to wonder why some women give birth naked?

[sparklyknittedmacaroons]

Just seen a video of a woman doing this, and I know a couple of friends who have chosen to. Am about to give birth to my 4th and personally couldn't bear the thought of being naked in a room of strangers, also don't understand why there is the need...not criticising anyone who does it, just genuinely asking the question so no rudeness or flaming please!

Also, giveing birth is hot work!

sorry 'giving'

Ninky Nonker, you also seem judgemental and defensive.

Morloth, of course dignity and nakedness/clothing are linked.

Anyway, very interesting. Thanks everyone for replying - I'll definitely be keeping my nightie on and hanging on to my dignity when the time comes - off to get some rest now!

Honestly? I have no idea. All I know is that I didn't want clothes on and when DP or the midwife tried to cover me up I screamed and shouted and ripped the clothes back off again. I needed to be naked. It was a primal thing. I couldn't have given two hoots who saw me.

What, you really couldn't work out why some people might refer to be unencumbered when giving birth...?

Doesn't take much imagination or lateral thinking to work it out, I'd have thought. And I say this as someone who had their top half covered both time. I think...!

I'll definitely be keeping my nightie on and hanging on to my dignity when the time comes

I can assure you I didn't lose my dignity. I was giving birth. It's not a particularly dignified time, but all DP could talk about for months afterwards was how amazing I'd been. "So strong", "So focused", etc.

Exactly Atruth

I'm not in the least judgemental (not sure where you get that from), as I have passed no judgement on how anyone dresses to give birth. Neither am I defensive, as I had clothes/gown on when I gave birth so have nothing to 'defend'.

I was just explaining why you were getting the responses you have, you seemed confused so I wondered if your turn of phrase was unintentional.

Weird, huh? I was just sending wishes that you don't get a room full of strangers this time! Clearly you have a repeat problem with that. But if we're being honest here, the words "[I] don't understand why there is a need" were practically delivered in your first post with a cat's bum mouth at all the wanton nekkid women out there. Hell, I gave birth both times wearing something but that was just the way things happened. But why shouldn't people just give birth in whatever they want, including their birthday suit or a burkha or anything in between if that's what makes them feel good at the time?

Ask a question in a certain style, and you'll get a certain style of answer!

Worked a treat for me NinkyNonker I used the Mongan method with my own tweaks both times.

Very chilled out virtually pain free births both times (I have lost focus at transition and have had four really painful contractions for both births, but then gotten it back, weird).

DS2 was refusing to leave so he got the boot with a drip (what is that stuff? Synto?, can't remember) which made the contractions a bit stronger than they would have been naturally but I was still able to ride them out OK without needing any painkillers.

The main thing hypnobirthing does IMO is give you control. You become very aware and in tune with what is happening with your body so are able to make and voice your decisions a lot more firmly. DH is also very on board, it is his job to really question any medical types if they want to do anything, they have to have a VERY good reason.

Hands and knees for pushing is awesome, was much easier to push that way I found.

I like drugs a lot so am not adverse to them, I just like to be in control.

Nothing could touch me, not clothes not DH, no-one, it made me want to climb out of my skin.

Dignity has nothing to do with clothing.

My first birth wa sin hospital wearing a nightie, legs slung in stirrups. Never have I felt so vulnerable and exposed.

Subsequent births were all at home, naked and I felt fantastic, in control and dignified.

I've had to really really think about whether I was clothed during labours.

Have worked out by flashback that with dd I hd a gown on - epidural and the waters had broken all over the clothes I was wearing. Because was a labour of several hours and had had epidural was feeling chilly I think. Dh and 2 midwives.

Ds1 - the clothes I'd worn to hospital minus my skirt and knickers. Very very quick delivery less than an hour after getting there (was supposed to be home birth but no midwives and was already pushing when arrived). useful that waters didn't break because wore same clothes home an hour or so later. Dh, midwife and student midwife.

Ds2 - nekkid. At home and had just got out of shower and he was born an hour after waters broke and about half an hour of contractions starting proper. Dh and a midwife.

I also threw my clothes (tshirt) off with DS, I didn't really think about it. Maybe the clothes were too distracting? I don't think I was too irritable Second time around my labour was so fast that DD was born in my knickers! So best of both worlds for me

Really getting sick of these "this is how I did it and anyone else who doesn't do it my way is some kind of failure" threads now.

There was one about grobags the other day.

People need to get out more.

I had to think hard too! I think I had to take my nightie off in case I needed a Cs, I have a picture of me having skin to skin with dd in a gown so it seems they put one of them on me!

Equally, there is no need for a bit of material around your top half.

You're coming across badly, OP.

very pleased to read this thread. I've been half worrying that I will be expected to keep something on when the time comes, which I know wont be my thing - unless the baby is a good un and comes out too quick to know. I feel much reassured that no-one is going to blink an eyelid at me.

Thanks all (and obv this was not the point of the post but it works for me!)

OP, you may well keep a nightie on, but you certainly won't be wearing knickers and shortly after you might well have your breasts out too. What's left to hide? I kept mine on, but in hindsight it seems like a pointless nod to modesty.

sparklyknittedmacaroons

'Morloth, of course dignity and nakedness/clothing are linked.'

In your mind they are, not in mine.

I have dignity and personal space regardless of what I am wearing, my worth and dignity are not defined by the amount of cloth I have on my body.

Personally, I believe giving birth is the ultimate statement of female power, but I am a bit of a hippy. I felt like a damned God in the moments after giving birth to my boys, so clothing really isn't something I worry about.

The ONE thing that every single woman wants from their birth experience (apart from the delivery of a healthy baby) is as much comfort as possible.

You'd think someone who'd done it 3 times might have an inkling of that.

How that comfort is obtained will differ from person to person of course, but everyone seeks it in their own way.

You're either really disingenuous or have zero empathy.

I have a friend who gave birth fully clothed. Yes knickers and joggers on too. She was standing outside the night entrance of the maternity hospital ringing the bell frantically. She had this huge contraction and her waters broke. She was holding hersefl up on the wall gasping and they heard a baby crying. It was in her joggers.

The best bit is that she and her dp are both doctors

It wasnt very dignified

kristina that is now my favourite EVER birthing story and I'm going to tell EVERYONE that its 'someone I know'

knittedsparklybollocks get grip I was beautiful (in an unbeautiful kind of way), dignified and NAKED when I gave birth and it felt like the only natural way to be

Morloth, of course dignity and nakedness/clothing are linked. - Don't be bloody daft. Dignity is far deeper than the clothes on your back.

I insist on only ever giving birth in a fur coat and spectacularly tall boots - no not really

As for me I think I might have been naked when I had my first dd in hospital mainly because she arrived rather quickly and surprisingly at 36 weeks and I think I had been sick on everything I was wearing on top and my waters breaking rather dramatically ruined anything below my waist - no I didn't care not at all. I was rather more worried about my little baby being born so unexpectedly.

All my other births have been at home and I may have been naked for dd2 I think - cannot remember. For my 2 ds's births I had a black stretchy clingy nightie (almost saucy nightie) on I think. But just a little while before they were both born I was downstairs chatting away so just didn't take it off. It wouldn't have bothered me being naked I don't think though - I am pregnant again so I will see what little thing I might slip into for the big day!

It is quite funny that your give a monkeys about details like this, particularly when it comes to other people's choices. It all sounds a bit controlling and not something one should worry about in the scheme of things.

There are many ways to keep or lose one's dignity. Removing clothing at a private and personal time (ie birth, just in case the OP didn't realise what with all the strangers she has at her births that birth can be private and personal,) is not a way of losing dignity. Whipping them off in the reception area would probably raise a few eyebrows, but for the most part you are safe in your own home or the delivery suite.

While many women make sounds during labour, there are ways that sound can be useful, and ways that demonstrate a loss of dignity. OP doesn't seem to have got her judgy-pants on about this though. Yet.