Umbilical Cord Question [Archive] - RonFez.net Messageboard

WhistlePig

04-19-2006, 06:54 PM

Question for dads: Did you cut the umbilical cord when your wife gave birth? Why
or why not? And did it do anything for you? I've heard about this ritual and can't
find many facts about it--just that it is common practice now. I think it's kind of
weird. Is it supposed to symbolize something? Or is it just to give the dad
something to do to feel a part of the birth?

PapaBear

04-19-2006, 06:58 PM

It wasn't offered as an option with my first two (14 and 16 years ago) and it never occured to me. It was offered for my third kid (10 years ago) and I said no. They acted surprised that I didn't want to. I didn't feel comfortable doing it, and I was more concerned with the condition of my wife and child than getting into some "ritual" that I'd never heard of.

This message was edited by PapaBear on 4-20-06 @ 12:33 AM

mikeyboy

04-19-2006, 07:02 PM

It tastes better than the placenta.

IamFogHat

04-19-2006, 07:40 PM

I simmered my son's with some sautee'd shrimp and some scalloped potatoes.  Delicious.Now I'm fuckin' starvin'

WhistlePig

04-20-2006, 08:54 AM

Thanks for being honest Papabear! How was the whole delivery experience overall?
Now it's the norm for the dad to be in the delivery room, and that's another
question--do dads REALLY want to be in there or do they feel pressured? I
certainly wouldn't make my husband go in if he didn't want to--in fact, I'd prefer if
he didn't. But if he really wanted to be there, I wouldn't bar him from the room.

EliSnow

04-20-2006, 08:58 AM

I wasn't given the option, and in retrospect, I don't think it was that important.  Holding my daughter is a lot better option.

Hottub

04-20-2006, 09:06 AM

Ist off all, Congratulations!!! Best of luck.To be honest with you I can't remember if I cut it, or not. (At least with my 1st. 2nd was C Section) The Dad really should be in the room. Not only to witness this AMAZING event, but to help Mom out. Get the ice, help with the breathing, make sure she is comfortable, help mop up the mess, be there so mom has somebody to call Asshole.Then they cleaned him up, wrapped him in a blanket and handed him to me.I cried like a little bitch!!

EliSnow

04-20-2006, 09:16 AM

I agree that the father should be in the room.  He does not have to actually watch the baby come out (I tried not to, but the doctor made me look), but it is very helpful to the mother.  I think my talking helped my wife make it through some of the tough pushing.

torker

04-20-2006, 09:35 AM

Cutting the cord was not presented as an option during my wife's c-section.  They were rushing to get the second baby out.  However, I did get to see my wife's guts.                                                 <img height="215" src="http://www.sensesofcinema.com/images/directors/02/22/brood.jpg" width="206" border="0" />

FUNKMAN

04-20-2006, 10:56 AM

i don't believe the doctor asked me and i had no desire to do it...with our first daughter there was a little nervous moment when her head came out and the chord was wrapped around her neck. i could see the change in expression on the doc's face and he calmly reached down and removed it from around her neck...didn't take any pictures or movies either

Tall_James

04-20-2006, 10:59 AM

I did it for both of my children.  The first time I was kinda freaked out but did it anyway because I didn't want to look like a tool in front of everyone in the room.The second time, I took the scissors and said out loud "I hearby pronounce this baby officially open!" and then cut the cord like I was presiding at the grand opening of a Wal-Mart.I'm such an ass.

PapaBear

04-20-2006, 11:08 AM

I wanted to be there, but I was still nervous about it. Though I did want to be there, my situation was didifferent than what your husband's is. You said you weren't sure if you want him there. I would have been strung up if I hadn't been there. Still... I think I still would have been there, if it were totally up to me. If he is going to be there, make sure the two of you take birthing classes. I couldn't have dealt without them.

FUNKMAN

04-20-2006, 11:15 AM

with our first daughter my wife was rubbing her tummy as she was going through contractions and it reminded me of the "wish i had a watermelon" song so i started singing it and as soon as she began laughing she started to have a contraction and she then got really pissed at me for making her laughwith the second daughter she's doing basically the same thing and i'm sitting in a lazy-boy chair next to her. she let's out this big moan and i jump out of the chair and as i'm standing there i realize "what the fuck am i gonna do" and i just sit back down... she started cracking up at how useless i was

HBox

04-20-2006, 11:21 AM

The second time, I took the scissors and said
out loud "I hearby pronounce this baby officially open!" and then cut
the cord like I was presiding at the grand opening of a Wal-Mart.I hope that one wasn't a girl.

walking joint

04-20-2006, 11:28 AM

with the second daughter she's doing basically the same thing and i'm sitting in a lazy-boy chair next to her. she let's out this big moan and i jump out of the chair and as i'm standing there i realize "what the fuck am i gonna do" and i just sit back down... she started cracking up at how useless i washaha...we are expecting our first child in October and this is pretty much how i envision my experience going....just with alot of evil stares and probably alot of 4 letter words thrown my way. i would probably cut the cord if they asked me, but either way is fine with me.  just want a healthy baby and wife afterwards.  just heard the heartbeat for the first time yesterday(week 14).  little guy/girl already made me smile.

Crash

04-20-2006, 11:30 AM

Congratulations and Good Luck!After 30 hours of labor it became clear that my daughter wasn't going anywhere and that it was C-Section time. She did a lot of dancing in the womb and wrapped the umbilical cord around herself - twice.So cutting the cord was not an option for me either. But I agree with EliSnow, everything else in the world is just a small, pale, second best when you hold your daughter for the first time.

EliSnow

04-20-2006, 12:08 PM

It's funny what you remember from a birth.  I pretty much remember everything but one of the things that stuck in my head was my wife dropping f-bombs left and right, and then saying "God love a duck," which is what her father said when he wanted to say "fuck."   One of the things I suggest is having the father wear a white t-shirt so that when the baby's foot is printed, he can have the foot prints on his shirt.  We did that with my daughter and it was nice thing to have.

This message was edited by EliSnow on 4-20-06 @ 4:10 PM

Tall_James

04-20-2006, 12:12 PM

walking joint wrote:  with the second daughter she's doing basically the same thing and i'm sitting in a lazy-boy chair next to her. she let's out this big moan and i jump out of the chair and as i'm standing there i realize "what the fuck am i gonna do" and i just sit back down... she started cracking up at how useless i was  haha...we are expecting our first child in October and this is pretty much how i envision my experience going....just with alot of evil stares and probably alot of 4 letter words thrown my way. i would probably cut the cord if they asked me, but either way is fine with me.  just want a healthy baby and wife afterwards.  just heard the heartbeat for the first time yesterday(week 14).  little guy/girl already made me smile.  Congratulations!

WhistlePig

04-20-2006, 01:16 PM

First off, congrats Walking Joint!

These are all great stories. Thanks for sharing them you guys.

I guess I'll let my husband in the delivery room. My problem is I'm so painfully
modest and easily embarassed I'd rather face this by myself than risk my husband
seeing anything gross. I've got to make sure there is NO mirror and a screen and
I'm as covered as possible. I've heard horror stories where the woman POOPS on
the table while pushing. I'd be mortified!

EliSnow

04-20-2006, 01:24 PM

WhistlePig wrote: I've heard horror stories where the woman POOPS on the table while pushing. I'd be mortified! I think it's more likely than not that it happens. But again, all of the things that happen don't matter as much once you have your child in your arms.  

This message was edited by EliSnow on 4-20-06 @ 5:26 PM