Did your partner want to cut the umbilical cord?

[Maruschke]

DH and I have started discussing birth plans, and I have discovered that he has no intentions whatsoever of cutting the cord! This surprised me as I thought it was something most fathers wanted to do.

So, did your partner want to cut the cord?

I tried to add a Yes/No poll but couldn't figure out how to do it. Mod help?

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

My sister just had a baby and had to tell DH to cut the cord - he was scared of hurting the baby!

[Kazbah]

DH was ambivelant but the nurses told him to - he was sorta suprised by the elasticity of it.

[Captain]

When we discussed it, DH didn't want to. At DD1's birth he didn't have a choice, the Dr did it. For DD2 DH did cut it and was quite happy that he did.

[Lulu]

Dp had a go at the first birth but was weirded out by the texture and let my sister do it!

Next time he let the doula do it!

No biggie really, I think its more to help the dads feel included. Most of them feel plenty included once they have been abused my their labouring partners

[feeb]

DH said awww no way and I kept telling him he should.

On the day he actually did (well trimmed it as cs birth) and he was sooooooooooooooo excited and not at all groused out!!!!!!!!!

good luck

[rhyb]

We never discussed it but DP did it and is glad he did. I guess that was his physical part of labour in his eyes.

[~Debbie~]

DH cut Aidens. He said it was a bit tougher then expected.. Quote " it was a grissily son of a b....." (mind you, he said that just now, and not at the birth, cause, that would be slightly untimely )

BTW Oscar - you can only do poll's in the baby name threads.

[~Kim~]

My DH was adamant he wouldn't (he didn't even really want to be there - he is grossed out really easily) but at the time he was so excited he forgot and just did as he was told lol. He's proud he did now.

[Trillian]

My DH never wanted to cut the cord for any of ours. I always asked him just to be sure, and he always said no. It just wasn't something he wanted to do and I wasn't fussed either way. It didn't make the experience of becomming parents for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th time any less special/significant for not having done it either.

[SamiH]

DS1 - we didn't even discuss it - and silly enough I just assumed he would do it - and more to the point he wanted to. He did, wasn't fussed - but I agree with Trillian, doesn't alter the experience of becoming parents.

He also then cut it for #2 and #3.

It's not a big thing in the overall picture, so if he doesn't want to, don't worry about it. Maybe exchange it with, so you get to sleep in every Sunday until the child leaves home ...

[Snacks]

Same as Trillian's DH, my DH said he didn't want to but we asked him anyway at the time, and still no.
Didn't bother me at all. DH is fairly squeamish and I was just so proud of how well he coped with all the blood/lochia - I'm glad he didn't faint
ETA: He can always decide at the time. I'd be surprised if the hospital staff didn't offer - it seems to be a common practice.

[~Amy~]

At DD's birth DF desperatly wanted to cut it------he even asked the midwife if he could cut it so it would be an inny belly button. The midwife of course laughed at him & said that u cant make belly buttons inny's or outies. FYI, DD has the most outiest belly button ever ! U can see it poking out through her clothes hehe.
TBH, i cant even remember if he cut it at DS's birth. I dont think he did, i dunno cant remember.
It's not a major thing if he doesnt want to cut it. Doesnt make the whole experience any less exhilerating(sp)

[Maruschke]

Thanks everyone, I guess I was just shocked at his response! I always assumed that all fathers want this but turns out they don't.

It's not a big thing in the overall picture, so if he doesn't want to, don't worry about it. Maybe exchange it with, so you get to sleep in every Sunday until the child leaves home ...

Bwahahaha great idea!

[Boo Boo]

No - definitely not - when it comes to anything medical related he is absolutely hopeless, but I offered with DD1 and have offered with this one and still a big NOOOOOOO!!! He is surprisingly good in labour with me so I can't complain and do understand as I am a bit squeamish about these things myself

Laurin

[Shanti]

Yep, my DH really wants to cut the cord. It doesnt' bother him. Although he is a registered nurse so things like that don't bother him anyway whereas some guys it does perhaps....

Yeah Oscar tell him that's cool cos' you'd rather have sleep-ins for the next 18yrs hahahah!!!

[OceanPrincess]

I voted for my sister, my BIL was really weirded out by the cord and didn't want to do it. So I did! Yay.

For me, I am pretty sure that DH will want to cut it - he has birthed calves on his grandparent's farms so I don't think he's too squeamish!

[Antheia]

Nope. My DH has a thing about touching/cutting the cord. It grosses him out. With DD we didnt get a choice cause the doctor did it straight away. With DS i cut it and with this one DD will get to cut it.