the cuddling moment

[littlemomma]

With DS, I birthed in the bed, so when he came out, it was easy to just bring him on to my body as I was already kinda lying down.

I picture birthing this babe squating or something like that- here's the question-

For those of you who had your babies squating, on all fours, etc., did you have to crawl up in the bed or what did you do immediately after your babe was born while you held them (before cord has been cut). I can't seem to picture having that "moment" of bliss and cuddling on the floor. How did if work for you?

[jerawo]

I squatted on the bed, so my first moment of seeing the baby was while I was squatting over him. I also had a very short cord, so we had to cut it immediately ( :( ) since I couldn't move into a different position with the placenta still inside. Right after that I laid down on my side and moved the baby up to me. The whole process felt like it took about 30 seconds.

[littlemomma]

Thanks for your reply, Jerawo. I was wondering, given your experience (and I think "short" cords are common), do you recommend I push in maybe a side-lying position on the bed so that I'll be able to bring babe up to me, and not have to cut the cord, if it is in fact short?

[jerawo]

Our cord was really short, so I wouldn't worry about it too much. No position would have allowed the baby to make it to my chest. I would just push in whatever position feels good to you and gets the job done. For me, squatting was the only position where I felt like I was making progress. You'll have your baby on your chest so quickly, it really isn't going to matter what position you are in :)

[chiro_kristin]

I squatted on the floor at the foot of my bed. Our cord was short too, so I could only bring him to belly button level on me. I just held him right next to my belly and stroked him (see the first pic here (http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BZOHDFm1bMPc) ) while I dropped onto my knees. Then DH got right beside me and held him while I got back onto my feet to push out the placenta. Then dh handed him back, cut the cord, and I brought ds all the way up to my breast.

[annakiss]

I pushed DS2 out on a birth stool. The midwife lifted him up to me as he came out and I held him in my arms. See here. (http://www.annakiss.com/sebgrow.htm) It took a few minutes before I moved to the bed just in front of me, but I spent time looking him over right on the birth stool. I noticed that he was a boy and wondered why he wasn't crying (he didn't feel like it) and noticed three skin tags on his chest. So there was time to be with him. Those few minutes went by really quickly too! We spent the whole rest of the evening cooing over him and taking in all the tiny features, etc. His cord was really long, so we didn't have to deal with that and I delivered the placenta about 15 minutes later on the bed.

With DS1, I was side-lying and it pretty much was the same except his cord was wrapped around his shoulder and it took a second with help from my mom to unravel him.

I would recommend pushing in the position you feel most comfortable in. I think trying to get it to be a certain way is counter-intuitive. You need to listen to your body.

[MelW]

Mamas that I've seen birth on all fours usually then reach down between their legs and pull the baby up to their chest. Then either cuddle while kneeling, or turn over to their backs/sides/whatever is most comfortable. The reaching for and pulling baby to the chest is usually intuitive and easy. Repositioning while attached by cord, etc. sometimes needs an extra pair of hands to move blankets, chux, etc.

I second what Annakiss said about pushing in whatever position feels right. You'll find a good position for cuddling pretty easily, I bet.

[ABand3]

With DS#2 I pushed on all fours on the bed - when he was born I could look down and see him, but do remember thinking how can I move to sitting without bumping him? I was frozen for a second trying to figure out what to do, but the midwife very quickly was able to slide him to one side and me to the other, and we quickly were rearranged so I was sitting holding him. If you have a caregiver experienced with different positions they should be able to help you get comfy quickly. I wouldn't let a possibity of being stuck for a second limit your positions - do what feels right at the time.

[LoveChild421]

I birthed ds squating on the birth stool. I just pulled him to me and held him and started crying and talking to him- the placenta came about 2 minutes after he did so I just pushed and out came the placenta and then I walked to the bed holding my new baby :heartbeat while dh carried the placenta in a bowl (cord was still attached). When I tell my friends about that they're always amazed that I was able to just get up and walk to the bed like that- then they're really amazed that I took a shower 2 hours after giving birth :LOL

[WinterBaby]

I used a birthing stool.. as dd was born my midwife lifted her to my arms. Then I just walked over to the bed with cord intact, and laid down with her cuddling, and waited on the placenta, which wasn't really quick in coming. No sweat. If the cord is so short you can't bring her to your arms, you'd have to cut it to cuddle in bed too I'm guessing.