2nd UPDATE: Newborn photos banned in hospital
Some parents are not so happy with a new policy at a Hagerstown hospital than bans all kinds of photography in the delivery room until 5 minutes after the babies are born.
The Associated Press is reporting that officials at Meritus Medical Center say the new policy aims to cut down on distractions and protect the moms' privacy.
Civil rights officials say the pics and video do not violate any privacy laws. The hospital may fear lawsuits.
I've asked a couple of the popular birthing centers to let me know what their policies are and will pass them on when I get them.
In the meantime, let me know if you got images of your child's birth and where you delivered. How do you feel about such a delay?
Below are the highlights from the policy in effect since 2006 at Greater Baltimore Medical Center, which has one of the busiest delivery rooms around. The center is in the process of updating its general photo/video policy.
Also, see the policy at Mercy Medical Center, which I believes delivers the most babies in the city.
At GBMC, pparents/family who have parents' permission can take video/photos under the following guidelines:
A. Videotaping/Audiotaping will be permitted while the laboring patient is in early labor and after birth, once the newborn is stabilized and in his/her mother’s arms. Videography of the full-term spontaneous vaginal delivery of the infant may be permitted only with the expressed permission of the obstetrician, anesthesiologist and nurse. It will be conducted from the head of the bed.
B. Still photography will be allowed at any time, at the discretion of the physician and /or nursing staff.
C. Use of camera capability of cellular phones is prohibited without consent of the staff.
D. In the event of an EMERGENCY SITUATION, all taping and photography will stop. Visitors will be asked to step back and provide the staff the space and ability to care for the mother and child. Visitors may also be asked to leave the room.
E. Filming of obstetrical, medical, and/or surgical procedures/interventions will not be permitted.
F. Physicians, midwives, anesthesiologists, neonatologists and nurses will not be videotaped or photographed without their consent.
At Mercy, the chief of OB, Dr. Robert Atlas, says the policy basically mirrors the Hagerstown policy: No videotaping the delivery itself and the initial resuscitation of the infant. Once everything is noted to be stable, videotaping is allowed.
Comments
I am actually happy to hear of this. I think the proud father may sometimes put himself behind the lens as a distancing mechanism. Let everyone experience the moment without distraction. There will be plenty of time for photos later on.
Posted by: Dahlink | December 27, 2010 5:57 PM
Not every moment of one's life needs to be documented. "Be in the moment" not behind the camera. You have years to take those photos.
Posted by: ruth | December 28, 2010 7:32 AM
We didn't take pictures right away with our first son, but got a couple of our second. But we both enjoyed the birth experience and taking pictures wasn't the first priority. Here's another place where the participants should be able to choose - it's not up to us or a hospital to tell a new dad to put the camera down.
Posted by: MadCow | December 28, 2010 10:27 AM
After the conception, the part of the father (until birth) is put on hold and he really doesn't have a lot to do other than support the mother. A lot of them feel this is support and help since women cannot take pics themselves. As for privacy... most women do not care when there is a baby coming out of their body. Since c-section births are more complicated, I could understand limited photography.
Posted by: Rebecca | December 29, 2010 6:48 PM
To each his own, but I couldn't tolerate having a camera anywhere near me when I was in labor. I also instructed no photos of the baby or me until we had both had time to be bathed and rested, then we took lots of lovely photos in the hospital room with family and friends around us.
Posted by: Leelee | December 30, 2010 1:09 PM