Has anyone cut the cord themselves? DP doesn't want too...

[norktasticninja]

I'm writing my birth plan (finally, at nearly 36 weeks ) and I'd hoped that DP would want to cut the cord. It turns out he really doesn't want too, far too squeamish apparently.

Would it be really very sick weird to ask for the option to do it myself if I feel I want to at the time?

why would it be sick or weird to cut the cord yourself?? you can or the MW will, or your DP might change his mind at the birth

There's a fair chance your DP will change his mind. Mine wasn't keen but when the moment came he was really up for it and looks back on it as a significant moment.

He'll have to get over being squeamish if he's hoing to be there through the whole of labour.

my DH has never wanted to and has never changed his mind at any of the three births.
It is nothing to do with being squeamish - he just hates the whole idea. It strikes him instinctively as seperating the mother from her child and inserting himself into that bond. Yes I know tis weird but that is how it feels to him

If I were you I would just ask to do it myself if that is what you want but the cutting of the cord was not a big symbolic thing to me - I just wanted to take a deep breath and then be given my baby.
For me ( and i am weird too) the whole process of giving birth is so fantastic and overwhelming and has so many moments that just happen ( not normally in the way you expect) that working out n advance the 'special' moments seems over artificial and a bit forced.

I think it would be complicated to cut the cord yourself if having a managed 3rd stage as you will have your baby on your chest and be a little overwhelmed (if everything has gone well ). But it could be a lovely finish to a natural delivery of the attached placenta? I had chose to have the cord cut before I delivered DD2's placenta in the end because I wanted to do it somewhere else and alone but the MW made a very precise request for permission to do it which was fantastic (not sure why so important to me....maybe the stark contrast to DD1's birth ).

Oh, my DH was put off by the DH of a friend who had been all for it but is still sarred by the event...he expected it to by like cutting a jelly sweet for example but said it was really gristly and he felt like he was cutting through a finger but couldn't change his mind once he was doing it

scarred

Not sure Lulu, if just feels slightly odd if I think about it now. Maybe a bit like cutting myself and/or the baby I've said they must check DP hasn't changed his mind though...

DP was present for DDs birth so knows what to expect. He didn't want to do it last time either but didn't get the chance anyway, DD needed to be whisked away.

Oops wondered off half way through posting...

I'm hoping to leave teh cord uncut until after the third stage (am planning a home birth).

I did with ds2 and then ds3. Ds1 I didnt think to ask, dd was a section.

It felt like cutting through a hard chewy sweet

DH didn't want to do it and nor did I. Nothing odd about it (but the MWs were a bit surprised both times). If you want to do it and it is practical, I don't see why you shouldn't.

Thanks all. I think I'll just put that I want to be asked

My DH expressed a wish not to cut the cord(s) prior to my births and to be honest it never even crossed my mind to do it myself.

Wait until the moment, you both may feel differently.

My husband did not want to cut the cord and the midwife did it. The first time he said "bl*dy hll! Is the NHS really THAT short of midwives".

As far as being squemish, my husband looked away when both my children were actually born. He was in the room and held my hand .

Seriously I think if your DH does not want to cut the cord then his wishes should be respected.