few years then put it in the garden under a bush so it could feed the earth! I thought she might like that.

MotherofPearl · 26/07/2023 11:58

I have a wooden box filled with my DC's baby teeth. Grin Sorry OP!

Original poster
PollyWollyDoodleAllTheDay · 26/07/2023 12:08

MotherofPearl · 26/07/2023 11:58

I have a wooden box filled with my DC's baby teeth. Grin Sorry OP!

Please don't apologise! I don't have a problem with teeth! 😂

OP posts:
Flopsythebunny · 26/07/2023 12:28

I've kept the ones from my 3 children born in the 80's, and the clamps, the hospital wrist tags, baby teeth etc. I've even kept my dogs baby teeth.

mywifeandkids · 26/07/2023 12:36

Oh god I couldn't have kept DD's, it absolutely stank to high heaven 🤢

MrsMiddleMother · 26/07/2023 12:55

I think it's sweet personally and kept ds1 for a couple of years until I decided against it and just kept the clamp instead. It's a part of you and your child, what literally connected you together so I think it's special. I wouldn't personally keep teeth but understand why many do.

I think it's a massive overreaction to feel sick etc and can't help but think you need to grow up.

elfx · 26/07/2023 13:08

Threw my DD's straight in the bin in the baby changing room at Bella Italia 🤣 made me feel a bit sick when I saw it and couldn't wait for it to go!

Mrsjayy · 26/07/2023 13:10

elfx · 26/07/2023 13:08

Threw my DD's straight in the bin in the baby changing room at Bella Italia 🤣 made me feel a bit sick when I saw it and couldn't wait for it to go!

Ah fond memories 😂

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