To wonder why women in labour have their tops bare stomachs showing

[Keepinggoing70]

I’m in my early 20’s and few of my contacts on social media have children. I also have a six month old. I’ve recently seen a live video of a woman I went to school with in early labour with her top rolled up so her stomach was showing and also another woman taking pictures of her stomach while in labour with her top rolled up. Is there a reason behind this?

Because they're at home in their own space doing what they want not needing judgment from women like you.
YABU because you seem like you're shaming women in labour!

Did you not have your belly exposed during labour OP? Why not?

I stripped naked during labour and afterwards was laughing about it with the midwife and she said it's common for people to undress or uncover themselves during labour as it gives a freeing feeling whilst you're in pain, as you don't feel so restricted.

MYOB

I'm not sure your sample group of 2 women filming themselves in labour can indicate a general trend of "women in labour"

That said, a lot of women like to show off their baby bump, it's a beautiful thing. Demi Moore started it in the 90's with her naked pregnancy photo on the cover of Vanity Fair.

I took all my clothes off both times, no point in being uncomfortable.

Why do you care ?

Troll thread?

Purely for photo purposes?

I took a few pictures of my belly when in early labour. I mean granted, I didn’t post them on social media, but I just wanted to remember it.

If they’re wanting to share pictures of themselves in labour on their socials are they doing the whole ‘my birth story’ thing. I’ve seen quite a bit of that about, seems to go hand in hand with the whole positive birth/ hypnobirthing thing. then I guess they want their belly visible to emphasise the whole natural/ physical/ ‘look what my body is doing’ element of it. There’s a lot of posts like that on Instagram - again it’s not for me but I can see what they’re going for. Presumably they want to emphasise their bump but don’t want the boobs out so roll up their top.

I also took all my clothes off. Just couldn't stand the feeling of clothes against my skin.

Weird things happen in labour. With all three of mind I wanted to strip absolutely naked as I qas so hot. I couldn't control myself, I was trying to take my bra off and the midwife was trying to get me to keep it on and focus on contractions...i am usually very shy as well as being overweight..so absolutely not in character. Honestly, labour makes you lose all inhibitions...it's the weirdest thing xx

Because they want to, because they're able to, and it has zero impact on anybody else.

@FromEden

I also took all my clothes off. Just couldn't stand the feeling of clothes against my skin.

It must just be a really primal thing - our instincts take over completely

@autumnleaves1220

I stripped naked during labour and afterwards was laughing about it with the midwife and she said it's common for people to undress or uncover themselves during labour as it gives a freeing feeling whilst you're in pain, as you don't feel so restricted.

People get undressed? The husband and midwife as well ?

I remember the midwife dragging getting me out of the bath and trying to force clothes on me. Nearly swung for her (she did have a point that it would probably not be the best idea to be wheeled butt naked to the birthing room downstairs, but still..).

It’s the last time they’ll be seeing their bump, pretty soon bump will be a real person.

No I’m just curious as to what the motivation is for it. I guess we all differ I personally didn’t want to be anymore exposed than I had to especially not on social media but then I’m quite a private person.

Different people do different things and feel differently from some other people.

Shocker.

It must just be a really primal thing - our instincts take over completely

That's what it felt like. Somehow the clothing made me feel trapped and panicked. Same when I was in the birthing pool, I just had to get out. One of the midwives was a man and I didn't even care lol. Zero embarrassment.

When I was pregnant I constantly rolled my top up and exposed my stomach when chilling about the house. It was just comfy. I think there's actually a meme about it saying something along the lines of "Hair up, bump out, chill"

I personally didn’t want to be anymore exposed than I had to especially not on social media but then I’m quite a private person
Weird flex but ok, as my teen would say.

Bizarre (you not them)

Comfort? Trust me you want nothing constricting around your tummy. The contractions provide quite enough of that.

Whats the problem with women photographing their labour? What birthing women's bodies can achieve is incredible. They should be celebrated.

Also, no one shows their stomach during labour or otherwise. It's where your food goes.

Surely it's just a video/photographic evidence of how you looked just before their pregnancy ends. I would keep it for my own viewing only but each to their own in that respect.