My DH almost did delivery our bub - he had one leg and the midwife had the other and they were helping me "push" the midwife actually said too him he could "catch" her if he wanted. Than my Ob arrived and she took over and he was up my end looking after me which he was more than happy to do - he did cut the cord tho!
And as for him looking - well i did snap at him at one stage telling him he couldn't look (cause i thought i was going too poop myself which thank god i didnt) i also saw the look of slight dissapointment on his face - in the end i didnt really care who looked! so yep DH got too see his daughter being born!
DP 'caught' DS, underwater
I would never condemn a man or coerce him if he did not feel comfortable being involved. He will be a liability if he's there under duress and no sort of support a birthing woman needs.
Both my wife and I caught our first - we were both in the water together. It was a wonderful experience and one of the few in my life I can honestly say I will never forget. The memory of it has not faded one iota four years later.
I would highly recommend it. For fathers that are feeling squeamish, I can understand - maybe try watching some birth videos or looking at some birth photographs. It is difficult for some men who have been brought up to be scared of body fluids and things like that, but if they can overcome that concern, it is a truly unique experience.
Yes! I'd like for him to do it but he thinks its a bit gross. He told me that he doesnt think he could be quite that involved, which made me feel a little bit upset. He didnt even want to cut the cord.
My dh caught #2, I had him at home though. I didn't even realise dh had gotten into the bathtub too, except the head popped out and I could hear dh tell me, look Nelle there's the head and say I was doing good. So I didn't really think twice about it, lol, and I imagine if we'd been in a hospital dh would have probably said he didn't feel confident to catch.
But yeah, I'd definitely let him catch again, depending on how things were going at the time.
DH delivered both our babies, with the midwife next to him each time. With DD's birth DH cut her cord but with DS's birth I got to cut the cord (something I wanted).
My DH asked at the start of DD's birth how involved he could be & the midwife said as involved as he liked. I had a mirror with DD's birth so I could see aswell & the midwife asked DH if he was ready to catch DD, she shuffled side ways & he was stoked to be able to be so involved.
Second time round we told the midwife thats what we wanted & she didnt have a problem with it either.
I think its great for a father to be able to do (if they're happy to do it) it's so different to the "old days" when DH's weren't even allowed in the room! If someone's got to catch your baby, might as well be one of the parents & as others have said, DH's miss out on so much through the pregnancy (& put up with so much from us) I think they deserve to have the choice to catch the baby if its a complication free delivery
I would love for my DH to catch, but he probably never will...he still goes on about how the midwife tricked him into looking as DD was crowning. She just said to him "hey, come here!" - DH had no idea and dutifully went down the business end and saw DD's head, which he was totally unprepared for
Didn't worry me one bit and I'm actually glad...I think he is too because he knows he never would have gone to look without her doing that
I have been at a hospital birth that was pretty traumatic, and at the moment i kinda think i wouldn't want to subject my partner to it, and wouldn't want him to see me like that.
However, when i think of a homebirth/waterbirth i get a different feeling, and a different picture in my head and think it would be a great thing.
Well with Izzy I catched her I was sitting on a chair and the midwife said after the head had came out to get my hands down there (she guided me where to hold) and the next contration i pulled her out on to my chest...
I would love for tim to do it this time.. Definitly something i would encourage him to do the amouint of emense (sp?) proud and excitment and joy that i felt in that moment still has not lessened any today!
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