Fathers Cutting Umbilical Cords at South Tyneside

11:20 pm PST, Feb 29, Nicola Redford, United Kingdom
Because we had our little boy by c-section my partner didn't get the chance to get to cut the cord and he was gutted by that, but actually being told that you can't cut the cord even when giving birth naturally is utterly stupid. Fathers have the right to bond too.

3:19 am PST, Feb 3, Matthew Palmer, United Kingdom

9:46 am PST, Feb 2, Stacey Moss, United Kingdom

8:45 am PST, Jan 29, Steven Hodge, United Kingdom
my partner and i are expecting our first child, as a dad to be i want to cut the cord. this should be the decision of the parents!!! let the bonding begin.

1:48 pm PST, Jan 6, Paul Kennedy, United Kingdom
as a father who has struggled to to see his child this is important to a father and it gives him something to memorise as thats one of the only memories i have of my son being born!

6:51 am PST, Jan 1, Name not displayed, Ireland
I'm amazed that this is even an issue. Femenists everywhere are applauded on their pro choice campaigns. Here a father wants to bond with his child and take a responsible role in it's being welcomed to the world. Surley this is a no brainer??? You and your partner should have the right to make this decision. Why do dads always have to fight so hard to play their role as a father? Well done and good luck in the future with your fight for dads ^^

9:05 am PST, Dec 25, Shiva Moonsammy, New York

1:29 pm PST, Dec 11, Graeme Young, United Kingdom

12:46 am PST, Dec 9, Catherine Chu, United Kingdom
I had always thought that a father should have the option to cut the baby's cord if he wished. This is an important bond for a father & child.

2:07 pm PST, Nov 29, Name not displayed, United Kingdom
go for it.

12:59 pm PST, Nov 29, Ana Bird, United Kingdom
Your doing an amazing job dad! Im so proud of you. Too late for you but your doing a wonderful thing. Im behind you 100% Its a special thing to bond with your baby :) x

9:04 am PST, Nov 29, Marilyn Bird, United Kingdom
Too late for you but keep going, hopefully you will help other dads share more of the experience of the miracle of birth

11:58 am PST, Nov 13, Andrew Macdonald, United Kingdom

9:34 am PST, Nov 10, Andy Bird, United Kingdom
go bro, wish I could have but wasnt possible Andrew

4:47 am PST, Nov 6, Cathryn Moore, Spain
we now live in Spain and are constanlty amazed by the amount of red tape and shite that goes on over there in order to prevent someone getting sued. This is the most important day in a parents life sign a disclaimer by all means but let us get on with living and bonding with your children

4:23 am PST, Nov 5, Chris Chapman, United Kingdom
My child is due in March and I seriously hope I get to cut the cord. I see it as a way for me to bond with my child.

5:33 am PDT, Nov 1, Name not displayed, United Kingdom
my daughter was born in 1998 at south tyneside hospital and her father was allowed to cut the cord, i don't see a problem with this as a midwife is always at hand to guide the parent on where to cut... it's a disgrace that if you want the right to do this then you have to go elsewhere. Hope you win this one and wish you all the best for the future..

11:01 am PDT, Oct 30, Name not displayed, United Kingdom

4:26 am PDT, Oct 30, Wendy Smith, United Kingdom
go nick love auntie wendy and uncle mick .xxxxx

12:48 pm PDT, Oct 29, Name not displayed, United Kingdom

9:01 pm PDT, Oct 28, Adrian Leahy, United Kingdom

3:47 pm PDT, Oct 26, Denise Woolnough, United Kingdom
i had my baby on the 3/10/07 and my husband cut the cord. myself and my husband would have been extreamly upset if he wasent aloud!

8:44 am PDT, Oct 26, Name not displayed, United Kingdom
I am two days past my due date, and even though my husband isnt worried about cutting the cord, we still feel that the parents have the right to choose! Plus my brother in law cut his first childs cord 2 1/2 yrs ago at this hospital, are all midwives following the policy?

7:42 pm PDT, Oct 25, Name not displayed, New Mexico
Recetly moved to Albuquerque, Nm from South Shields.My daughter was born here and I safely cut the cord without injury or insident. This is another example of the british Nanny state

4:18 am PDT, Oct 25, Name not displayed, United Kingdom

3:19 am PDT, Oct 25, Name not displayed, Canada
All fathers should have a choice on weather or not they wish to cut the cord during the birth of their child. I didn't get the chance to cut my daughters when she was born because of complications but I wish I could have!

2:28 am PDT, Oct 25, Philip Bryden, United Kingdom
Good luck with this mate. As a father to be I was looking forward to cutting the cord myself too.

2:04 am PDT, Oct 25, Chrisinte Hall, United Kingdom

1:14 am PDT, Oct 25, Louise Bradshaw, United Kingdom

3:22 pm PDT, Oct 24, John Sullivan, United Kingdom

3:18 pm PDT, Oct 24, Abi Little, United Kingdom
This is rediculous! I believe it is an important part of the bonding process and helps the father be more involved in the birth!

3:06 pm PDT, Oct 24, Name not displayed, United Kingdom
i hear the original 'accident' was a grandmother who insisted on cutting the cord and cut the toe instead she then sued the hosp. for the anguish it caused. if you want to bond with the baby change its nappies in the middle of the night - it wont have a clue you are even there never mind cutting ITS cord

2:57 pm PDT, Oct 24, Pete Smith, United Kingdom
Stop being so Politically Correct - People like you are makign this world worse and worse with every day. Your now taking away a joy that every father whom wishes to undertake this bonding exercise with his new child. If its supervised, then I say there ntohing stopping anyone cutting the cord.

2:47 pm PDT, Oct 24, Shirley Smith, United Kingdom
When my daughter gave birth 4 years ago she was told a babys toe had been cut off. I think more mistakes are made by nurses than parents going by my families experiences with south tyneside district hospital. These include the birth of my son then the birth of my nephew one of which ended in an emergency section as doctors did not believe the words of a mother having her third child, I think they do what they want and do not ever consider the parents. Parents should consider other hospitals that are more considerate of a parents wish then they might care if they didn't have enough patgients attending their unit to make i a viable unit.

2:35 pm PDT, Oct 24, Name not displayed, United Kingdom

2:23 pm PDT, Oct 24, Melanie Elwell, United Kingdom

2:00 pm PDT, Oct 24, Name not displayed, United Kingdom
Parents should have freedom of choice with a midwifes support i dont see why fathers should not be aloud to cut the babies cord.

1:37 pm PDT, Oct 24, Andrew McCartney, United Kingdom
How can you destroy any Father's dream because of one accident? If nothing else, at least consider each case on it's own merit.

1:15 pm PDT, Oct 24, Name not displayed, United Kingdom
My husband has cut our daughters cord at this hospital as has my brother in law when my nephew was born. As long as the midwife provides guidance on where to cut there is no problem.

1:12 pm PDT, Oct 24, Liz DIxon, United Kingdom

1:09 pm PDT, Oct 24, * Zentura, Wyoming

12:26 pm PDT, Oct 24, Ruth Nisbet, United Kingdom

11:13 am PDT, Oct 24, Melissa Elliott, United Kingdom

11:06 am PDT, Oct 24, Amanda Smith, United Kingdom

9:20 am PDT, Oct 24, James Gall, United Kingdom
It should be every fathers right to cut the umbilical cord at birth

8:41 am PDT, Oct 24, Dawn Hassen, United Kingdom
the father of both my children cut the cord and it meant a lot to us both

8:34 am PDT, Oct 24, Claire Traill, United Kingdom

7:59 am PDT, Oct 24, Martin Just, United Kingdom
I was allowed to cut my son's cord at Ninewells Hosp. in Dundee and to me it was a very spiritual and moving occasion. As I am originally from South Shields, the Hospitals policy is depriving a lot of father's of an important part of their childs birth.

6:21 am PDT, Oct 24, Name not displayed, United Kingdom

6:08 am PDT, Oct 24, Amanda Hennings, United Kingdom

5:50 am PDT, Oct 24, Name not displayed, United Kingdom
Disgraceful

5:46 am PDT, Oct 24, Name not displayed, United Kingdom

5:43 am PDT, Oct 24, Name not displayed, United Kingdom

5:21 am PDT, Oct 24, Daymon Johnstone, United Kingdom
Ithourght my hospital was bad

4:53 am PDT, Oct 24, Selina Nylander, United Kingdom

4:49 am PDT, Oct 24, Ken Ramsey, United Kingdom
Hope South Tyneside change this ridiculous policy so you can do it

4:49 am PDT, Oct 24, Lynn Wright, United Kingdom
Choice should be with the parents! their wishes, their choice!

4:23 am PDT, Oct 24, Name not displayed, United Kingdom
I had 2 children at ST Hospital one c section one natural, my partner wanted to cut cord too. ST Hospital have a brilliant Maternity team

4:15 am PDT, Oct 24, Carlos Wilkinson, United Kingdom
You do have the right - it is your baby as well not the bloody trusts! I cut the cord on my first baby and never hit a toe!!! never heard of this before, good luck with the fight!

4:14 am PDT, Oct 24, Maggie Lewis, United Kingdom
It is ridiculous that the Trust will not consider the policy. It IS an important part of the bonding process for fathers. From some of the comments below I think that some signatories have misunderstood though - it's only South Tyneside that has this policy, not every hospital

4:13 am PDT, Oct 24, Leanne Kyle, United Kingdom
its his own baby going to be born, its a personal experience and i don%u2019t think anyone should stand in the way of that! why cant the doctors and nurses stand close to him to make sure he does the cutting correctly, surely that can be done! it means nothing to those who will cut it for him, bit it will mean the world to him! just let him do it! we shoul'dnt have to pay for someone elses mistakes!

4:04 am PDT, Oct 24, Chris Macdonald, United Kingdom
i would like to cut my second childs cord which is due december 15th

4:03 am PDT, Oct 24, Name not displayed, United Kingdom
Iam signing this petition in response to south tyneside hospital not allowing partners to cut their own babies cord, am currently 6 months pregnant and due in Jan 08 so hopefully this will change when am in hospital so that my partner can cut the cord

2:42 am PDT, Oct 24, Catherine Organ, United Kingdom

12:37 pm PDT, Oct 23, Dan Osman, United Kingdom
As half of a couple about to start planning for a family I would like to think that I could be part of such an intrinsic process to the paternal bonding of my child. Provided a disclaimer was signed I see no harm.

9:56 am PDT, Oct 23, Name not displayed, United Kingdom
this shud be ur rite!!!

6:45 am PDT, Oct 23, Name not displayed, United Kingdom

6:00 am PDT, Oct 21, Name not displayed, United Kingdom
Good luck - lets hope the hospital does give you both the right to "Choose" as their logo states.

11:54 am PDT, Oct 20, Stacey Stevens, United Kingdom
I'd be horrified if my local hospital never let my partner cut the umbilical cord - it's one way where they feel really connected throughout the entire labour/birth process. Just because of one accident doesn't mean there'll be more.... I hope the policy is changed