I'm planning to try to get the pool room when I go to hospital. I always assumed you didn't wear anything in there, but I saw a programme which featured 2 live births recently and both of the women had swimmning costume tops on (on a bikini top and the other a kind of tankini thing).

Is this the norm? Should I be looking for some kind of cossie to take with me?

Sorry if this wins stupid question of the week, I know it's entirely up to me, but just wondered if there was a "norm".

Didn't have a waterbirth but laboured for a while in the pool. I just left on the bra and vest top that I was wearing when I went in to hospital. I didn't really plan the pool bit (but would highly recommend for pain relief) Would probably do the same again...

I've seen women who didn't want to wear anything, but others who wear a bikini/tankini top.

Same here, laboured in pool, I wore a long t-shirt.

I wore a button-through nightshirt till I got into the pool but tbh I couldn't wait to get it off as I was roasting.

I wore nothing (was at home), I wouldn't want a t-shirt on as I imagine it clings to you horribly when it gets wet, so at most I'd wear a vest/bra top.

You may want to be naked. I wore a tankini top but was hot after a while and took it off.

I didn't have anything on while in the birth pool. I was so hot I couldn't bear to have anything on even before I got in the pool.

You won't really know what you want until the time comes but I've supported many women during labour and most of them don't wear anything in the birth pool. It's entirely ok either way.

Thanks for this everyone

Laboured in the pool first time round, was nekkid. It's really just a big bath after all

As MrsBadger. I was at home.

I wore a Sloggi cropped vest thing for support.

I thought I'd be really self-conscious when getting in the pool, but in the event I think all my clothes ended up flung about the room as I was so desperate to get in (and it was a blessed relief when I did)! I did end up with a towel around my shoulders as I got a bit cold towards the end. You probably won't care much, but always good to take a bra or whatever for every eventuality. Good luck!

I wore mh dh big baggy sports vest - i told them to cut it off afterwards as i was to knackered to remove it all wet - he was a bit sad about that lol!

I was in the birthing pool at the hospital and I didn't even think twice about flinging all my clothes off, I found them so restricting and felt much better nude.

Good Luck

Naked worked for me. Hell, when your poo comes floating to the top and they give you a strainer, it's quite nice to have naked breasts as a distraction!

I didn't think twice about slinging my clothes off either.

There is a pic of me in pool with a very new baby just floating up to surface in my profile if you want a nose.

Beautiful pictures, Thomcat!

I thought I would want to wear something but in the end I didn't

have added a couple of pics to my profile of DS1 & 2 in the birthing pool

Thomcat and jingleyjen what absolutely beautful and moving pictures.

I have not had a waterbirth so nothing constructive to add to the thread, just being nosey.

Lovely photos, thanks both

What gorgeous kids they all are too.

Hi chequers. I started with a long night shirt but as the other ladies have said I ended up naked because it was so warm in the pool and the nightshirt was too distracting.
Good luck .

I thought I would wear a t shirt but took it off as anything touching me was so annoying I did not get a waterbirth as the pool was full but I was in the huge bath all night. TBH The whole world could have seen me naked and I would not have cared a bit.

Practically being naked was great as they just passed DD up and I put her straight to the breast.

Lovely photos, lovley wedding dress and Thomcat you look very chic (even when pregnant IYSWIM)

that is of course saying that your dcs all lok lovely too

(sorry I'm hear I've often wondered what to wear to a water birth!)

sorry about typos!

I was naked too. I had a t-shirt on whilst labouring but as others have said I was so hot I threw it off while waiting to get into the pool. The pool was bliss.
TC and Jingley your photos have made me broody! Beautiful.

Fab pictures. I didn't wear anything in the pool but got out when ready to push and just put an old t shirt on. I was a coward and was too scared to actually give birth in the pool - maybe next time eh?!