Cutting the cord
In line behind “do you know what you’re having?” and “when is the due date?”, one of the most common questions people ask me as an expectant father is whether or not I’m planning on cutting the umbilical cord.
As with the case with many questions in life, people are only asking you so they can then tell you their opinion. This question is no exception and I’ve gotten quite a range opinion on this topic from “that’s so disgusting” to “it’s absolutely beautiful.” I’m expecting my opinion to lay somewhere in between, but I do plan on cutting the cord as I want to participate in the birth as much as possible. It’s important to me because I want to participate in his life as much as possible, every step of the way. Cutting the cord seems like the first post natal step.
As busy as I have been preparing for the little one’s arrival, I am still essentially on the side lines of the whole affair, that’s just how nature is. The baby would be born whether or not I were in the picture and I think cutting the cord, although essentially nothing more than a gesture, is part of the experience. It’s something I want to share in.
I’d love to hear some feedback on this. Take the poll below, and if you have more thoughts on the matter let me know in a comment.
I didn’t but I wish I had.
they have doctors for that sort of thing. I also didn’t conduct his apgar test, get his breathing started, or conduct the caesarian myself.
…I don’t understand this fascination with being Involved – as is there were any capacity in which a man could truly be part of a labor in anything other than direct support of the woman.