Birthing pool, what to wear

[ains73]

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.

I was naked - it didn't occur to me that I ought to be wearing anything. Had DS in a MLU, though, so there was no-one there except DH and the midwife, and I'd told DH there were to be no photos.

Definitely don't wear a bottom half even if you feel you want to be wearing something. The midwife was using a mirror to check on how close DS was to crowning once I got to the second stage, and if I'd been wearing anything I'd have had to keep getting in and out.

I whipped off my nighty (which I never saw again) and practically leapt into the pool with nothing on. Did have a bikini top with me as I thought a long wet tshirt might get annoying but that never saw the light of day.

I didn't really feel naked, as I was under the water IYSWIM? And not only were there 2 midwives in the room with with me and DH at one point trying to facilitate a changeover of a G&A cannister,but my community midwife popped in for a chat too as she had admin to drop off at the hospital and I couldn't have cared less!

If I end up going in this time with DC2 instead of being at home, I'll be availing myself of hospital gowns for outside the pool and nothing at all for in it!

I wore a support vest. I aso had bikini bottoms on to begin with as this was how I felt most comfortable.

It does irritate me when people declare "Don't be silly, you won't care!" because some people do care.

Why not get those bikini bottoms that tie up at the sides of your hips - then you can just undo the knots if you need to get out of them...

Agree with Soupy - if you think you'll care about feeling exposed, then get yourself a pair. Don't assume it won't bother you on the day. People told me that I "wouldn't care" about various stuff during labour. Guess what - I did care (luckily I hadn't believed them). Just because you're in labour doesn't mean you're not you anymore.