Taking Pictures/Video During the Birth

One of the things you’ll have to do to prepare for this birth is figure out how you want to take pictures or do video during the birth. Most people want pictures during the birth or immediately after the baby’s born. And the role of photographer (along with everything else) often falls to you.

• Make sure you know how your camera works, how to load memory cards, put in batteries and so on before she goes into labor. You should also make sure any memory cards are empty before she goes into labor. You may find it easier to have a special, unused memory card just for the big day.

• Take pictures all through the process. Snap a couple of pictures when she’s at home and take a picture of the people who are on the rest of the support team.

• Avoid neglecting mom to take pictures. Consider taking pictures secondary to making your partner as comfortable as possible.

• Just snap away. Don’t worry abut taking perfect pictures. If the pictures have a baby in them, they’re fine. If you don’t like the pictures you can always delete them from the memory card before anyone else sees them.

• Talk to mom beforehand to find out what pictures or video she wants. She may want PG-rated pictures (ie: no pictures of the baby crowning) or she may be fine with the R-rated pictures. If you want a shot of the baby being born, but don’t want a shot of your partner’s perineum, try filming up by mom’s head rather than over the doctor’s shoulder. If she’s going to breastfeed, you should also find out if she wants pictures with her breasts in them.

• Consider having a person whose job is to provide secondary support and take pictures. That way you can take care of your partner and still get lots of pictures. And this way, you’ll end up in some of the pictures too.

• Talk to your birthing facility to find out if they let you take pictures during the process. Some hospitals will allow pictures and video as long as everything is going okay. Others will allow still pictures, but no videos of the actual birth. Still others won’t allow any pictures of the actual birth or the moments following it. You should also find out the policy for c-section births. Video is usually not allowed and many hospitals won’t allow any still cameras into the operating room. Find out if the event of a c-section, when you can take pictures of the baby and your partner.

The Car Ride to the Hospital

Many coaches wonder how to handle the car ride to the hospital. Chances are, unless her water’s broken and contractions haven’t started, she’s going to be having some pretty strong contractions in the car. So here’s how to handle the drive.

• Never run through red lights or drive too fast. If you’re worried you’re not going to make it to the hospital before the baby comes, pull over and call 911. Alternately you can just go to the closest hospital.

• Keep your eye on the road. If mom starts groaning or making noise during contractions, avoid trying to help her too much. Your job is to get both of you safely to the hospital.

• Plan on mom being in the back seat. Make her as comfortable as possible. Give her cool compresses and water she can sip on, if she wants to. If she has back labor, give her a heating pad that’s air activated.

• Have her sit on a towel in case her water breaks in the car. She also may need a puke bucket—many women throw up during labor.

• Consider having someone else in the car who can help mom or do the driving so you can help mom. This may make the drive to the hospital a little safer.