These archives contain extracts from discussions held on the UK Midwives and Consumers email list, a discussion group for people interested in midwifery in the UK. Open to midwives, students, mothers, and anyone interested in improving maternity services in UK. Posts in these archives express the views of the individual authors, and not those of the Association of Radical Midwives.
I'm an ex-midwife .. I saw the following post on another forum:
A couple put on their birth choices that they want dad to receive the baby (they especially don't want cold latex to be the baby's first touch).
Their midwife said she cannot allow this, as it is illegal.
Can any one help me out with this one?? I wondered if it is a mix up with unassisted birth. Where are the boundaries between "touch" and "receive" and "assist"?
There is no law which states who can and cannot catch babies. In my experience if all is going well and mum is birthing her baby, there is no reason why, with the guidance of a supportive midwife, that daddy can't catch HIS baby and I often encourage this if couples wish to do so.
I think it is a wonderful way to welcome a baby to the world and with guidance there is no reason why it isn't safe.
It's really important to clarify that if I, as a midwife, had any concerns regarding the birth of a baby it would not be appropriate for dad to be involved in catching/assisting with the actual birth.
Otherwise, it is wonderful to be part of a labour and birth where I do little but listen and watch then support a father to be the first person to touch his baby.
d (midwife)
It does make me wonder though, have the couple thought through whether the first touch can be the mother, or are we so ingrained in the need for things to be done that the mother can't do it? It's mum's uterus the baby has been in for the past nine months, it's mums boobs it's going to be fed from, we know skin-to-skin with the MOTHER increases rates of breastfeeding.
When my husband eventually got to hold our babies, he wanted to have a good luck, he wanted to look into their eyes and talk to them, he wanted to inspect their fingers and toes, you don't get that in simply lifting a baby from between the legs to onto the tummy - but is that all they routinely do, instead are they catching the baby, holding the baby, wrapping the baby etc. and disrupting the process for the mother, are we just substituting the standard view of a midwife delivering the baby and doing various things before eventually handing the wrapped baby to the mother, for the father being the one who does that?
Anne (mother)
It does make me wonder though, have the couple thought through whether the first touch can be the mother, or are we so ingrained in the need for things to be done that the mother can't do it?
There is sometimes just a physical inability for mum to do this due to her chosen birthing position(esp on land). ... It certainly in my practice would not be dad catching baby and doing anything but passing it straight to mum for skin-to-skin if thats what she wishes.
I would guess that about 80-90% of the births I am priviliged to attend occur under water where mum is encouraged and supported to lift her baby to the surface.
d - midwife
I have no problem with dads who want to catch their babies; they are often very hesitant and look for guidance anyway. It's not as if they are doing anything technical, simply 'catching'.
I wonder if the differences between [some opinions] is because of the difference between 'hands-off' and 'hands-on' practice. I find that babies tend to need little assistance to birth themselves, so my 'job' at that point is simply to catch.
IN a waterbirth, then encouraging mum and dad to bring their baby up to the surface together--a job they are often very happy and supremely capable of doing.
Jill - Caseload midwife
As a student midwife this came up. Unfortunately it was a last minute suggestion by 'my' midwife/mentor that the father put his hands over mine to 'catch' the baby (restitution occurred).
The father was a strong lad and had no time to prepare for the enormity of catching his firstborn (with gloved hands). He also had no idea that you don't a)pull the baby and b) do this straight out. I was fighting against his hand clamping down on mine as well. It was a mess really.
The mother ended up with a 3rd degree tear and an infection (who's to say that she wouldn't have anyways? However, I suspect the outcome in this regard may have been better).
My community midwife/mentor said to never encourage this type of birth again as this outcome was typical. The mother seemed pleased directly after the birth and the father bonded nicely. Upon reflection more time was necessary for all involved to discuss and prepare for such an event. Buenas suerte!
student midwife
> A couple ..had put on their birth choices that they want dad to receive the baby (they especially don't want cold latex to be the baby's first touch). Their midwife (lovely and accomodating person) said she cannot allow this, as it is illegal.
As others have said, she's wrong.
> Can any one help me out with this one?? I wondered if it is a mix up
> with unassisted birth.
Even if it is a mix-up, the midwife is still wrong - because unassisted birth is not illegal either.
> Where are the boundaries between "touch" and "receive" and "assist"?
Doesn't matter, because none of those things is addressed in law. The only thing the law addresses is attending a birth - and it has been clarified that this means "practising midwifery", rather than just being present - see http://www.aims.org.uk/homebirthUpdated.htm#withoutAMidwife for more details.
Deborah (Homebirth Supporter)
AH updated 18 May 2008