Maintain privacy with a swim skirt at water birth

[Thinkmummy]

Just wanted to pass on my findings to other mums to be wanting a waterbirth. Now I probably won't care about covering up in the middle of labour, but just in case I wanted something to wear in the birthing pool. I'm going with my maternity tanking top and this swim skirt I found on sports direct

www.sportsdirect.com/ocean-pacific-swim-skirt-ladies-350028

. It has no crotch so ideal for the job and a bargain at £5 they do cheaper ones for £1.99 if you're not fussed about colour. The waistband in stretchy so have just gone a size up from what I normally am. Hth x

I say buy it if it makes you feel more comfortable. In the event you'll probably end up stripping off but for a fiver, why not? I ended up naked except for my bra, and that only stayed on because I couldn't figure out how to get it off in the short gaps between contractions. Never in a million years did I think I'd want to be starkers! Good kick with everything OP

When I gave birth I liked to make sure I was covered right up until the pushing bit. I was as high as a kite on G & A, and I still made sure my very large T-shirt was well pulled down.

Hope you have a fabulous birth OP.

You know what, I thought I wouldn't care about people seeing me naked - am generally not that inhibited. But in the event, I did - was fine until towards the end when things got a bit panicky and more people came into the room. I felt really exposed and vulnerable, and it affected my contractions too, they started tailing off.

So get your swim skirt if you think it might help - you may not give a shit, but it's good to have options.

There's nowt dignified about childbirth. Its hard to maintain dignity when people keep fidding about in your chuff to see how dilated you are.

Your nether regions are on display and a skirt would just get in the way. I didn't have a waterbirth and just wore a Tshirt on top as I felt chilly in the delivery suite.

Hope it all goes smoothly :)

Where would it go? On your head?

As an aside, those OBEMs where the mothers wear bikini tops - do they do that because of the cameras being there, or is it normal these days?

People at your birth normally fall into 3 categories: your DP, who has presumably seen it all before, midwives and obstetricians who will be peering up your fanjo on a regular basis, and the lovely lovely epidural man, who you won't want to see your fanjo but won't be there for a waterbirth anyway,

x-posts.

Still want to know if bikinis are normal these days though.

Does anyone remember that special birth DRESS someone was peddling a while back?

If it makes you feel any better, I remember learning in history at school that in pre-revolutionary France, the Queen had to give birth in front of the general public

I had a beautiful maternity nightie that I planned to labour in, got to hospital, it all went very pear, got rushed to delivery suite, was wearing just a normal maternity top & bra and nothing on my bottom half.

Was bleeding so had a maternity pad put between my legs by my lovely midwife whilst I was on gas and air.

Had a male midwife insert a clip onto ds1's head as they kept losing the trace but actually he was in distress. Then as I didn't progress/baby in distress a whole wrath of people came into the room with the consultant. I was on all fours with my arse in the air

Eventually had emergency c section, picture this, midwife shaving me bald, DH removing my toe nail varnish whilst I hastily signed the consent form all happening at the same time.

My wish of a serene water birth never happened. Ds2 was elective c section.

Ah dignity, what is that again?

Oh my days, I panicked for months about this and my bikini line. The truth? I ended up naked, then with a hospital gown. I did not give a shite, I really didn't even care when the consultant I found really attractive saw me, I cared even less when my birth partner informed me exactly what he'd done down there. Talk about ice breaker.
Seriously you will just want it out!!

Fizzy, I'm really curious, why did he remove your toenail polish? Is there a medical reason or did he just decide it looked a bit chipped?

Before giving birth it was a long queue of people interested in between my legs. Then I had a c-section where apparently they shoved a suppository up my arse and I didn't even know about it!

Then after the birth there was a long queue of people interested in my boobs (helping establish breastfeeding). No one cared about my bits any more but I understand for those who had tears, regular displays were still required.

You hand your dignity at the door on the way into the hospital and pick it up again on the way out. It's bizarre but that's how it felt.

Am I the only one wondering what this crotchless swim skirt has actually been designed FOR? Surely people don't swim in them?
Admittedly I've not clicked on the link as I'm at work and am afraid of what might happen!
Incidentally, I also think OP should get this if it makes her feel more comfortable. Each to their own and all that.

I think they remove nail/toe nail varnish as the colour of your nails is an indication of your blood circulation when you're having a c-section.

noble - perhaps you should nip over to the "tiny tips for giving birth" thread to suggest that it could be quite a good idea to remove nail varnish at around the "packing the hospital bag" stage?

I've water birthed. In the nip. By the time I was in the water I didn't want to be bothered by clothes, but if it make you more comfortable go for it. The midwife will need to be able to see how dilated you are and whether the baby's head is crowning so she may need to pull up the skirt if it gets in the way.

I'd be inclined to take a sarong that you can tie round you for after you get out of the pool. I did have one but forgot due to being bombed on G&A and endorphins so ended up naked until I got my shower.

For my water birth I was planning to wear a tankini top, and a long t-shirt to protect my dignity (yep, first timer). I did wear the tankini top, but wasn't the least bit bothered about having nothing on my bottom half until I'd given birth and left the pool, the pain and emotion just took over.

The real loss of dignity for me was the stitches - legs akimbo in stirrups, at least four midwives/students involved, I found it more traumatic than the birth! And there was a suppository involved too.

Enjoy your water birth op, I had a great experience

Sorry, just laughed out loud at idea of privacy during childbirth!!

LetThere, I imagine they are worn over swimsuits.

They'd hide your bikini area out of the pool, and once you were in the pool nobody would be able to see much anyway.

How would it stay on over a labouring belly though?

noble - aha! And I agree that is a useful birth tip for the other thread

Having fabric floating around in the pool would be really annoying I think. Starkers was the only way for me!

I've had 2 labours (1 elective CS in between) and I wore a nightie the whole time.

No way would I have gone naked. Yes I did care.

I think once you are in the water you will feel nice and private anyway.