[lindsayjean]

What are you having or have you had at your homebirth?

I want a video, not really for anyone to watch but me. I'm thinking it would be okay to find a video recorder and tripod and not have to have anyone really MAN the video camera.

Photography... I'm really into photography, but obviously can't photograph my own birth, and I don't have anyone I know that I'd feel comfortable doing it for me, so I'm thinking about hiring an aspiring photography to do it for me for cheap. Thoughts?

I don't want to feel too "on display" but at the same time I really want to capture this- I had a hospital birth with my last and no pictures at all!

Thanks for your input.

 

[2+twins]

I'm pretty much like you - really wanted the video for my own sake and am very into photography but didn't want extra people there. I ended up putting some money into getting a system setup that worked for me. I had a tripod and borrowed a 2nd tripod from my mom. I put my video camera on one tripod and aimed it at the birth tub (works great if this is where you stay). I made sure I had extra tapes on hand and kept the camera plugged into the outlet so it wouldn't run out of battery power. Then I mounted my DSLR on the other tripod and bought a timer function accessory to auto-take photos at a set interval. Aimed that at the birth tub too. It worked out really well although the birth of my first twin happened really fast and I wish I had set the interval timer to snap every few seconds (I think it was set to snap every 30 seconds). Somehow my dh didn't get it working until just after my baby was born so our first still pics are just after he was born (although we did get the birth on tape). I ended up not giving birth in the tub for my 2nd twin so at that point one of the mw's or their apprentice (can't remember which) took the DSLR off the tripod and took photos for me. Someone also moved the video camera to point at the bed where I gave birth. Oh, I also bought an accessory for my still camera to plug it into a wall outlet so it also wouldn't lose battery power. It was a little elaborate but it worked!

In retrospect I am happy with the images I got - some are actually really great - but it *is* nice if you have someone actually taking photos so they can move the camera around and capture more of the emotion (wish someone had gotten a good pic of the look on my kids faces as their brothers were born). Let me know if you need more info - after not getting any photos or video from my first 2 births it was all so worth it in the end!

 

[hikingmommy]

I haven't had my homebirth yet, but we're planning on putting the video camera on a tripod and having the camera there. DH is a bit stressed about supporting me and taking care of the pics/video, but I'm hoping that he can just set up the video and let it run and go to the camera every so often and snap a shot or 2. I'm trying not to get my hopes up that we'll have an amazing video of the birth, but I think it'd be nice.

 

[devon]

We just had our HB on Friday, and we did the tripod thing for the video camera (haven't watched it yet) and my husband took pictures during labor and our doula/childcare person also took pictures right after. We do have a great one my husband snapped right after birth that I love already.

We also had some camera issues with our first two births so it was very important to me also to get some.

 

[billikengirl]

My wedding photographer had her birth (in the hospital) photographed and was kind enough to share those pictures with me. Oh, they were beautiful. The photographer caught the mama's face as she reached down for her baby and saw her the first time. What a precious thing to have on film. I tear up just thinking about those photos.

I'm thinking of having a local friend come over and photograph for me. I'll listen to my feelings about having a "crowd" there as we get closer and if we need to change that plan we will, but this friend has had homebirths and I know she won't be messing up the vibe because she believes in home birth.

 

[Jilian]

I had loads of pictures taken at DS2's birth. My sister, DH, the MW, and her apprentice all took pictures for us. I still love looking back at them almost 2 years later. We're hoping to get lots of pictures this time around too.

 

[ryansma]

I hired a birth photographer (an mdc mama) for the birth of my second son. I am so happy I did. She didn't make it for the actual birth but arrived very soon after and got great shots of ds1 meeting ds2 and our first moments together as a family. I am sooo glad I did it.
We set up a meeting late in my pregnancy and I felt great about her being there and the fact that she was a mother who had drug free births as well. She was great that day. Very respectful and the pictures are priceless to me.

 

[dogmom327]

My sister took video and my best friend had the camera. I only remember noticing once when the red light on the front of the camcorder caught my eye. Beyond that I was in my own little world. I am so glad we did both. We were able to edit and share the pictures with family (and I really love to look at them) and I was able to watch the video later. I never did show anyone else except the MW (who was there anyway).