Pulling out/catching baby?

gutsysneakers

Any STM+ pull out or "catch" their baby during delivery? I thought it would be such an awesome experience (if allowed to by hospital & w/an uncomplicated delivery). My husband thinks its odd, but I really like the idea. Anybody else do this? Thoughts/opinions? Any FTMs planning on doing this? 

ho11yday

I've been offered to by my midwives, but not something I'm interested in this time. I'll stick with my mirror. Maybe next time with next baby. (With each baby, I seem more involved with the birthing process.)

Good luck.

RedInLove

I have no plans to do this. However, I think DH would love to be able to help catch LO. I know he wants to at least watch.

jenb_99

In my case it'd be impossible bc I'm having a c-section but still...blech. No. I've whelped enough puppies to get my lifetime fill of birth goo and umbilical cords. I'd rather let a pro catch my kid and then hand her to me with some of the slime wiped off.

BeesKnees181

I was surpised, but DH told me last weekend that he wants to catch the twins when they are born.  I think it is awesome that he wants to have that special moment with them when they are born.

andoll8

ima let DH handle it. i'll be the primary care giver (nursing + 5 months maternity leave), so it's important to us that he gets as much baby time as possible. 

plus, the goo weirds me out a little. 

jenb_99

kitchencolors said:

jenb_99 said:

In my case it'd be impossible bc I'm having a c-section but still...blech. No. I've whelped enough puppies to get my lifetime fill of birth goo and umbilical cords. I'd rather let a pro catch my kid and then hand her to me with some of the slime wiped off.

You may have already done this, but for anyone else or for you... check your hospital policy - at the place DD was born and where I am having this one you have to specifically request to have baby wiped off.  Otherwise baby just gets put right up on your chest with all the gunk. 


.............quote box fail...........

In the OR at our hospital they wipe and wrap the baby. They don't do direct skin contact till recovery, when mom is no longer lying flat.

LunaBug924

I asked about this at my last appointment, for DH, not me. Basically it depends on the doctor who delivers me (there are 4 in the practice, all with different preferences) and how the birth goes. I know DH is all about it. I personally don't need to reach my own hands down there. I plan to do skin-to-skin so that'll be enough for me.

fyafighterwife86

I'm totally 'crunchy' in that I want an unmedicated birth, no meds, no interventions, we cloth diaper, use organic products when necessary, no chemicals, etc...

However, anything else totally grosses me out.

I want LO cleaned off as much as possible before being put on my chest.  DH wants to catch- I'm totally weirded out by it.  I think my biggest fear is if he's face down in the vag, he's totally never going to look at that thing the same.  And he's a fire fighter so I can picture it being a topic of conversation at their dinner table one night (although he SWEARS up and down they don't talk about shit like that.. I'm not buying it).

My plan for delivery is to be in whatever position is most comfortable.  My OB has said I can be on all 4's, lay on my back, lay on my side..whichever works for me.  Catching may not even be an option for DH depending on the position..so we'll see.

Arinias

I am all for direct skin to skin immediately after birth, but I don't think I would want to catch my own baby. I don't even like the idea of a mirror. If DH wanted to I would be allf or him catching, but he does not do well with blood etc. so I am worried enough about him making it through delivery. However, if it is something you want to do I would definitely talk to your OB about it, I say if you think it would be a good experience go for it!

TaylorHam86

Hmm. Maybe next go-round. I hadn't really thought about it. Maybe I should ask, just in case I want to once the moment arrives. DH will be up by my shoulders anyway but I know the slime would freak him out a lot.

Remember when Kourtney Kardashian did it when she delivered her first baby? That's the only time I've seen or heard of it. I didn't realize it was common.

KatieP71312

My hubby will be catching this baby and he caught our last son too. Hubs and my oldest son cut the cord together - I think they plan on doing it again.

kalette

mary97 said:

DH doesn't want to cut the cord, afraid he'll screw it up and is weird out by it, would want her cleaned up before holding her.  I'd love to see his reaction if I asked him if he wanted to catch her (if the hospital would even allow it).  The birthing video made him nauseous. 

My DH didn't want to cut the cord either until the moment. Both sides were already clamped off and the Dr said just cut between the two, so he did it, and was glad he did.

SMM1986

I think it's very cool! I'm okay for my OB to catch/pull the baby personally, but I really do prefer to have baby dumped right on my chest after birth, goop and all (if possible). 

DH did cut DS' cord, which was a cool experience for him (DD's was around her neck so he couldn't do hers).

momthatlifts

I wanted dh to catch her so we are going to ask which ever doctor is delivering us that day. Hopefully they're cool with it

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usernewname

NO touching or catching for me or DH.

I did just ask him if he wanted to announce to me if its a boy or girl. He laughed and said nope the MW can do that. He doesn't do well with blood and bodily fluids anyway. He fainted when I had my wisdom teeth out.

Probably the less he sees down there the better. I had to explain tearing and the use of a peri bottle the other day - that was an unpleasant conversation.

iqwedding3

I'm confused.  How do you catch your own baby?  I'm not that flexible

awc1986

Nope nope nope. My job is pushing and DH's job is providing moral support and a hand to squeeze. I want the first person who touches my baby to have a medical degree. Also, no mirrors. What has been seen cannot be unseen.

SMM1986

awc1986 said:

Nope nope nope. My job is pushing and DH's job is providing moral support and a hand to squeeze. I want the first person who touches my baby to have a medical degree. Also, no mirrors. What has been seen cannot be unseen.

Sometimes I think...DH looked. He saw all that. I don't even want to see it. I can tell by feel that it is swollen to hell, I can't even imagine what it looks like when something the size of a pumpkin or whatever is coming out of it.

gutsysneakers

Oh, I agree with you ladies. I don't want to see it and DH plans on staying up near my head, but I was told I may be able to "pull/catch" baby out after the head and shoulders are out. No mirror for me either. I don't want to see it, but I just thought it may be something I want to do. 

Katemr1146

I might if I'm in a good position to. I was totally thinking of Kortney Kardashians birth too, lol. If nothing else, I at least want to touch/ feel his head.

danabsd

Nope. Nope. Nope. I keep a leave it to the professionals attitude with this one. They also offered me a mirror to see what was going on and I declined. Just no desire.

ehowa499

DH is considering it.  I'm not so sure though... When he was on his OB rotations in school he delivered several babies, and he described it to me that it was like holding a big ball of snot, he wasn't sure how to hold it and thought he would drop it.   Not sure if I'm so game on him catching our kid if that's how he felt!

Hallil

I caught DD1 and will likely catch this one again. With DD I was ony hands and knees but reached down with one hand and after her head/shoulders were cleared my midwife held her my direction and I grabbed her and pulled her up between DH and I.

dakota01

I don't see my DH wanting to be anywhere near where he will be coming out- if he really gets a crazy whim then he can by all means. It's not for me, I have enough focusing to do to get the little guy out. 

Miles2Go

I really want to catch my own baby. Hopefully I'll have a water birth this time around, and if so, I'll be somewhat upright. I can see it working out well. I don't think Dh has any desire to catch the baby and he does not want to be in the water with us (don't blame him because...ick). He will cut the cord though.

ThereBeDragons

Nope nope nope. Do not want. Its bad enough that I actually have to push baby out, I'd much rather someone with steady hands and a good view do the catching.

Semi-related... Is there a proper way to ask before the actual moment that baby be slightly de-slimed before handing her over to me? I'm all about skin to skin but I get really freaked out by slimy textures (baby snot/drool is going to be an ongoing battle for me) and want that first moment of holding her to be all about her and not about "yuck, someone gimme a towel"

cindythelou

i'm planning to pull the baby out. at the birth center where i'm going, i guess it's pretty common for moms to pull the baby out once head/shoulders are out. i'm looking forward to it!

kb2bkk

Kimbus22 said:

Good luck to all the H's who plan on staying up by your heads.  Mine had that plan last time.  He could still see everything and ended up holding a leg through the 3 hours of pushing.

Yup, same here. The stay by the shoulder plan went right out the window, and I wouldn't have had it any other way. He was my biggest support while the RNs were trying to spin DD to get her to progress.

tjkdlhb

ThereBeDragons said:

Nope nope nope. Do not want. Its bad enough that I actually have to push baby out, I'd much rather someone with steady hands and a good view do the catching.

Semi-related... Is there a proper way to ask before the actual moment that baby be slightly de-slimed before handing her over to me? I'm all about skin to skin but I get really freaked out by slimy textures (baby snot/drool is going to be an ongoing battle for me) and want that first moment of holding her to be all about her and not about "yuck, someone gimme a towel"

We did skin to skin a little bit after she was born.  I don't remember a big lag of time, but she was measured and cleaned up a bit first.  (maybe 10-15 mins).  I was totally fine with that! 

awc1986

I don't like the term "catching". It sounds like there's a lot of room for error! 

Chellbell20

Depends on what position I'm in, but the plan is for either DH or I to catch.  DH held my leg last time at the hospital and saw everything and still wanted sex after so I don't think it scared him to bad.  This time we're planning a home water birth so who knows where or in what position I'll be in.  Depending on what happens, if DD is there she'll probably help cut the cord.  

mirdamae03

I totally thought DH would never in a million years want to watch our son being born. Shock of my life when he came to hold one leg and watched the whole process go down. I was very proud of him and I know it was a moment he'd never forget. It's truly a once in a lifetime moment (or only a few times depending on # of children). I would encourage anyone not to discourage their SO's from seeing it. If he doesn't want to see it, NBD, but don't tell him he can't.

amberlowe08

I've totally developed TRex syndrome during this pregnancy. I can hardly wipe my butt right now, so the thought of reaching down to catch my baby seems nearly possible.

busterbeagle

Isn't this what a labor buddy is for?

Miles2Go

busterbeagle said:

Isn't this what a labor buddy is for?

&

awc1986

amberlowe08 said:

I've totally developed TRex syndrome during this pregnancy. I can hardly wipe my butt right now, so the thought of reaching down to catch my baby seems nearly possible.

This, this and this. I've never had to think and re-position when sorting out my toilet business before.

jntaylor11

Out MW offered it to dh last time apparently, I do not remember as I was busy & not medicated & focused on oushing the baby out. He didn't do it, I later asked him 'why not?!!' (He's a trained emt ao she thought she'd give him the option) I've thought it would be interesting, I'll just have to see if the urge arises during labor. I'll say, if your not medicated it is really hard to focus on anything else, but we'll see.