Birth video?

[NikkiH at Parenting.com]

Recently, my pregnant friend told me that she and her husband are planning to video tape her giving birth as a keepsake for her child. I understand she's making the video for her child, but I have never wanted to watch a video of my mom giving birth to me. I think everyone should be free to do as they like, but our conversation made me curious: would you tape yourself giving birth?

[kimbert]

Giving birth is hard enough as it is without having a video camera pointed at you constantly! It's so reality TV and tacky.

Taking photos would be fine before and after the birth, but there's no real point to taping the whole process. We've all watched the 'Miracle of Life' in high school!

[Galikian]

I don't have the choice of vaginal birth anymore, so I would be 100% fine with a video taping of my c-sections. I wouldn't mind watching that actually, lol. My husband took pictures of my last c-section, which was planned and we were actually prepared for. If I were giving birth vaginally there is no way I would let them video tape or take pictures of that, though

[jenn_0629]

It totally depends on the parents. I'm pregnant with my first child now and I don't feel that it is right for me. If I did, it would be a keepsake for myself, not for my child. I wouldn't want them to see mom in pain or mom with nothing but an open gown on.

[Casalinga]

Let's see, how many different ways are there to say, "NO WAY!"

I'm kidding, a little, but I would have been extremely opposed to such a thing. I guess different strokes for different folks, though.

I wonder if children enjoy seeing videos of their own births. I'd be interested in hearing anyone with experience with that.

[Violeta]

I respect all of your point of view, but I did video tape my children's birth. The video begings when the baby is coming out but filmed on a side angle, so you can only see the babies head. Its actually very common in my family to video tape. It's not a 10 hr video, just the arrival of the baby, baby been bathed, cutting the cord, and weighted etc. If my child wouldn't like to see their birth ,that would be up to them. They can always delete it.

[Shawna90]

If I were to tape myself, it would only be my head. I don't think any child, boy or girl, would want to watch that. Maybe a daughter might when she was getting ready to have children of her own. At least the tape would always be there just in case the child is interested. I think after birth pictures would suffice for any curious child(not pictures of the after-birth). I know when I was little I always wanted my mom to show me pictures of me as a baby and tell me stories.

[bebeedol]

Having a video of my child being born is extremely important to me. I've been looking for places and doctors for the past couple of months. I'm due next month and still haven't found a place. Does anyone know of a hospital and doctor in the New York Metro area that will allow this? Thank you.

[craftyashley]

My parents didn't tape my birth, but they took pictures... a lot of full-frontal pictures. Gross pictures. As a child, I never treasured these pictures. I still do not want to even have them in my presence. So I don't know if you would tape for your kids or just really for yourself. There may be a reason that a majority of hospitals don't allow cameras. The focus of the birth should be on mommy and the baby, not on the correct angle, or if the camera is malfunctioning, etc.

[brandie1127]

Oh yeah! We are SO taping the birth!!!! I want to see!


PS: I'm going to force my daughter to watch it when she's 15 ... as a form of birth control, .... following the conversation "so you think you might want to have sex huh? well watch this ...)


But seriously the "movie" is more for me than anyone else, I won't be including birthing pictures in the scrapbook. And just for the record my friends and family thinks its disgusting and aweful too ... I just don't care.