If you caught your own baby, tell me about it

[indie]

I'm not even pregnant, but I'm already thinking about my next homebirth. Next time I want to catch my own baby. If you've done this tell me how it works. What posistions work best? I don't want to go unassisted. I'm really happy with my midwife I just want to do the catching.

When I first told my DH he told me that I'm crazy, but he has since changed his tune. Probably because he knows me well enough to know that I'll do it just to prove him wrong.

[USAmma]

I caught my second one. I was on my back, standard birth position with epidural. I pushed her and the OB technically caught her first but when she was halfway out I reached down and pulled her the rest of the way out, lifted her up and then onto my chest. I have GRAPHIC pics here.

[FreeRangeMama]

I caught #2 and 3. Both were UC (dd was a solo birth). I was squatting both times. Easy as can be in that position, I just reached down and they came into my hands

[mamaley]

I caught my second baby. My midwife had to help me get my hands to the baby, and she had a hand on the baby too, I think. But I was on all fours and I caught her and brought her up through my legs to my chest to look at her. It was a great experience, I would recommend telling your midwife that you want to catch your baby and if you are too out of it (like me!) at the time, she can help to remind you.

[Ruthla]

Nobody "caught" DS- I placed a bunch of towels on the floor, and then a chux pad, where I was pushing. I squatted, holding onto the foot of the bed for support, and he just popped out onto the cushioned floor. There was no TIME for me to catch him- he came out in like 2 or 3 pushes.

DH was standing in the doorway watching with awe and my DDs were on the computer in the next room.

[~Megan~]

on was on my knees in the birth pool at home. Easy peasy

[sapphire_chan]

USAmma, that is not at all what I thought you looked like. I always pictured you more, sitting at a computer....

[USAmma]

Originally Posted by sapphire_chan

USAmma, that is not at all what I thought you looked like. I always pictured you more, sitting at a computer....

Honestly I probably would have brought the laptop and given a play by play of the birth if not for my 2 girlfriends and my doula that I had to keep company.

[Emilie]

I did. I was relcined- for the delivery but squatting/hands knees for most of the pushing. I wanted to see dd come out. So i flipped around put my hand on her head and just brought her up.
I do not think it is something that you need to "learn" how to do- it will just come to you. When baby slides out you pull it up! Check for cord maybe.

[gentlebirthmothr]

WOW

I didn't know you can do it while you birthing in the hospital as well.

Thank you.

[MamaRabbit]

Originally Posted by USAmma

I caught my second one. ....I have GRAPHIC pics here.

Oooooo, I love GRAPHIC birth photos!!! Maybe because I'm jealous. Both times, the camera operator forgot to take photos at that point LOL Isn't it funny how we all have no problem looking at other women's yonis with a baby head hanging out?

I have not caught my own. Next time I will unless DH beats me to it. He told me other day that he really wants to. We'll see!

[TeaBag]

I caught my second and third children. The second one, my m/w was there, easing her head out and then I *caught* her and pulled her up. The 3rd child, (same) m/w said "I thought you wanted to catch" and so I caught her completely, m/w hand was supporting the perinium. My sac broke right as she crowned, so I got my hands all wet too. What an empowering experience!

All three of mine were hospital births, so you can do it in the hospital!

[indie]

Thanks for the photos, USAmma. I wish that we had taken photos. That's another thing on the list for next time.

[mamabain]

it was the most amazing experience in my life... i wish i knew how to post my pics...

let's see if this works

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14554346@N00/126256080/

[PancakeGoddess]

I did with #2 and 3, although similarly to a lot of others here - I think the midwife had a lot to do with getting baby into my hands to begin with.

This time, I told her no touching unless it looks like something's wrong. Even if baby just comes out onto a pile of towels like a PP said, I'd like to do it on my own this last time

link didn't work for me, mamabain

[Linda in OZ]

I caught numbers 2 and 3. With both I was on my back leaning against a bean bag on the head board and as soon as I could reach them while they were crowning I kept both hands on them until their heads were out and then I scooped them up onto my chest, and there they stayed for a long while

[wednesday]

I caught my son. It was a birth center birth, and I hadn't really thought about how it would work in advance, but he was sliding out and my midwife told me, "Grab your baby!" I reached down as he was coming out and pulled him up to my chest. It is incredibly precious to me that I was the first person to hold him.

[hipem]

I caught #1...after 50+ hours of labor and 3 hours of pushing...I was sitting on a birth stool leaning back against dh and my m/w supported her head but then told me to reach down and so I just scooped her up as she came out. Wow, it was the best feeling! It made everything else just melt away.

[teachinmaof3]

Our 4th was UC. Dh and I worked together...it was awesome!!!! I birthed him on my knees leaning against the side of the pool (birthed my 3rd dd that way too). I kept track of where his head was. As he was crowning I held his head in my hands. Once his head was out and I got the cord from around his neck, I asked dh if he was ready. Then I pushed and dh brought him up out of the water.

There's nothing like being the first one to touch your baby!!!

[DBZ]

Originally Posted by teagreenribbons

WOW

I didn't know you can do it while you birthing in the hospital as well.

Thank you.

One of the women at my LLL group had the same OB as I did and he let her catch. He told her to give him her hands and she pulled the baby right up onto her. An OB!! They wanted to slice and dice me though cuz they were sure I'd rupture my proven cesarean scar with my big baby. She was out in 3 pushes! The same OB that let this other woman deliver gave me a hard time for being "anti-drug"

Kara