Taping the birth

[Serenyd]

I love watching UC births on youtube. So inspiring. I'd like to tape mine, but I'm thinking it would probably be outside my comfort zone. But I'm not sure, I mean, how wonderful it would be to have as a memento?

So I was wondering what everyone's opinions on taping are. & can anyone recommend a good, reasonably priced video camera, JIC I decide to get one?

[djinneyah]

i thought about taping, but decided against it, because video cameras make me nervous. i feel like i have to 'perform' for people who point a video camera at me, which to my mind, makes it no different than having a midwife or similar at my birth, and that stress and nervousness is what i'm trying to avoid in the first place, sooo....

i have decided to have a friend come over and take some pictures, though

[lightinmyhands]

I also thought about taping, but in the end, was very glad that the act of birthing was just as private as the act of creating her. it was beautiful, sacred. However, I too liked watching videos on youtube, so more power to you if you want to tape yours! I believe you can get disposable video cameras now for about 30 bucks, maybe it was 50? I can't recall.

[Serenyd]

Originally Posted by djinneyah

i thought about taping, but decided against it, because video cameras make me nervous. i feel like i have to 'perform' for people who point a video camera at me, which to my mind, makes it no different than having a midwife or similar at my birth, and that stress and nervousness is what i'm trying to avoid in the first place, sooo....

i have decided to have a friend come over and take some pictures, though

Yes, it's too bad DP doesn't take very good pictures. I was thinking of setting the camera up somewhere close by and then "forgetting" it was there, kind of taping. Kind of like one of those "wildlife" cameras.

[Serenyd]

Originally Posted by lightinmyhands

I also thought about taping, but in the end, was very glad that the act of birthing was just as private as the act of creating her. it was beautiful, sacred. However, I too liked watching videos on youtube, so more power to you if you want to tape yours! I believe you can get disposable video cameras now for about 30 bucks, maybe it was 50? I can't recall.

That's actually not a bad idea. Thanks!

eta: I'm not sure if I'd have the guts to post it on youtube, or not. BUT it would really irk DP's mom, who makes fun of my crunchy ideas and wouldn't stop talking about how disgusting my birth photos on myspace were last time, and I think that would be kind of fun

[reducereuserecycle]

it would hinder me. and last time i gave birth in total darkeness so a big light blaring out of the camcorder wouldn't have fit in my dark atmosphere.

if i did record it i would love to be able to watch the birth recording over and over again but there is no way i would ever record my uc.

i do apprecitate all those who have recorded and shared because it really helped my know what to expect for my uc.

[zoebird]

it would hinder me too. it's an observer.

[DocsNemesis]

It wouldnt bother me, but having people at the birth doesnt bother me either-which seems to be a bit unusual for a UCer. I'm not a shy person and I invite friends and family to the birth, but for someone who wants to be alone, I dont know. As others have said, it may be a hinderence...but then again, it may not be. It'd definately be cool to have!

[reducereuserecycle]

yep, i'm one that wanted to be alone....just me, not even dh. i really needed to concentrate alone. this time might be different because of dd. if she wants to be my audience then so be it. that means dh will be there too which is also fine. but still i probably wouldn't consider a camcorder.

[Kidzaplenty]

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[Usually Curious]

I have thought about video and pics and I don't want my dh distracted by them. We'll take pics after, but not during.

[rjruiz_415]

DH really really reaaalllly wanted to photo and video the labor and birth. I let him... While I was actually doing work (having the ctx, pushing, etc) or even just resting from the work (lol) I had my eyes closed, and was really not paying much attention to whether or not the camera was on. DH was not in my face with it, he kept his distance. I never opened my eyes to see him with a camera right there- kwim? And now I am glad that I have that video to look back at if I want to. I did not feel watched or anything because I had a camera. The watched feeling *I* had was from having two people in the room not talking. Just sitting there w-a-i-t-i-n-g , lol. I am not one who needs affirmation and touching and all that during labor, so they just sat there with me...

[Serenyd]

Interesting how many people don't want to be "on camera" for the birth, but, enjoyed watching other's UC birth videos. Kind of a paradox. Really the whole taping thing seems to go against UC philosophy, but I think it could be done unobtrusively without disrupting the privacy and intimacy of the birth. I would really like to have some good pictures at least, but it's a minor issue. I don't think I'd be comfortable bringing in someone just to take pictures or video.

[HennaLady]

For what it's worth, I am very excited about having a video record of my upcoming solo UC birth. And I'm very private and plan to be having as many orgasms as possible during the process. The way I see it is that the video camera is only an extension of my own private observation of the birth. Now, if it were a security camera type monitoring thing that my Dh was using to watch live while I was birthing, that would NOT be okay with me. But as I see it I can choose afterwards to share it with others or not. It's just like having a mirror set up, IMO. Another set of my eyes/my memory.

A major difference for me is that the camera is just set up. There will be no "videographer" or photographer there capturing the moment. I will just switch it on and that's that.

[Sarah Faith]

I had DS at a birth center and had video of it. I really want to make it available for people to see (since it was so peaceful-hypnobabies, and people never believe it) but I don't like to share private info online. I have watched it many times though. Especially during this pregnancy, it calms me.

I think we will tape this UC I plan on just having DH and I there, but my SIL will be in the house for my DS, and my mom will be there for things like, making food, getting more water for the tub, etc. We have a tripod and my current plan is just to get it in a good position and set it up and just have DH turn it on and off occasionally to get some footage. I didn't notice it at all last time and I figure it should be fine this time as well.

[Raene]

I'm planning on taping mine and wearing clothes. I want to show my anti-natural birth friends how beautiful birth can be.

I have heard rave reviews about the Flip camera from doulas. I'm waiting for mine to arrive in the mail...

By the way, they also donate a large amount to charity. Seems like a great company to support.

[Thankful'n'Blessed]

I have video tapes of both my births (DS1 at a free standing BC with midwife attending; DS2 at home, just me DH and God) and wouldn't trade them! We have a small DVD camcorder, so DH (at my request) set it up on a tripod in the corner and just changed tapes periodically. It is so awesome to be able to see it from the outside after the birth. I get so focused and in labor-land that I wouldn't be able to see things as clearly in my mind otherwise.

[Marlet]

We did since we were part of a documentary/film. The handheld I did not like. It felt intrusive and made me feel like I was being watched. I don't really see it as that but suddenly I was thinking about the AFTER...when I would want to watch it. I knew that that aprt would be more freeing and/or violating than the actual taping. And I was right. I hate how I looked and sounded and now as a result I really dislike parts of my labour. We got very little of the birth on film and I'm glad. I cannot watch my footage with thye sound on. I'm too critical of myself and feel incredibly stupid watching/hearing it all. I do wish though we had turned on the one on the tripod. I think the issue with the handheld was it required participation (even if nothing had been said and it had all been uninvolved on my end) whereas the tripod one could be forgotten once it was turned on. In the end it wasn't even turned on, much less set to record.

I won't be filming any other births.

[HisBeautifulWife]

I don't like watching birth videos and I certainly would not consent to being taped.

[ChristSavesAll]

Originally Posted by Serenyd

Yes, it's too bad DP doesn't take very good pictures. I was thinking of setting the camera up somewhere close by and then "forgetting" it was there, kind of taping. Kind of like one of those "wildlife" cameras.