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!

I have a stripey t-shirt that I wore when I had my dd; it was the same one that I had worn when I had had my stillbirth 6 years previously. I wasn't allowed to wear it for the birth of my ds (caesarean) but it was in the room.

I do remember refusing to take off my shoes when having dd. The epidural failed to work properly and only the bottoms of my feet were numb; for some weird reason I was worried that I would hurt my feet!

The midwife wasn't too impressed, but by that stage I didn't care.

It didn't occur to me to keep my clothes on. I mean, why would it? Why hide the boobs when they are getting an eye-full of the rest?! Giving birth is also one of the most animalistic things we can do - wearing clothes just wouldn't have been right.

I was too cold. I even kept my socks on. I had a big T-shirt nightie thing that had buttons all the way down the front, so we did the skin to skin thing when DD was born.

Can't bear the implication that naked=undignified.

It's a sporting event and clothes just get in the way. But tbh I only wear clothes for reasons of social convention anyway - I am usually happier in the buff in RL too.

Hahahaha to 'i'll be keeping my nightie on and my dignity'

I would never ever chose to be naked. Never in a million years. I am naturally very shy - I find physio appointment excruciating .

But once my contractions started I had no choice. The feel of the tiny cotton nightie against my skin was hideous. I have no idea why. It was just the way my body reacted. I couldn't control it.

So op your premis is flawed. For some women it is not a choice.

Are you going to post now that I am being really defensive - because that seems to be the tone of the thread

Op : why
Posters : here's why...
Op : my. You are all so defensive.

It never occured to me to be naked!
I can understand the posters comments about clothes irritating them but I had a button up nightie and when the ds2 was born the buttons were undone and he lay on me.
With Ds1 complications set in and I didn't hold him for a while. I had a vaginal birth but feel asleep after being stiched and woke up later to see DH in a rocking chair cuddling DS1. It was a lovely sight. Again I had a nightie on. I don't like my shoulders uncovered!

If you are worried by appearances you are going to find childbirth very difficult!

I gave birth naked because I spent a large part of my labour in a bath of water - I leaped out of the bath and onto the bed to get DD out at the last minute!

There we go, OP. Top of 'Discussions of the Day' now, with the majority of posters having varying and all very valid reasons for being naked. Hope you're feeling weird now.

I gave birth in a Primark nightie!! Both times. I didn't feel uncomfortable in it, so I just left it on. Nothing to do with dignity or being prudish, because I thought nothing of stripping naked in front of the student midwife for my post-birth shower (she supervised as I felt faint).

I wasn't naked. I nicked DH's favourite t-shirt to wear, each time.

With my last, I was busily rolling around on the birthing ball, got the urge to push and realised I still had my knickers on!

Aren't some people weird? Asking in AIBU about othe women's need to be naked, intimating they lose their dignity... then finding most posters defensive despite most of them simply explaining why, some with a hint of sarcasm.

FWIW, yes, you are BU. Judgypants hoiked about this sort of thing will never go down well.

I wore a t shirt when I was in labour with all four of mine...... all hospital births with people coming in and out of the room so i had to be clothed...to exposed xx

I had much the same reaction to water as I did to clothes. I was mid labour and decided to have a bath, it was disgusting, felt like slime.

Poor DH he had spent all those hours in the hypnobirthing classes learning all the massage things and he wasn't even allowed to touch me at all.

Whatever works.

I had a string vest top on that's it. Didn't want to be totally nude. Had legs in stirrups with a room full of people staring down at me. I just couldn't concentrate. I ended up both times in theatre with a gown on. A couple of my friends are Midwives and I have heard some pretty mean things said about women in labour and their bits!

exoticfruits - If you are worried by appearances you are going to find childbirth very difficult!

Thanks, I've done it three times now, I know what to expect!

Backinthebox and Manda - don't feel weird at all, thanks!

I stand by my belief that being naked during birth is a bit weird and undignified. We are human beings, not animals, and to some it may only be a scrap of clothing ie keeping your nightie on, just as a bikini on a beach is a scrap of clothing, but it represents a lot to me. I find childbirth as intense as the next person but never would it occur to me to take my clothes off in front of people I don't know - nakedness is private and I would be mortified afterwards if I'd done it! Obviously it's not my prime concern, having a healthy baby is, but it's what makes me feel comfortable.

I do think that despite the number of posts here women who get naked are in a minority as in RL I have only known a couple who have done it. It's like stripping off in a changing room and striding about - there's just no need for it IMO.

And this bothers you why, exactly? I get you asking your original question, but to keep coming back in and reiterating that you find it undignified is rather odd. And it sounds like you bang on about it in real life, too - I haven't a clue what any of my RL friends did as a) I haven't asked, and b) I don't care. Weird.

Ahhhhh, so despite your earlier proclamations that you weren't being judgemental, weren't criticising and were just wondering you are in fact both criticising and judging?

I'm with the OP - I remember shrieking at DH/anyone else in the room to cover me up when I was shifting between positions and unable to do it myself. Hated the idea of people seeing my body.

And it is different from people seeing your fanjo. It's obviously necessary for that bit to be on display during labour and so you put up with the indignity of it being checked out by all and sundry. Why that means they should get to see the rest of you, I don't know.

Surely it's the same during a smear test or other vaginal exam? I don't think anyone would say that they would get completely naked simply because your undercarriage is on display.

I do get, however, that sometimes in labour something animal/physical takes over which changes some women's priorities. But that's completely different to saying "I couldn't see the point of covering up because my fanjo was on display".

"Backinthebox and Manda - don't feel weird at all, thanks!

I stand by my belief that being naked during birth is a bit weird and undignified."

Fuck me, if you don't get defensive about people thinking your weird for even starting this discussion, and then in the next sentence accuse everyone who doesn't conform to your way of thinking of being weird!

I'll be amazed if your next baby can out, your judgey pants are strapped so tightly to your backside. Why ARE you so bothered by what other women do?

I'm a bit perplexed that you are even mulling over my choice of attire for birthing tbh. I can honestly say I categorically do not whatsover give a monkeys left testicle what anyone wears. Or doesn't wear.
It's not weird and not everyone is as worried about nakedness. Some people end up naked without noticing, some people by choice. Some people would rather not be naked in front of strangers. Why do you care, and why are you coming across as so damn judgey of something that has absolutely no bearing on you? Weird.

i wonder why you equate dignity with being clothed. very odd choice of words.

agree with backinbox you seem very repressed.

"i wonder why you equate dignity with being clothed when birthing. very odd choice of words."

I came over a bit cave woman when I got to the hospital the last time.

I ripped all my clothes off and got on all fours.

I only inflicted that view on the mw briefly though as ds was born in 15 minutes!