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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Did your DH/DP cut the cord?

52 replies

MamaLazarou · 29/12/2009 17:11

May I ask why? Just curious to know.

DH has no desire to cut the cord when we have our DC1 in a few weeks time. I don't care either way. But it does seem to be a popular thing to do. Is it just to give the DP something to do?

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dani87 · 30/12/2009 15:09

yes my dp did he wanted to feel more involved in labour! and im sure he will again this time round as he said it made him feel involved

HappyBump · 30/12/2009 15:15

My DH did. I don't think he thought he would before we went into hospital, but like one of the other posters the midwife gave him the scissors. I think he was glad he did and I think he will probably do it again. He was definitely very shell shocked by the whole event! In the photos he looks like a deer in headlights, where as I looked completely spaced out ... but that was probably the pethidine!

I am not sure I cared either way (again probably the pethidine) ... hadn't really thought about it.

notcitrus · 30/12/2009 15:18

I saw it as a question in a birth plan list thing and asked MrNC. He's not squeamish at all but looked a bit unnerved and said "I'd really prefer to have a professional do it!"

I figured they'd only give him the option if it was idiotproof, and we had visions of a cord with ribbon on it and MrNC declaiming "I hereby declare this baby OPEN!"

I had a section on my 1-page birth plan called "Stuff I really don't care about" which included 'Don't care who cuts the cord". I think MrNC was passed ds to hold while docs worried about the other end of the cord.

timelordvictorious · 30/12/2009 15:22

Nope. When the midwife asked him he looked horrified, as though she had asked him if he fancied the placenta on toast afterwards.

Snooch · 30/12/2009 15:24

DH cut DS1's cord, but didn't for DS2 - when asked, he said "No thanks, I nearly passed out last time"!

He's pretty squeamish and wasn't even supposed to be at either of their births, but found himself there anyway

castille · 30/12/2009 15:26

Yes, all 3 times

But then DH is a medical man entirely unfazed by gore, he wanted to shove the MW out of the way and deliver DC3 himself (he didn't)

morningpaper · 30/12/2009 15:26

No he shuddered at the thought - I suspect that ten years in the ambulance service took all the romance out of seeing people's innards

NomDePlume · 30/12/2009 15:33

DD (3rd) yes. The first 2 were too traumatic for him to be able to - DS1 very, very tricky breach which should have been em section, DS2 born 6wks early and taken to SCBU immediately. Too much medical intervention and shock the first 2 times.

DD was a nice relaxed, easy, complication free birth and DH was desperate to get in there and have a go! In fact he spent ages at the business end with the midwife whilst she talked him through the placenta and the cord and what each of the 3 vessels were for etc, he was fascinated

CremeDeMenthe · 30/12/2009 15:37

No.
He would've passed out if he'd had to go anywhere near the business end. I'm just glad that he was able to be in the same room.

Flame · 30/12/2009 15:39

dh was very much not interested for all 3

rosiefean · 30/12/2009 15:43

Yes, although he wasn't sure whether he wanted to or not until the time came and the midwife asked.

Like you, I wasn't bothered either way but I thought that as other dads do it he should have the option. I just asked him how he feels about it and he looked puzzled and said "I'm glad I did it" - pretty much how I feel about it too!

It's not the be-all and end-all, and it's not the only way men can be involved in labour (he was pretty fantastic all the way through) but it is nice for them to have the choice IMO.

thesecondcoming · 30/12/2009 16:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sweetkitty · 30/12/2009 16:41

No he hasn't for the three of them, he's been very much involved at the business end, he has dressed them all first and did the first nappy but isn't bothered about cutting the cords, we did have a good old nose at the placenta though, it's such a weird looking thing.

annamama · 30/12/2009 19:45

I'm surprised how many DH/DP didn't, as I thought it was a thing most fathers would want to do, to feel "part" of things... But it doesn't really matter! Mine did, he wanted to, said it was an experience he didn't want to miss (just asked him).

poinsettydawg · 30/12/2009 19:51

He cut dd2's but not dd1's.

dd1's birth was a lot more busy and stressful towards the end and I don't think he could face it.

He was asked with dd2, things were more relaxed, he thought he might as well.

lal123 · 01/01/2010 12:06

not with DD1 - cord needed unwrapped by mw, yes with DD2.

mii · 01/01/2010 12:08

yes, both times

BexieID · 01/01/2010 12:15

Tom - no, because he was on his way down from Scotland and missed the birth by 4 hours!

Erin - he was asked my midwife, can't remember if he did and it was only last tuesday she was born!

TheRedQueen · 01/01/2010 12:18

No. He was offered the chance at the time but said he didn't want to. (I actually wanted to do it myself but was too shy to ask!)

preggersplayspop · 01/01/2010 12:19

No, and I don't blame him for not wanting to. It looked so big I think we would have needed a hacksaw not a pair of scissors. The MW said I had a skipping rope in there it was so long!

FrannyandZooey · 01/01/2010 12:19

i don't see what is romantic about this
as for the symbolism i don't want my dp to symbolically separate me and my newborn baby - it seems entirely the WRONG kind of symbolic act to me, how about the father passing the newborn up to the mother for a cuddle, if they want to be involved? now that is romantic and has a nice symbolism

Wanderinginawinterwonderland · 01/01/2010 12:29

Through my whole pregnancy DP was adamant that he was going to stay by my head when I was pushing, and there was NO WAY he was going to cut the cord (he is very squeamish and can't watch operations on tv).

However, he watched DD be born and he cut the cord.

I don't know why he did. Makes the father feel useful? Dunno.

StayFrostyTheSnowMam · 01/01/2010 12:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ben5 · 01/01/2010 12:38

no. he missed birth of first child(he's in the forces) and didn't want to for second. i was glad he didn't!!

IMoveTheStarsForChristmas · 01/01/2010 12:46

Yes. It was in our birth plan that we wanted him to. He's very glad he did

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