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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Birthing pool, what to wear

29 replies

ains73 · 06/02/2011 15:23

OK, this is very likely to sound incredibly daft but do I need bikini bottoms as well as a top for the bithing pool? My plan is to use it from early labour onwards.

OP posts:

irishqueen · 06/02/2011 15:34

I was about to post the same ... I think bikini top or a long vest top and no bottoms???

QueenofDreams · 06/02/2011 15:36

Ok Definitely no bottoms of any sort - they'll be awkward to get out of when you need to. Top is really up to you. First time round I wore nothing, second time round I wore a long pyjama top (which got wet obviously) and whipped it off for skin-to-skin when DD was born. Bikini top would be fine I would think.

kaumana · 06/02/2011 15:36

Long vest/ tshirt, no bottoms.

CuppaTeaJanice · 06/02/2011 15:48

I wore bottoms.

For the top, definitely not a t-shirt, it will get cold and uncomfortable. Stick to a bikini or tankini top, or one of those base layer tops that you get in sports shops.

You'll probably need an extra towel or bath pillow or something soft to rest your head on - the sides of the pool can be quite hard.

Ooopsadaisy · 06/02/2011 15:53

Can I suggest that you won't give a shit by the time you dive in?

Good luck - I hope the experience is all you wish for.

A long t-shirt will do the job.

AnnieLobeseder · 06/02/2011 15:55

Nothing at all is the way forward as far as I'm concerned!

Will you be at home or in hospital?

I was at home and was happy as larry in the altogether!

I may have been a bit more of a prude in hospital and worn a tankini.

Probably not though... I tend to be entirely oblivious to the world when in labour - I retreat into my own little world.

Original poster

ains73 · 06/02/2011 16:08

Hi Annie, I'll be in hospital and figured I would be in pool for a good while before things really start happening. However I unsure if midwife would be doing any checks whilst in the water which would mean bottoms would be completely impractical.

OP posts:

hastingsmum · 06/02/2011 16:10

Just a bikini top is what I wore when birth was imminent.

TotorosOcarina · 06/02/2011 16:11

i wore a sports bra both times, nothing else

irishqueen · 06/02/2011 16:12

i'm just hoping to make the pool ... last labout was an hr and 31 mins!

hastingsmum · 06/02/2011 16:17

irishqueen, I was the same DS2 was born 10 minutes after waters broke and I had no warning whatsoever, so was so worried I wasn't gonna get to use the pool I bought for this labour, but I set it up asap when I had the very first sensations.

Everyone was telling me not to get in too early but I got in and out to try and control my labour a bit, if not DC3 would have been born with no midwifes and just a stressed DH around .

Can I recommend setting it up and filling it up in advance if possible? It does take an awful long time to get enough water in there.

mungogerry · 06/02/2011 16:24

I went in bare for the first two. Last one I only had time to rip off my clothes and the TENS between contractions and literally dive in! I realised once I had given birth (about 15 mins later) that I had not had time to remove my bra.

guyane · 06/02/2011 16:38

eh? saw the first line of this thread and honestly never thought anyone would wear anything in a birthing pool?!!! Bonkers

TheNewStig · 06/02/2011 16:45

I just wore a maternity bra. Binned it after as couldn't get the blood stains out!

My DNs, 6 and 4, made us laugh about it though - I sent a few pics of me holding new born DD, totally modest, top half only, to my DB/SIL. Looking at them the 6 yo goes - Why's Auntie NewStig wearing her bra in the bath? To which 4 yo replied - So the Dr can't see her boobies! :)

LuckyC · 07/02/2011 13:09

Good God, only had baby 9 months ago and can't remember what I wore in the pool! Which helps me make my point that you probably will care less than you think you do.

splodge77 · 07/02/2011 13:38

i went starkers in the pool except for the gas and air mask which was permanently attached to my face!!

ceebs05 · 07/02/2011 13:48

I just stripped off completely before I got into the pool and was amazed at how little I cared about ppl seeing me in all my glory!

FindingStuffToChuckOut · 08/02/2011 11:40

I just stripped off & got in - no body awareness at all. I wasn't allowed into pool for ages and it did really slow my labour down. Am really hoping I can have this one actually in the pool :)

PorkChopSter · 08/02/2011 11:50

A feeding bra, a sports style. I didn't want my boobs in the photos. But it was difficult to get off when wet, and put me off getting in & out because I didn't want to be standing around getting cold in wet clothes.

bubbles12 · 08/02/2011 13:04

I had my bikini in my bag but by the time I went in pool I couldn't bear the thought of mucking about with changing, I just whipped clothes off and dived in. Agree with others who said, you honestly won't care.

lollystix · 08/02/2011 13:07

I wore nowt. It was third baby so absolutely no dignity left. You may surprise yourself by how little u care when you're in the throws of it.

Bicnod · 08/02/2011 13:09

I didn't wear anything at all - there's no dignity in childbirth so figured I might as well just get on with it

It's helpful being starkers for skin to skin as well.

Poppet45 · 08/02/2011 14:13

I'm sure in my naive state I must have packed something to wear in the pool. But I never unpacked it. Nor did I bother to put anything on when I staggered from the pool to the theatre for an emcs after it all went a bit tits up. I think a midwife might have tried to cover me with a sheet but I really didn't care less at the time.

cheapFlower · 08/02/2011 14:13

I am not sure about the bottoms - once you are in full blown labour you wouldn't want to deal with taking those off.

apart from that - as other already said, there is not much dignity in childbirth....

PS: I had both of my DC in the pool - naked!

BUnderTheBonnet · 08/02/2011 19:34

Nowt! I couldn't stand anything in contact with my skin from the moment labour was established. Prancing around the place naked with no shame....

Honestly, though, whatever you think you'll be most comfortable with. Pack a bikini top and one of those base layer T-shirts, and you can decide at the time.

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