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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Birthing outfit

45 replies

Christinedonna · 12/06/2016 11:53

This may sound insane to some people but I plan on having a water birth and want to find a bikini, crotch less skirt thing that I can wear in the pool. It's not to save dignity or to cover up because I know I won't care, it's purely just because that's what I've imagined wearing and now want to find one. Does anyone know where I may be able to find one?

OP posts:

Tfoot75 · 12/06/2016 19:28

Re your worry about getting out of the pool, after my two water births the midwives wheeled the bed over to the end of the pool to climb straight onto, bits are hidden between your legs whilst climbing, so don't think anyone would see much! DH was sat in the corner holding baby both times throughout 3rd stage so probably won't be watching you get out, but you may well need him to help you shower etc so he'll probably not be totally sheltered from the blood anyway!

SomeonesRealName · 12/06/2016 23:15

Buy and pack whatever makes you feel comforted now OP - how you feel and what you need as the birth approaches is just as important as how you feel and what you need during it, whether or not the two coincide.

TheseLittleEarthquakes · 12/06/2016 23:18

It's very common to get the urge to strip naked in the latter stages. Just worth bearing in mind.

princesspineapple · 13/06/2016 06:02

The girl from OBEM sells her swim skirts! They're called "glabour" bikinis or similar... They're easy to find on Google.
She was my inspiration too, but people said to save my money as I wouldn't care about clothes, and they were right! I ended up being induced and wore an oversized (white!) t-shirt, which had to be cut off me by the midwife, because I forgot to take it off before the drip and was so hot I just wanted to be naked
There really is no such thing as dignity in labour, even if you're the type of couple who pretend farts don't exist!

ImSoVeryTired · 16/06/2016 13:41

This all sounds very familiar. I had a quick first bit of labour and just took off all my clothes. Wanted a water birth but ended up in hospital. It's always so damn hot in there. The clothes just came off as I got hotter. The best bit was after, when I had staggered into the loo like a not very fit 90 yr old, in just my disposable pants and came out to find the bloody bounty ladies there! They seemed slightly embarrassed. Can honestly say I didn't give a damn!
I can't imagine wearing anything in labour now, in or out of the pool. Would just be annoying and get in the way!

Pootles2010 · 16/06/2016 13:49

Total opposite for me - I turned up in trousers & top, both quite smart, that i'd been wearing to work - midwife had to take the trousers off for me, I forgot that I might need to!

She asked if i wanted to take top off for breastfeeding, I just popped a boob out and said 'that'll do the job' Think she was a bit suprised! I just couldn't be bothered!

Watchingdallas · 16/06/2016 13:51

i don't want my bare arse on show.

All the best.

RaspberryBeret34 · 16/06/2016 14:01

I got a long vest from primark that could be rolled down at the top but covered my bum. I am relatively modest when it comes to nakedness but when it came to getting in the pool, I just whipped off all my clothes and hopped in! I think it'd be slightly easier for the midwife to see what's going on with no skirt flying around. I just wanted to recommend the naked option .

You could get a cheap bump band to wear as a short skirt and could roll it up/down if needed.

Diddlydokey · 16/06/2016 14:08

OP - after childbirth I had two different women stick their fingers up my bum hole to decide how badly I'd torn. Really, they're going to see your bum.

You'd probably poo on a swim skirt too. Most women do poo when they're pushing apparently. I don't know that I did but I probably did and the MW just cleared it up and got on with it.

Runningupthathill82 · 16/06/2016 19:47

I've had two water births. First one I was in the pool for several hours. I wore a bikini top and no bottoms for most of it.
Second time, I barely had time to keep in, stark naked, before DD made her entrance. I know it's hard to believe right now, but you won't care one bit what you're wearing when you're in a huge amount of pain and pooing yourself. Sorry.

sunnydayinmay · 16/06/2016 20:00

I have no recollection of what I actually wore, but in both sets of first baby photos I was naked, so I obviously threw my clothes off at some point...

Ilovewillow · 16/06/2016 20:05

I had a home water birth and wore just the top of my tankini maternity bikini so tummy covered! You can get a swim skirt though which would do the trick I imagine! Good luck

Jenijena · 16/06/2016 20:15

Wore a tankini top for my water birth, as I didn't want my boobs floating in the way...

bebo100 · 16/06/2016 20:29

I bought a swim skirt for my first labour. Never used it as did't end up having a water birth. But it took up no room in the hospital bag and made me feel more prepared. So worth it for that alone. If you google swim skirt you'll find one.

KleineDracheKokosnuss · 16/06/2016 20:39

you'll end up naked - most do. Embrace your inner caveperson.

BreadSnakeFridayDog · 16/06/2016 20:46

That OBEM woman was amazing! If we are talking about the same one, the young fashion student? She designed and made her outfit I think. I watched her episode the day I went into labour with my second child. I remember thinking she looked so young and her partner seemed a bit silly and immature but they were utterly amazing, she was just so focused and he was brilliant support.

Anyway, I ended up in a hospital gown for my second and third, an old t-shirt for my first. I personally didn't want anything even vaguely constrictive on, but I know the power of things being as you've envisioned, so I'd recommend looking for a swim skirt.

Also I'm as sure as I can be that I didn't poo in any of my three labours. My ex would have definitely told me if I did because he was a shitbag who would absolutely delight in taking the piss and telling his whole family. I asked my husband and he said he didn't notice if I did, and for my third the midwife confirmed that I didn't.I know it's quite common but its not an absolute definite. Neither is tearing, I've never had so much as a graze. Vadge of iron.

Watchingdallas · 17/06/2016 06:43

After you give birth a midwife will stick a finger inside your bumhole to check for tearing.

Whether on your back or on your front your legs will be wide open and your bum on display.

I'd really not plan outfits.

BaskingTrout · 17/06/2016 11:30

just to be the exception that proves the rule, I didn't get naked and didn't want to get naked during my labour.

I didn't have a water birth so cant comment on that aspect, but I was much more comfortable labouring in a big loose black nightie. It wasn't a prudish/embarrassment reason, I was perfectly happy for a cast of thousands to have a look and prod about. But I was hot and uncomfortable and felt like my arms were sticking to my belly and my legs were rubbing together. the nightie provided enough material to stop this happening.

in the end I had an EMCS anyway, so had to swap the nightie for a hospital gown.

SomeonesRealName · 19/06/2016 23:57

No-one stuck anything up my bum.

Eastend2015 · 21/06/2016 05:20

Agree with PPs about not caring by that point who sees you naked BUT a few things to bear in mind- the pool was great pain relief but it slowed my contractions down so I had to get out a few times to walk around and I got really cold, I had a big navy bamboo t shirt from the nct website with a button down front which was really helpful. Getting in and out to go for a wee and be examined by the midwife was also a practical reality! Finally you also need to consider if you want to actually give birth in water it's quite difficult for the midwife to see what she is doing to stop you tearing and some kind of skirt will just make it harder!!

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