[tibbitts]

I have pics from the mid 80s. Frankly, I would ban a backwards thinking hospital. If they have a ban in place, it probably has more to do with their 2-bit lawyers than any other single factor.

I was thinking more '50s. But I'd expect to find about the same percentage of hospitals allowing you to use a camera in the delivery room as, for example, repair facilities allowing you to photograph them rebuilding your transmission, or a dentist allowing you to photograph them extracting your tooth. Even a contractor remodeling your bathroom is going to probably draw the line at you using the opportunity to create a complete how-to series of photographs, and that's basically what's happening when you photograph from start to finish.

Birth is an extraordinarily complicated process, with a lot of things that can go wrong with very serious consequences, and anything more than just a few quick before-and-after pictures just seem like a distraction to everyone involved.

Paul

[KierraElizabeth]

Congrats on your upcoming baby! I think you've gotten better advice than I could give about the lenses, but thought I would mention that some of my favorite images from my children's births are not the ones where I was looking really miserable or pushing or even immediately after, but many of those quiet moments in the hours before and after--the sleeping, the walking, the clock ticking away, and the quiet time with baby after. Don't forget that a birthing experience is not just in the "big event"--it's in all the little details that lead up and follow. Best of luck!