Redditors React As Man Refuses To Cut The Umbilical Cord Despite His Wife Insisting On It

"I feel that my wife has a Hollywood idea of birth"

Maryjane

• Published in Interesting
• June 1, 2024

Just like numerous other facets of pregnancy, labor, delivery, and parenthood, the decision of who cuts the umbilical cord is just that—a decision. However, a growing number of expectant fathers might have a belief that they should cut their child's umbilical cord.

And while this might be fantastic for fathers who sincerely want to and are delighted to do so, what about the fathers who, for whatever reason, don't? When we don't feel the way we think we "should," or when we don't accomplish what we believe is expected of us, we may feel as though we are disappointing other people.

The OP of today's story is going to be a father, as his wife is full-term and being induced. The OP told her quite early on that he didn't want to cut the cord.

The OP knows that it's just him and that he's making it weird, but he finds it really squeamish to cut into human flesh. According to the OP, it seems like a medical procedure, and he's really uncomfortable with it.

OP's wife appeared to accept his decision at the time but was under protest. The big day came, and OP's wife pressed the issue again.

The OP told her he wanted to be involved in every way but not the cutting. Read the full story in the OP's own words below. 

The OP writes

The OP told her he wants to be involved in every way he can, including catching the baby

OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the AH:

1/ Refusing to cut the umbilical cord after the birth of my child.

2/ My wife wants me to cut the cord and says it's important to her but hasn't explained why.

The Reddit post got hundreds of comments and here are some of the most upvoted ones

This Redditor doesn't know a lot of fathers who do the cord cutting

A very sharp knife

It's messy and horrifying watching a birth

The wife might not be too sympathetic

The OP left this edit later on

1/ The squeamishness is only about the cutting. I am a first responder so I've seen every kind of gore you can think of. Blood, guts, screaming etc. I am used to these things.

2/ I don't want to get in the shower but I will because it's a reasonable request and it's a way I can compromise given my feelings about the cord.

And the comments keep rolling in...

He advocated for this Redditor and protected her

Having one is comfortable at a time

This one the OP can opt out

She's doing all the work

The person giving birth has very little control over what will happen or when, therefore the small factors that they may influence can have a big impact. The OP and his wife should just be there for one another and acknowledge how incredibly terrifying giving birth is for some people.

Redditors made their decisions and the OP was declared not the AH. Share this story with your loved ones to get their own opinions as well.

Maryjane