Partner cutting cord during c section.

[CatTheMouse]

I'm booked in for my c section on the 30th, though it may be brought forward. This is my fourth one and I'm being sterilised at the same time. However this is my partner's first child and we'd both love him to be the one who cuts the cord ( the first cut from me, not the excess that usually partners cut). Has anyone done this? My midwife looked quite disapproving when we asked due to him needed to be scrubbed up.

I can't see how it would be possible for him to do the first cut. Bear in mind the cord isn't that long so he would have to come round into the sterile field, lean over your open abdomen and handle sterile instruments to do this.

Would you want someone who isn't scrubbed up to do that? Bearing in mind it's YOU that's exposed to infection as a result.

Would you want someone who isn't trained in how to scrub up effectively to perform the surgery? Because even if he scrubs up, without the training and knowledge he is unlikely to be fully sterile.

Would he have a strong enough stomach to even be able to be so close to your open abdomen to do it? What if baby has an unusually short cord that sometimes happens, how close could he get before feeling squeamish? Even someone who isn't squeamish may find it hard when it's their loved one lying on the table.

Doing the second cut wouldn't be a problem and most will offer this.

I'm making it about him. I've done this all before, he hasn't and I know I'm not comfortable holding the baby until I'm in recovery so I'd rather give him the opportunity to bond at that point rather than hovering by my head and feeling unsure with people watching him.

My ex took all of mine into recovery to see my mum so I'm sure our hospital won't mind him doing similar and settling somewhere with our son. He's felt very uninvolved in this pregnancy for various reasons and it doesn't feel real to him yet so that's why I wanted him to have something active to do and look forward to.

Still, plans change and the skin on skin will have to be enough.

He won't fail to bond if he doesn't cut the cord. He gas years to bond. I don't see how cutting the cord us bonding. Are you clutching at straws? Men don't have much to do in childbirth except support their partner, as you know from previous births. He's the dad, that's his role, why are you trying to find him another one? Go with the flow.

Lol, and dad's cut the cord often, in a natural birth setting, so I'm hardly 'trying to find him another role'. And I've said that I understand that may not be possible. For us it was an important thing, doesn't mean anyone has to agree with us. I've never had anything but a c section, so never needed supporting through labour. My ex didn't want to be involved with any of it until the baby was born, and wouldn't have wanted to do skin to skin himself. So I'm actually quite pleased to be with a partner who wants to be a part of it all more actively, in whatever way we deem important and meaningful. I only asked if anyone had experience of making the first cut of the cord in a c section environment, thank you to those who answered.