Would you let your DH "catch" the baby?

[Aimz]

Obviously I am thinking WAY ahead here but I am curious...

Provided that there are no complications would you or have you let your DH/DP/DF "catch" or deliver your baby? Do hospitals generally welcome father participation to this extent? Would you mind having your DH "down there" at that moment?

I think it would be a beautiful way to include DH in the birth aside from just cutting the cord. I know my DH would be really comfortable with this level of involvement and would love to be hands on with our birthing experience.

Would love to hear anyone's opinion on this.

[LaDeeDa]

I would love for Dan to do that but he's still squeamish at cuttting the cord - although he is coming around.
I know at our birthing centre they really encourage the dad's participation which i personally think is great - the poor guys get excluded from so much of a pregnancy

[Antheia]

I would love for my DH to do this. It's the ultimate way for them being involved. However my DH doesn't want to do it! Which im a tad sad about.

[Arimeh]

Obviously I wouldn't be speaking from personal experience - but my friends had their baby at the same hospital I go to - and with the same OB - and the OB stood aside at crunch time and my friend got to catch Alex on his way out. I think its beautiful for a father to be able to experience that.

xx

[Visitor7]

My dh assisted with the delivery with both of our girls. I'm not too sure of how much he did, cause I couldn't see! But he was down there with the midwife 'helping' out.

[Kazbah]

heheeh, my husband couldn't even speak, so I doubt he'd be able to "catch" (prolly just as well, the midwife couldn't catch him as he came out like a missile!"

Next time though ...

[sangie]

My DH delivered DD and he loved it, still talks about it 18 months later!

It was a spur of the moment thing. My OB asked DH towards the end of my labour if he wanted to deliver his baby and DH jumped at the chance. OB was there when DD's head came out to unravel the cord (it was wrapped round her neck) and then he stepped aside and let DH catch her. It was fantastic seeing DH hold her up to me!

I guess it could be an issue if your partner is squemish with blood/fluids though. Last thing you need is your partner fainting lol!

[Alan]

I often try to encourage DH to catch the baby, unfortunately most of them refuse

[SamiH]

In my recent birth - DH caught Zander literally - a hard one too cos I was standing up!

We talked about it when I was doing my birth preferences - he is so proud of it (although he did say it was all pretty messy LOL) and jokes to his mates but is really chuffed when he says he "had the catcher's mitts on" ....

I didn't even check he was there before I started to push - I trusted him implicitly.

[*Efjay*]

I would love DH to catch my babies but he isn't keen. Poor bugger had to sit for my last LOL

[Megan]

This is something my DH would love to do. He mentioned it in early pregnancy, and I wasn't sure. After thinking about it a bit more though, if everything is going well I would be happy for him to do it.

[briggsy's girl]

if it were safe for him (he'd freak out if there were complications) i'd encourage DH to catch our Gremlin. i think it would be so much nicer for the first person to hold our bub to be one of us - and i'm guessing it would be easier for him to wear the catchers mitt than me!

[Freya]

With our first two DH watched the entire thing from down the business end, cut the cord etc. This time round he's actually going to guide baby's head out, and pull him up onto my chest! He's pretty darn excited about it and feels sufficiently learned after watching it happen twice before

I think it'll be a nice 'final baby' experience iykwim. Esp seeing as the 2nd time round he didnt get to hold bub for a few hours as I was too busy feeding and baby gazing. This time he'll sort of get to touch him and 'help' birth him and then I can cuddle as long as I want with no hard feelings.

If your Dh is up for it and your caregiver allows it I say go for it, he wont regret it!

[danniellabella]

I would but when DD was born there were complications. Even if there weren't complications he wouldn't have. He did have a look down there while her head came out but said it was gross so he was happy just to stay up near my head and hold my hand.

[Kitt3n]

DH has every intention of doing so

Hopefully those intentions will be put to the test soon!

[Salsa]

I often try to encourage DH to catch the baby, unfortunately most of them refuse

Why is this??

i think it would be so much nicer for the first person to hold our bub to be one of us -

Yea, I agree.
Not sure if either of us feels compelled to though...

[Freya]

Im guessing alot of partners think the Drs can do it better or safer - little do they know theyd prob do just as good a job my midwife will be there to verbally guide Dh JIC the cord is wrapped around bubs neck or something but really I do all the hard work he just has to catch when he pops out.

[Lozza]

I was very nervous when my dh wanted to deliver our baby but then theres always help not far away. So my dh delivered our ds and it made it even more special and we'd do it again. I guess it just makes them even more apart of the experience and my dh was pretty proud of doing it too