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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Waterbirths - what do you wear?

82 replies

Franimal · 10/12/2013 21:46

Am expecting 2nd baby and midwives now recommending trying a waterbirth, as it wasn't an option for me first time... Sounds a silly question but I'd really like to know what other people wore during a waterbirth? Not sure I'd feel comfortable being totally naked but then I don't know what works best... and then having clingy wet clothes too... what did you do?

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LlamaAndOwl · 13/12/2013 09:43

Bikini top but should have just been naked - took it off as soon as I got out of the pool anyway so could do skin to skin/feed.

Ghostsdonttalk · 13/12/2013 09:54

I wore a T shirt for both my water births. It was buttoned at front for breast feeding but once you give birth you normally get a quick wash, dried and put on something fresh.

At one stage I decided I would get out of the pool so I stood up and then I realised what the warm water was doing and quickly sat down again!! Lol.

Water births are beautiful experiences. I have had two also have had an epidural birth and a 36hr loads of pethidine vacuum extraction one. I couldn't describe those two as beautiful experiences but the Dc are just as beautiful and do just as well.

MakeTeaNotWar · 13/12/2013 09:57

I had two water births - one at an MLU and the other at home. Starkers for both

popocatepetl · 13/12/2013 13:21

Like the others have said, I packed a tankini but when they said I could get in the pool I just forgot where I was and went into 'having a bath mode' so climbed in naked. It was only days later when I remembered angling myself so the (male) student doctor could shine a torch to see how dilated I was that it occurred to me I was starkers!

JumpJockey · 13/12/2013 14:33

I wore a maternity vest top but ended up taking it off pretty quickly.

Parliamo · 13/12/2013 14:40

Naked for water birth at home, bra for one at mlu. It was only because they wouldn't believe me That i was ready for the pool so when they realised I was ready to push they had to lift me in. I was past caring about what I was wearing. In the pool feels pretty safe and private anyway. Good luck, I wish I was doing it again x

natwebb79 · 13/12/2013 15:17

Birthday suit here too!

sophe29 · 13/12/2013 16:22

First birth I took a nightie but it was too lose and kept riding up and floating and driving me nuts. It lasted approx 5 mins before I was starkers.

2nd Birth I had a vest top on (I think) but that may have vanished at some point too.

One thing I would really recommend is taking either lots of your own towels or better still a towelling robe you can use. I was made to get out after a few hours to be examined and hadn't progressed much. So they were about to send me off for a little walk to kick start things again. I was really cold and dripping wet during the examination and NHS towels are TINY (and very rough) and barely covered/dried anything. Luckily both me and DS thought "bugger going for a walk" and I delivered within 20 min of the examination. I was pushed back into the pool with only a moment to spare having dilated from 4cm to 10cm in only a few moments.

Ps. Waterbirths Rock!!!!

happytalk13 · 13/12/2013 16:57

My birthday suit

facedontfit · 13/12/2013 17:50

Nothing - it was a scary sight!! . I was like a giant beached whale (apologies to whales) and I didn't give a hoot.

lackingideas · 13/12/2013 17:58

Tankini top for both of mine. Glad I wasn't naked because I Iove the photos of me and baby immediately after the birth and this way I feel comfortable showing them to people.

agnesf · 13/12/2013 17:58

Can't imagine why you'd need to wear anything. Everyone will be looking at your bum so surely its too late for modesty.

I had a water birth in the buff but in pics I look like a boiled lobster as was v warm

enormouse · 13/12/2013 19:16

Nothing, at that point I had no shame.

It only occured to me about two hours later I had been in the nip for several hours.
I asked DP if I had really been naked without realising it.
"Yeah, but don't worry. It was just me with you for ages. Oh and the midwife. And two student midwives. And the obstetrician who checked in."

Just didn't care. But I'll take a bikini/tankini top this time, in case I feel like wearing it.

CoffeeChocolateWine · 13/12/2013 20:21

I had an unplanned water birth, as by the time I got to hospital it was too late for any other pain relief apart from gas and air and a birthing pool.

It was only as I was getting undressed to get in the pool I realised I had a maternity t-shirt on with no bra underneath. I wasn't quite comfortable being completely starkers so I just kept the t-shirt on and knotted it up just above my bump. It was fine. I was in the pool for about 1.5 hours.

Good luck. It's an amazing way to give birth

sunshinerainyday · 13/12/2013 20:39

I had my dcs by water birth and didn't wear anything in the pool. I'm usually pretty shy about nudity in changing rooms and stuff but didn't give it a thought as I got in the water. I only got in at quite a late stage so had my mind on the pain more than anything and it was incredibly soothing as I got in. It felt quite private anyway as they put the lighting slightly lower and the midwife is quite hands off until needed and stays in the back ground so its only your birth partner and you there really.

MissHC · 13/12/2013 21:50

Had planned a tankini however when I got to hospital was fully dilated and went in naked. Past caring.

DeckTheHallsWithBoughsOfHorry · 14/12/2013 12:58

For me it wasn't about modesty (because I agree that didn't enter my mind) but comfort. I wore a tankini top because I am not comfortable without breast support.

[Pammy boobs emoticon]

CaterpillarCara · 14/12/2013 13:42

Was naked. Ended up in surgery after (not because it was a water birth). Am now trying to think when I ended up with clothes back on. Not sure!

ninipops · 14/12/2013 17:37

Naked for first waterbirth didn't give a flying f*ck tbh! Second waterbirth ended up as a rather speedy birth on the floor beside the pool with DH just about managing to pull my leggings and underwear out of the way in time to catch the baby - turns out DD was in a hurry!

Biped · 14/12/2013 17:51

I was naked. I would recommend this. If you do wear something, you won't want to wear it again once you see what else is swilling around in there by the end

It was brilliant though - really effective pain relief. Good luck!

Christelle2207 · 14/12/2013 20:09

Bikini top. However I did not manage to actually give birth in the pool. I had to get out for the mw to check I was ready for pushing, I was but by then had continuous contractions and couldnt get myself back in the pool. And the rule is you have to be able to get back in unaided to give birth there. Hope you do better!

Pollaidh · 15/12/2013 11:13

Naked for me. We switched off the lights, had the natal hypnotherapy cd playing on the ipod, spent my time on all fours doing yoga stuff in the pool. You probably won't care. The pool was brilliant for pain relief. Had to get out to give birth but I stayed naked as there was no way I could even think straight let alone put clothes on by that point (transition).

AliWhiting · 15/12/2013 14:18

Naked, for sure. Waterbirth was a great way to labour/deliver. However, a note of caution, I had a waterbirth first time but with my second the whole thing was so swift there was no time for it. So be prepared for that too! I must say also that the second time I was much more aware of what was happening, felt the urge to push etc whereas in the water the first time I was not so in tune with my body. So it might be worth considering getting out of the pool for the second stage? Although I did have gas and air first time, nothing the second.........so that might explain why I was more with it second time!

PartPixie · 15/12/2013 18:03

NothIng. I had brought a bikini top with me but I tried to put it on but it just felt uncomfortable. You realy won't care. I had a fantastic experience, would highly recommend the pool if you can.

BoffinMum · 15/12/2013 20:01

Really, don't wear a wardrobe, it might puncture the pool.

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