Catching your own baby?

[plasticspoon]

On the freebirthing thread someone (think MunNWLondon?) mentioned catching their own baby, an idea I was really taken with. Can anyone share their experiences of this, please? Did you plan to, and if so did you write it in your actual birth plan? Or was it spontaneous? How did you mw react to the idea? Your partner? How realistic is it for me to want to do so with my first baby?!

Thanks :)

I've seen it done in a birth pool (on tv obs) - think that is most feasible way

Water is the easiest way to catch your own. or possibly supported squatting.

It was spontaneous...MW encouraged me to catch my son as he was born. I hadn't planned a water birth but decided to use the birthing pool when I arrived at the hospital.

It really is a fantastic feeling being the first person to hold your child!

I did it with my last. I was in a squatting position on the end of the bed and my lovely doctor told me to reach down. I thought she meant to feel the top of the baby's head but then she said "no both hands!". The next thing I knew I lifted my own baby as she came out (with a little help) and cradled her on my chest.

It was amazing, not something I had planned or even thought you could do but it was wonderful.

I'm interested in this too - would love a water birth as well. Must be amazing to catch your own baby! (I'm 36+1wks with dc3)