Filming the delivery

[big916]

Recently I heard a debate about Whether it is a right or not for parents tube able to film the birth of their child. So do you think parents should no matter what be able to film this once in a life time moment, or does the hospital have the right to protect themselves from documenting possible mistakes?

[EvilEvilKitten]

Able? As in permitted by the hospital, clinic, whatever? SURE. GO RIGHT AHEAD.

But, as for me - DON'T YOU DARE!

Just what every woman wants to see - herself large, spreadeagled, vagina increased to the point where she thinks she's a bus station, blood, feces, urine and the smell of ammonia everywhere not to mention the swearing and cursing coming from her - OH JOY!

Copies make lovely XMas gifts too.

[RedRoses]

I think parents should be able to film or photograph the birth of their child, if that is desired. Hospitals shouldn't interfere with that.

I find it strange they would fear of such recordings. Should a mistake be made, they're responsible for as far as they can be held accountable. The recording doesn't change the fact. But: I could imagine personnel requesting for filming to stop, when it is interfering with their work somehow. A birth is best done with as little interference as possible. But when interference is needed, doctors/midwives should off course have the access as required, without camera's in their way.

How women want their birth to be, differs a lot. Some want the entire family present. Even other children can be prepared for the birth of a sibling. Some want every step to be recorded in detail and chose a photographer long before the date. Some want only privacy. A birthing mom in fury can even make doctors leave the room, if only for a few minutes

Personally: I have pictures of myself being born, also in the hospital. From my mom going through the different stages of labor, to the point where my head is crowning, the actual birth, to my first gasps of air and after they've put me in her arms; the first time I open my eyes and look straight at my mom. I find it quite special I have them. Just do realize; it also meant that my father wasn't part of the birth. He was only observing everything happening through the lens. Which is something to consider when choosing the person making the film.

[EvilEvilKitten]

Whereas, my husband was very involved in the birth process and all we have photos of are babies becoming adults.

[LustyLisa]

I truely feel that if a woman/couple want to record birth that should be their right as long as it doesn't infringe on the privacy and rights of others. We do live in a highly litigous society so those with the most to loose in a law suit will be the most resistant to the possibility of being filmed/photographed. Many hospitals have banned birth filming largely due to liability. Hospitals and physicians are good at covering up fault, records can be and are alterted everyday in the US, even in military hospitals which I'm the most familiar. If a facility/Physician won't allow filming of child birth you can call the Insurance commisioner in your state as well as the liscencing board for Obstetrics to find out if there has ever been law suits pending or resolved for that facility/Dr. If there is a significant history with either you may want to reconsider where and who will deliver your child when the time comes. I would smell a rat if there is no allowance what so ever for a couple to film child birth. I would personally be too uncomfortable with that policy and choose an alternative that doesn't restrict my personal right to record child birth.

[RedRoses]

Given your post Lisa, I'd probably take it as a bad sign if the hospital refuses camera's.

It is advisable for women and their partners to make a list of birth-wishes. And part of it would be to go out and get hospital policies. Even when the first choice would be birthing at home, it is good to have a back-up plan when that becomes impossible. That way you can maximize your chances of having your baby the way you wish it.

Personally; I do think I'd like to have it captured on film. But I would like the perspective of a woman birthing. Not the biological perspective of a vagina opening without a woman attached to it (as most of the pictures of my birth are ) More like these: Photography | From Womb To World Perhaps I'd chose someone to capture it. Perhaps I'll just have the camera put on a tripod in the corner overviewing the tub. Yes; tub. If my wish is granted, I'd like to birth in water some day

[Firmus]

I have kind of a funny story about this exact subject.

For our 1st child, the room we were put in at the hospital didn't have a mirror available for my wife to watch. Being the ingenious husband I am, I rigged up our video camera next to the TV, wired it in, and positioned it so she could just watch it on the TV. It was well zoomed in and basically was only the action angle. It was stationary, wasn't being handled by a shaky ass 1st dad, or anything. No faces, no commentary up close, no love, no emotion, no stopping. This was an unyielding video display of an event. I frankly had forgotten I put it there,as I was busy doing all the important new dad things like being in the way and saying stupid things like "boy I'm getting sleepy".

Apparently I had hit record setting it up.

What we ended up with was EVERYTHING you don't see on National Geographic. It was well over a full hour of full on labor, episiotomy, and everything. You could see contractions, and how her whole "area" would bulge out during it. It was like watching Jim Carrey poop himself out of the rhino in Ace Ventura II.

Now the funny part. My father was extremely old school. He HAD to wait out in the waiting rooms for all 6 of his kids. At my brother's birth he was laying tile in the same hospital (he worked construction). So as far as he knew a seance took place and the baby was disgorged by a stork. We had all joked about how he had never seen a birth and never would, when my wife piped up and said "I'll get the DVD."

I got to witness my pop turn all 63 shades of embarrassed. He was even peeking through fingers! We all laughed about that for YEARS!

[RedRoses]

Originally Posted by Firmus

I frankly had forgotten I put it there,as I was busy doing all the important new dad things like being in the way and saying stupid things like "boy I'm getting sleepy".

Firmus, you already had me laughing at this part of your post Not to mention the description after

I actually find it a bit sad your father never got to be part of it. It is amazing what this experience can do for you as a couple. The moment your child is born, you are "born" as parents. And the first few moments after birth are an incredible jumpstart for the bond you both develop with your child.

Off course, some pregnancies and births happen in more or less fortunate circumstances and the people present carry their own baggage. My father is a semi-professional photographer, who -by my mother's description- kept himself emotionally distant. There was not a moment of shaky hands. But perhaps in the way he was present, he found the only way he was able to contribute.

PS: thank you, Big, for starting this thread. I find it very interesting, as may be clear from my several posts

[big916]

In the opinion of the hospital it infringes on their right what they want their policy to be. It is hard to say if these hospitals that don't allow recording if it is because of frivolous lawsuits where people are trying to cash in, or serious mistakes occurred. Either way they are protecting themselves from lawsuits which makes since. 9/10 lawsuits in the world are filed in the US.

I don't believe this is the policy of the majority of hospitals. It must depend directly if they or surrounding locations are sued often. I do believe that people should research the policy of the hospitals so that they are not disappointed and miss out on the opportunity that won't happen again.

Personally if we were to record the birth I would just want it filmed or shot at the mother's angle. Firmus I believe put it best with the Ace ventura reference. I don't have the old beliefs where the men wait out in the room and when the child is born you light up a cigar. I think smoking is gross, and if I had all the fun making the baby then I should be in the delivery room for support if she wants it.

And you are very welcome RR

[EvilEvilKitten]

My husband's opinion of being there was not happy - he died a million deaths knowing how strenuous it was and how useless he was to help but he stayed voicing no complaints even while I was crushing his hands and telling him to shut up about the breathing, dammit. Then there's that wonderful experience of checking over the placenta with the doctor to make sure it was all out. a large flattish dark blood mass of lumpy jello with a red rope hanging from it. Lovely.
This was through two births, btw.

The best part is that 'eel sliding over the rocks' feeling - ah! the baby's out!