In Melbourne's Herald Sun, there has been a report that Victorian hospitals are banning video cameras in birth suites due to litigation issues, privacy and unnecessary distractions for the birthing mother.
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There has also been lots of discussion about Orlando Bloom being very involved in the birth of his baby last week and surgeon Dr Michel Odent is at it again saying that men have no place in birth at all.
I'm often asked about video cameras and how a bloke is supposed to support his partner effectively while he's multi-tasking as a movie director, while also coming to terms with one of the most amazing, challenging and emotional events in their lives. All this while he's supporting his partner effectively.
A video camera can be set up in the corner of the room (set and forget) but if a guy is fussing about and bothering his wife with the lens "down the business end", that will have a negative effect on the birth. It's a simple hormonal rule: adrenaline blocks endorphins which nuke the pain and oxytocin which drives the labour. So if a man is stuffing about with a video camera and irritating his partner, he can effectively make the birth more painful and longer!
The moment a baby is born is such an emotional, amazing and gobsmacking moment that it seems a pity to me to see it through the lens if a camera, rather than being present in the moment, holding your partner and telling her that you love her. I would recommend that you save your movie-making for after your baby is born. If you're a Victorian, it seems you have no choice on this one any longer.
