| Frankly, before I had my own kids, I could not | | | | course, do check with your wife if her privacy |
| understand why anyone would want to film their | | | | needs are being met. |
| child's birth. The process is somewhat messy with | | | | Like all other fathers at their first child's birth, I |
| all that blood in a sterile boring delivery room. Now | | | | was advised several times by different, |
| that I have had my first kid, the feeling is | | | | well-meaning people about the birth process and |
| completely different and it is worthwhile to invest | | | | having a certain reaction, namely vomiting or |
| in a camcorder to record that very precious | | | | fainting. Thanks to the lovely documentaries on |
| moment. Be prepared for many hours of joy and | | | | television, I saw the process and I felt certain I |
| wonder as baby is born all the way to her first | | | | could handle it. And yes, I was totally cool about it |
| steps, and you will want your camcorder handy | | | | during the actual birth. Although I was mentally |
| to catch all those moments. | | | | prepared to have such a severe reaction. |
| One of the most obvious things about filming | | | | So judge your own self and at least be mentally |
| childbirth is requesting permission from the hospital | | | | prepared that you could not continue the filming. |
| to film. As not all hospitals will allow this. | | | | Alternatively you could use a tripod to do it. At |
| Remember to avoid any footage of the medical | | | | least it will keep running while you empty the |
| staff too to respect their privacy, not to mention | | | | contents of your stomach. Or you could hire an |
| if you want to avoid any red tape. | | | | experienced professional to do it. Remember to |
| Since the lady will undoubtedly be the busy one, | | | | get the consent of the hospital. |
| daddies must be tactical during the film and | | | | Try to keep still to avoid blurry images. |
| position themselves where they will not get in | | | | Vary the shots to include relevant side images |
| anybody's way. You would not want to be clumsy | | | | such as holding your wife's hand or support for |
| during the delivery and have your wife and | | | | your wife. Try and get a shot of your newborn in |
| medical staff giving your glares. Nurses priority is | | | | her mother's arms. |
| to delivery your child safely. | | | | Remember not to worry about your filming |
| How your wife is delivering is also important | | | | technique. This is a life experience that you can |
| depending on hospital policies. They may allow | | | | only catch with your own wife and child with your |
| filming of natural births but not birth by caesarean | | | | own eyes. The film is just a bonus. |
| section. Check for this and other restrictions. Of | | | | |