Should Cameras Be Allowed in the Delivery Room?

Welcome to Moms Talk, a weekly feature at Medford Patch, where local parents discuss a question related to a hot topic. Let's jump right in to this week's question:

Should hospitals allow photo taking and videotaping in delivery rooms? A recent New York times article covered the growing debate about hospitals banning cameras in delivery rooms. Reasonable and understandable? Restrictive and unfair?

Stacey Hilliard: As one who is often guilty of excessive photographing and/or videotaping, I actually agree with banning cameras in the delivery room -- at least during active delivery. I was fortunate enough to have my husband by my side for the birth of both my children, and I wanted him holding my hand -- not a video camera. And while I am awed by the miracle of birth, I'm also grossed out by some of the mechanics of that miracle. I didn't feel the need to have those details preserved forever.

Finally, if there had been some sort of emergency during either of my deliveries, I would not have wanted my "film crew" to be a distraction or to be in the way of my medical team and their work to save me and/or my baby.

Stacey has been a Medford resident for 13 years and has two sons, ages 9 and 7

Tiffany Reevior: Yes, hospitals should allow cameras in delivery rooms.

Giving birth is a very personal experience for a woman and her family, and they should be able to document it if they wish. Birth in America has become extremely medicalized and increasingly less personal; taking away people's rights to document the experience seems to wrest even more control away from women.

Obviously, the camera person should stay out of the way of medical staff, and should be removed if truly disrupting the delivery. But I worry that hospital policies against photos and videos during delivery are more about trying to prevent evidence in lawsuits, and that's not a good enough reason to take away people's rights to have pictures.

I do think it's fair for medical staff to request the video not be put up on YouTube and other online outlets; they have a right to privacy.

Tiffany has lived in Medford for four years and has a 6-year-old son.

Nancy Quinn: I was surprised to see B&W (Brigham and Womens) just started allowing it in 2008. I had my daughter there in 2006 and was never told about the policy. We took pictures - but after the birth. Very interesting! My response:

I think parents should have the right to photograph and video the birth of their own child - as long as it doesn't impede the delivery room nurses and doctors. It seems pretty straightforward to me. If the doctor is insistent on no photographs or videos - then they should be clear with the parents right away so they can be prepared or choose another doctor to deliver their baby.

Nancy has been a Medford resident for 7 years this Spring. She has two kids - 4 years and 21 months.