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Strange habit of other Grandmother

(95 Posts)
LilyoftheValley Sun 25-Feb-24 01:49:59

I am shortly to become a Grandmother. I have never met any of the father's family who are uncommunicative to say the least!

I was told today, that the other Grandmother has kept the umbilical cord, or part of, the cord from each of her grandchildren! has anyone else heard of this peculiarity? Why on this earth would anyone do such a grisly thing. I wonder if it is used as a toy at Halloween or to chew on?!

Kowl Mon 26-Feb-24 11:40:25

I agree with Aveline

Definitely a witch

Annma Mon 26-Feb-24 11:40:19

It seems avery strange custom.The cooking and eating of the cord is another weird practice which makes me heave.

Cossy Sun 25-Feb-24 11:36:56

I don’t find it at all odd, just something I wouldn’t (didn’t) choose to do! Just as I didn’t choose to cook and eat the placenta or keep any teeth. Each to their own.

Theexwife Sun 25-Feb-24 11:27:28

I didn’t save my childrens but as containers are available on Etsy, Amazon and other sites it would seem many people do.

Marmight Sun 25-Feb-24 10:40:16

Keeping the cord of a GC is just a bit strange, but if all parties are happy………. why not. Perhaps it’s a family tradition 🤔. Not sure Id have wanted my children's never mind my Gc’s!

Marmight Sun 25-Feb-24 10:31:13

I have a collection of baby teeth which the tooth fairy exchanged for £. They’re all mixed up and I have no idea which belongs to which ‘child’ 🤣. I really should get rid, but ………

Joseann Sun 25-Feb-24 10:17:44

it is a new thing and parents keep it with the other keepsakes
Oh flip, I get it now. Lots of little boxes, starting with the baby shower and gender reveal stuff. And any other mementoes. American?

Callistemon21 Sun 25-Feb-24 10:08:43

I have seen one, all dried up in a little box but can't remember who showed me. Not a family member, certainly.

lemsip Sun 25-Feb-24 10:06:44

it is a new thing and parents keep it with the other keepsakes.

I have my childrens labels from end of 'cot' they were placed in next to my hospital bed also wrist and ankle tags. then added curl of hair.... also went on to keep first pair of shoes, all greeting cards from when first born. that was in the 70s.

lemsip Sun 25-Feb-24 09:58:22

this is something parents do, never heard of grandparent doing it,
surely you don't want it so whats the problem

NotSpaghetti Sun 25-Feb-24 09:54:56

I do think this is really odd thing for a grandmother to want from someone else's pregnancy - so I wonder if actually she is cryogenically freezing the cord as a "future health" kind of insurance.

The OP doesn't say.

Callistemon21 Sun 25-Feb-24 09:54:23

Germanshepherdsmum

I have a lock of my son’s hair from his first haircut and his baby teeth, but as for keeping the umbilical cord - no way! 🤮

How come you have his baby teeth?
I thought the tooth fairy took them away to build their castles with?

I hope your DS got paid.

Joseann Sun 25-Feb-24 09:51:25

OP I was just thinking, that as the umbilical cord belonged (internally) to your daughter, then the other granny surely won't have the nerve to ask for it, so the problem won't arise. Assuming the other grandchildren were from her own DD?

Germanshepherdsmum Sun 25-Feb-24 09:47:20

I have a lock of my son’s hair from his first haircut and his baby teeth, but as for keeping the umbilical cord - no way! 🤮

Harris27 Sun 25-Feb-24 09:39:42

Very odd!

NotSpaghetti Sun 25-Feb-24 09:36:58

Louella1 and Grandmabatty I know I kept the little nub for a while too from my first-born but I didn't keep it for long as it was buried with her placenta under a tree... I suppose lots of people will find that grisly too as the placenta was in my fridge until then.

My second child was born overseas in a flat in the middle of a cold winter. The land was frozen and one of our lovely midwives took his placenta and froze it till the spring when she was planting out a new area.

It was a privilege to have her do this for us (and others from our "birth group") and then ask us all to join her on a beautiful day for a shared lunch and the planting.

We will never forget the joy and love of that day and the sense of the rightness of it.

Iam64 Sun 25-Feb-24 09:32:42

Sago -I love a labrador story 😂

Hello OP - your post is one of a number recently, where conflict between maternal and paternal grans is an issue from day 1. Why

Callistemon21 Sun 25-Feb-24 09:29:29

Sago

When my youngest son’s cord end dropped off at home a few days after coming home from hospital it fell on the floor and my Labrador got it before I did😳.
He seemed to enjoy it.

😂😂😂

Callistemon21 Sun 25-Feb-24 09:28:56

Ps my own children, not grandchildren!

Callistemon21 Sun 25-Feb-24 09:28:26

tickingbird

Not sinister, but strange. I mean how far do you take it? First poo, fingernails, first haircut, first scab?

I have got their first curls 🙂

flappergirl Sun 25-Feb-24 09:25:39

I think it's a bit weird and I've never heard of it before. In any event, I would have thought it more appropriate for the mother to keep it rather than the grandmother. What does your daughter think about it OP?

Are the other grandparents hippies or new age types?

NotSpaghetti Sun 25-Feb-24 09:17:14

GrannyIvy

I think it is very weird. Hair and teeth I understand. However whatever rocks your boat!

Isn't that a bit weird qhen you think about it - as someone said above - there will be lots more of those!

NotSpaghetti Sun 25-Feb-24 09:15:38

maddyone

I think it’s weird.
I have heard of people eating the placenta.
There’s no accounting for taste.
Personally I prefer a roast dinner.

I think most if not all animals eat their placenta.

Witzend Sun 25-Feb-24 08:53:22

maddyone

I think it’s weird.
I have heard of people eating the placenta.
There’s no accounting for taste.
Personally I prefer a roast dinner.

I gather that a lot of animals eat the placenta. A nutritious meal (for carnivores anyway) when the mother won’t immediately feel like going out hunting.

GrannyIvy Sun 25-Feb-24 08:52:29

I think it is very weird. Hair and teeth I understand. However whatever rocks your boat!