What do you wear for a water birth?

[TimefIies]

Presumably you don't wear a wet nightie... do you wear a bikini or tankini top?

[Hoggle246]

I wore a bikini top

[Nessalina]

I went naked
If it's just you, OH & midwives then they'll all be seeing a lot of your intimate bits anyway! Including your boobs if you want to give BFing a go after birth. So I figured no point being modest.
The water is warm so you won't be cold. I found it lovely and freeing to just float nekkid through my contractions!

[mummybare]

I wore nothing. And usually I never walk around naked even when I'm alone in the house, but giving birth is not a 'usual' situation. I didn't get in till right at the end, though.

I thoroughly recommend the waterbirth thing by the way - it was lovely.

[lolalotta]

Nothing, baby arrived in 40 mins after reaching hospital, only spent about 15 mins in pool, no time to get changed!

[hanflan]

I'm planning on being naked haha! Midwives won't bat an eyelid, they see it every day. The more like a bath I can make it, the more relaxed I will be.

[Roxie85]

I'd already stripped naked by the time the midwife had come back into the room!
Was a good thing really as I gave birth after only 50mins at the midwife unit so got to spend as much time as possible in the pool.
I also couldn't bare anything touching my skin during labour (including my husband who I distinctly remember telling not to touch me)

[makeitabetterplace]

I'm hoping to have a water birth and I'm packing a bikini top and a tankini top in my hospital bag but I don't mind being completely naked - maybe if I'm in there for ages I might like something over me. My sister kept a bikini, and bottoms, on for the whole thing and just took her bottoms off for the pushing stage as she's quite shy.

[PeteHornberger]

I wore nothing for my first water birth, didn't even think about it, just got in. However, felt bizarrely self-conscious when it came to it with my second water birth so I kept my bra on - not sure why, because as a PP says, the midwives see basically everything else, so your boobs are the last of their concerns!

Maybe pack a bikini top and then see how you feel when it comes to it.

[FlossieTreadlight]

I took a bikini top then forgot all about it and realised afterwards that I'd left my bra on - didn't even notice. I didn't wear anything else. I did take my own towel and was glad I did. Good luck

[MrsCharlesBrandon]

Nothing. But after being examined every hour at the start of my induction i'd lost all semblance of dignity!

My lovely midwives didn't bat an eyelid.

[GoldenMama]

Nothing on here for both home birth pool babies. Went from bath when alone to bed to birth pool when midwife showed up, last thing I was thinking about was that I was naked.
A friend wore a bikini top for hers.

Good luck, I loved my birth pool a lot!

[Acorncat]

I wore a tankini top, just felt more comfortable not being completely naked.

[TimefIies]

Thanks everyone. Not long to go now (1st pregnancy) and just trying to get a picture in my head of how things might be! Although it sounds like a be prepared for any eventuality situation!

[cruikshank]

I think you should make your own outfit, like that lovely lovely woman in OBEM a couple of years ago who wanted to look stylish while giving birth, and ended up having one of the most calm, beautiful labours I have ever seen.

Good luck, OP!

[Redling]

I wore a halter bikini top. May as well have been naked though, after the birth midwives are popping your nips in the babies mouth anyway so it's not like boobs are off limits :) the pool was LOVELY although I had to get out to deliver, I hope it goes well :)

[Nessalina]

I love that episode of OBEM, it's totally what made me want a water birth! Actually ended up giving birth in the same hospital, in the same actual pool Although I swore a lot more than that lass did

Up until the pushing part though it was super relaxing as much as it can be whilst you're dilating - DH even got in the pool with me!

Just go with the flow OP, take something with you, and wear it if you want to. I really recommend The Water Birth Book if you want to find out more before the big event - it's got a lot about the stages of labour and how water plays a part, and as a first-timer I found it really interesting

[ISpyPlumPie]

I wore a tankini top. Agree this was probably illogical given boobs came ou straight away for a feed once he was born, but felt more comfortable that way.

Good luck OP. It is two years to the day since DS2's waterbirth and it was absolutely wonderful.

[joaninha103]

I had carefully packed a tankini top, all ready for going in the pool as I'm very body conscious and quite shy, but when it came to it, I just stripped right off and hopped clambered in! Didn't even stop to think of wearing anything, despite there being 2 midwives as well as DH. Was lovely to have newborn DS straight to the breast, still sitting in the pool, without having to take wet top/bra off.

[LizzieMint]

I've had two and wore nothing and I'm usually quite prudish. Dim lighting and the depth of the pool give you lots of privacy anyway, it's not like being just laid out on a bed.
Water births are the best, I hope you get one!

[weegiemum]

I packed a tanking type top. Got in the pool and practically lept out! I couldn't stand even the feeling of water on my skin, so much for my calming water birth (although the labour was as easy as possible).

[TheLittleOneSaidRollOver]

Naked. I am never normally anywhere near naked in public. I didn't care one jot then or now.

You know you will probably poo yourself in front of strangers don't you

[squizita]

I waddled up the corridor dropping clothes behind me as I went and flipped into the pool like a pink walrus. Thank goodness it was the middle of a quiet night and only female staff and DH were there.
My labour was quick and I turned up close to the end.

DH told me a few days later I pooped but I was on all 4 so didn't realise.