Making a Video of Your Childbirth
From LoveToKnow Pregnancy
Making a video of your childbirth may sound like a great idea, but like most things, it will take a little preparation on your part to make sure you capture the experience the way you want it.
Permission for Making a Video of Your Childbirth
Unless you are making a video of a Home Birth, you will want to check with the hospital or birthing center about their policies regarding making a video of your childbirth. You will find many medical facilities have rules regarding:
- Video recording may not be allowed in surgery.
- You may need to bring your own power source rather than using facility outlets.
- You may need to obtain a signed release to video any of the medical personnel.
- Where you can set up, so you will not be in the way.
- The use of special lighting.
Mom is the Director
Making a video of your childbirth that you are willing to let others view means giving clear directions to the person taking the video of what you would like captured for posterity. In other words, do you want see shots of the baby’s head crowning and the actual birth, or would you feel more comfortable if your sense of modesty remain intact and have a video of you above the waist and of family, friends, and the birthday child?
Choose a Videographer Wisely
Ideally, a friend or family member will refer you to an experienced videographer who has taken childbirth videos before. Unfortunately, that may not happen. Then next best answer is to find someone who is comfortable operating a video recorder and who is not involved in other roles during the childbirth, like expectant father or birthing coach. Their jobs are to help make you as comfortable as possible and to focus on your job as mother. You will also want to choose someone you will feel comfortable sharing this special moment with.
Amateur Childbirth Videotaping Tips
Whether you a taping a woman giving birth or baby’s first steps, there are a few tips that will help you do a better job at creating the video memory that you will cherish for years to come:
- Use a tripod when possible. Shaky hands can ruin some of the most precious moments.
- Avoid excessive panning and tilting, meaning a lot of horizontal and vertical movement. Doing so will often result in blurred shots.
- Specific to making a video of your childbirth, avoid excessive thigh shots. No one wants to watch ten minutes of nothing but thigh, when you could be videoing the father holding his wife’s hand and urging her to push, or the look on the mother’s face as she pushes through another contraction.
- There is more to an event than just the event. Just as you might video crowd reaction at a ballgame, you will want to include family and friends on the tape.
- If possible bring more than one video recorder and extra tapes or disks.
For more tips, visit:
Rule One
Rule one in making a childbirth video is the medical staff and procedure take precedent. Stay out of the way, and if you are asked to leave, do it. While Childbirth Videos are wonderful mementos of an unforgettable experience, the well-being of the mother and child is what it is all about.
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