Delivery Room Video Camera Ban Coming to Your Hospital Next

on July 28, 2011 at 12:30 PM

ban video cameras from delivery room Capturing those first moments of your baby's life on video may be incredibly important to you. After all, it's possible you may be too out of it from either euphoria, pain, or drugs to remember the details of the moment you became a mom. But some hospitals are banning recording devices in the delivery room, so families are left without a visual reminder of that moment in time.

You can understand why a hospital might not want the birth of a baby memorialized. While one reason given is the misconstruing of the situation in the event of a medical malpractice suit, the other is that doctors might act differently if they know they're on tape. Being more likely to use "defensive" measures to protect themselves, we might see the incidents of c-sections rise even further. So we can expect more and more hospitals to adopt this policy.

These are good reasons (the changing the way you would behave, not so much the protection from malpractice), but banning a video camera is pretty pointless.

Hello? It's 2011, and everyone has a smartphone. An incredibly easy way to snap video is to simply turn on the recording portion of your phone and keep it out of sight. Determined couples will still make the moment happen, and litigious folks will start the filming as soon as they think things may be going awry. There are way too many ways to capture things on tape these days, hence the wildly successful YouTube. You've heard of this, right?

Personally, I did not want on-camera accounts of the birth of my children. A lovely photograph once the babies were safe in my arms was a great option, and I'll always treasure that. And these same hospitals that are banning video cameras (it even sounds outdated, right?) are allowing them leading up to the birth, and right after. But having a video of my baby coming out of my vagina or my stomach -- no, thank you.

But for those of you who do want that caught on tape, don't sweat the ban. There's more than one way to film a baby.

Do you think cameras should be banned from the delivery room?

Image via ElmWolf/Flickr

About the author April Peveteaux

writes about anything that gets stuck in her craw. A mom of two in Los Angeles, she can't believe she practically lives in the country now after attempting to raise kids in Brooklyn.

Filed Under: labor & delivery, tests & procedures

Comments (51)

Nonmember comment from Helena

on Jul 28, 2011 at 12:36 PM

Yeh I threatened everyone with the wrath of God if they so much as pull out a cellphone while I was in labor/giving birth. After the baby was out then everyone got the greenlight ;P Haha I don't regret that. And honestly I don't blame the hospitals. People are sue-crazy these days!

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PonyChaser

on Jul 28, 2011 at 12:40 PM

Don't those doctors and nurses have any say in the matter? It's not just *your* birth, it's their job. They have your life and the life of your child in their hands. Seems to me, if they don't want your hubby running around and getting in their way - and endangering you and your child - they should be able to make that decision. The priority is keeping humans alive, not posing to look pretty for a home video.

Nonmember comment from Eva

I just delivered in May of 10 and our hospital didn't allow video to be shot. They told us on our hospital tour because my husband video-records EVERYTHING and he was very upset about it. We made a joke that it was so there wouldn't be any malpractice suits from the vids and the nurse was not very amused. I kind of wish we did have video but at least we got pics.

Facebook comment from Stephanie Wiltcher

on Jul 28, 2011 at 1:02 PM

my birth was videotaped and pictures were taken. But none of the pictures has the doctor in it (besides hands). I wanted both of those since my husband was deployed during our birth. even though (without me knowing) my friend who was taking pictures sent the first picture of our son to my husband... it was a shot of him crowning. Little did my hubby know (nor i ) that it was that shot until it was brought up in his office on a 52 inch screen in front of his co workers. lol. so everyone in his office got a nice juicy shot of me. honestly... i didnt care, and still dont.

i think it should be discussed with the doctor. i dont think it is fair to have an outwright ban on recording devices. and if a doctor changes the way they do things because they are being recorded, then CLEARLY they are not doing something they should be. Screw the ban and go on a case by case instance

Facebook comment from Sarah Keys

on Jul 28, 2011 at 1:08 PM

I don't care if they ban cameras at our hospital...I guess I'm weird, I did NOT want my son's birth to be taped. I was so bloated, I didn't want to be reminded of that. lol

BobbieKay29

on Jul 28, 2011 at 2:00 PM

The hospital where I gave birth to my son has had a no camera policy for several years now. Which was perfectly fine with me, I got the photos afterwards which are much more precious to me. Oh and for all of those who do capture this moment on camera plus don't try to show it to your child years down the road. My sister-in-law accidentally happened upon her birth when cleaning out her families VHS tapes. She said it has left her traumatized even after having her own child. lol

Nonmember comment from CMG

on Jul 28, 2011 at 2:08 PM

Stephanie, I can think of a medical emergency practice that doctors have no choice but to do that nobody would ever want on camera. There are times, rare as they are, when the baby's shoulder gets stuck in the pelvis, but the baby has already gotten past the point of c-section. There are two scenarios at this point: 1. Let the baby suffocate to death and mother potentially have a stroke, or 2. Climb on top of the mother, put your hands over her pelvis like you're about to do CPR in the wrong place, and push down until you hear the baby's clavicle break. Then you deliver and rush the baby out to repair the bone. It's incredibly traumatic and it is not something that would ever look good on camera, but in those rare cases it's the only option. Sometimes, the babies are left with damage that can leave the arm paralyzed for life. But there are people out there who have no problem trying to sue the doctor who saved both lives.

jagamama0710

on Jul 28, 2011 at 2:29 PM

What a stupid ban.

hutchfam2007

on Jul 28, 2011 at 2:34 PM

Where I gave birth, they did not allow video in the pushing stage until 5mins after the baby is born. No pics during the birth until directly after. At the time it didnt bother me at all, didnt think I wanted to see that at all. But now im kinda curious... how do I know I dont want to see it if I never got to??