Jools and Jamie Oliver welcomed baby number five on Monday and as adorable as the pictures the pair have been sharing are, it seems that one aspect of the birth is causing a little controversy.
Jamie took to Instagram to announce the news of his son’s birth saying:
“And then this just happened guys!! IT'S A BABY BOY!! Everyone in the Oliver family is very surprised and beyond happy.”
Shared along with a picture of the little one, it’s what Jamie said next that some people are finding issue with.
“My two eldest Girls got to come in at the very end as the baby was born which was amazing to witness very, very emotional.”
Jools also took to social media to share the news along with sharing some details of the birth.
“Little baby boy Oliver has arrived... so very proud of our two eldest daughters who cut the cord.”
But it seems not everyone is sharing their congratulations with the couple, instead questioning whether it was appropriate for the parents to let their two children cut the cord.
“The decision to allow their girls for their brother’s birth could never have worked for me,” mum-of-four Ulrika Jonsson told The Sun.
“That’s a frightening environment for most men and women, let alone children or teenagers.
“And am I the only person in the world who thinks that the cutting of the cord is more brutal than it is an “honour”?”
While it is somewhat uncommon, there is nothing to say children cannot be present for the birth and even less to saw that it is traumatising as some might suggest.
“It’s really positive and healthy,” Royal College of Midwives’ director, Jacque Gerrard told The Guardian.
“Those girls are 12 and 14. They would have been well prepared, and to be able to help by cutting the cord is beautiful, and so positive in terms of the relationship with the new baby.”
“Given that we are trying to improve choice, if having children present is part of that choice, we should be supporting women.
“Birth is a family event, and it affects everyone. With the right support and preparation, why shouldn’t they be involved?”
And it seems many of the Oliver fans are in support of that also.
One Twitter user said:
“Hurrah Jamie and Jools for raising the profile of birth being a normal event & for giving your girls the gift of removing fear of birth”
We want to know what you think.
