08/06/2026
Can you think of any reason why a hospital would have a policy against taking video of a birth? I can only think of one: they don’t want evidence of obstetric violence. So many providers get very “hands on” during the pushing phase. I encourage my clients to have explicit conversations with their provider about how they manage the pushing phase, beyond “I don’t want to be on my back.” You also need to know if they tell you how and when to breathe, is there a time limit on the pushing phase, do they “massage” the perineum during delivery or do they allow the baby’s head to naturally stretch the tissue? I know these things are uncomfortable to think about, and many providers won’t discuss these topics until closer to delivery but you need these answers with plenty of time to switch providers if their practices don’t align with your preferences or respect your bodily autonomy.
