Hospitals

Hold off on that hospital photo shoot! Baby's first picture is a keepsake that mamas hold onto forever, but just how soon after birth can the camera be used? While many laboring moms assign photographer duties to a friend or family member to capture their lil one's arrival, a hospital in western Maryland is putting a delay on that first image with a new policy prohibiting video and still photography of deliveries until five minutes after the baby's arrival. According to the hospital, the rule is intended to "protect patient privacy and reduce potential staff distractions."

Would a hospital's photography rules factor into your decision to deliver there?

Aside from the groans of labor and the sterile aroma, registering at the hospital to deliver a baby can feel a bit like checking into a hotel for a getaway, especially second time mothers. Moms-to-be who are bursting at the seams are typically beyond ready to welcome their wee one to the world and rest up after the tough task of pushing or surgery. From the second mama arrives, the nurses and doctors will be catering to her every need. Crushed ice, fresh bandages, new sheets, emptied garbage cans, and timely meals may be enough to make a mother never want to bid the maternity ward adieu. Add a nursery with a bevy of skilled caretakers to the mix and the place may look like baby utopia. Still, some mothers can't wait to zip up their bags and buckle the new family in for an early departure back to the comforts of their own home.

Were you begging to go home early or did you take advantage of every last minute of hospital hospitality?