last minute decision to have water birth - what to wear?!

[MrsLukaKovac]

I've decided to go for a water birth for ds2, due in 5 weeks. Trouble is I've not really done my homework and now having the hospital bag already packed - I'm wondering what else I need? Have thrown dh's trunks in, but do I need a bikini? Or can you go in starkers? Anyone have any experience of maternity bikinis? I have a maternity swimming costume but is is just so uncomfortable and digs in all the wrong places! What did you wear? Thanks!

just go naked

I went in naked in the end, but take an old baggy t shirt just in case.

I wore nothing and wanted all of the pool to myself so dh did not get in, I have never known anyone whose dp actually got in with them.

how would you get the baby out through a bikini, presuming it's not crotchless? (!!) Wear nothing. They probably will want DH to wear trunks if he wants to get in with you.

good luck!

you could wear a nursing bra, or tankini top, but to be honest, not going to be great to wear anything too long and hamper access to your fanjo area...and will be hard to suddenly strip before birth or just after to get skin to skin

I wore a bikini top as couldn't stand the thought of my giant veiny baps being constantly on show!

Like maxbear, I had the pool to myself as couldn't stand the thought of having dp in with me - don't know why??!!

I wore a maternity tankini. Took the bottoms off for the first internal and didn't put them back on.

I wore nothing in the pool (dp didn't get in with me, although he'd brought his trunks just in case!) and then put an old t-shirt on when I got out. Didn't give birth in pool, as wanted gas and air and was scared of drowning after taking it!

I had a little vest top ready for when I went in the pool, but when the time came I felt a complete prat getting in with it on, so off it came! One of the nice things about using the pool is that you feel quite unobserved and private so although I'm not normally an exhibitionist I didn't mind letting it all hang out on this occasion. If you've got the lights turned down low then this will help too. Probably worth taking something in case you do want it, but bear in mind that if you want to breastfeed soon after the birth or just have skin to skin, getting a soggy swimming costume or top off might be a bit of a faff!

I went naked both times.
It just seemed the normal thing to do, like a huge bath, and the midwives didn't bat an eyelid.
When I got out, I just climbed naked onto the bed so I could do the afterbirth bit and then they did what they had to do to me fanjo, then shower and then nightie.

I wore the top of a tankini. TBH I didn't want to go in naked as both times when I got in I was coherant so aware of my surroundings iykwim...Although after several puffs of the g&a in there I didn;t care who or what they saw!! lol..!!

Pants are a no no and tbh you are basically covered with water until checks are needed..also imo so many checks were done on me that I was more out of the water than in!!!

Just wear a bikini top if you don't want to fork out for a maternity bikini now....

Wetsuit, flippers and goggles (useful if you want to see under water) oh and a snorkel is useful for breathing under water

Nekkid here too

bibis rotflmaf....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First water birth in hospital, I wore one of those support tops with built in bra (as I have got size 42F boobs!). There was no way I was letting them float about of their own accord!
2nd water birth was at home and I couldn't be arsed to find anything - so naked I was in my front room (with the curtains closed of course!)
Whatever you feel comfortable in will work.

If the water is warm enough you could do without the wetsuit and just wear a swimming costume and maybe a tee-shirt to stop your shoulders getting burnt

I didn't have any checks in the pool - but I only went in for the last 45 mins or so (was in transition as I moved to/into it)

Not a stitch here either! Not normally like this...(quite a modest gal) but I stripped down by the pool and climbed in without a second thought and then did the same getting out (not thinking that is) - although now thinking of it - what a sight it must have been - me trying to clamber over the pool edge, legs a kimbo - starkers!!! Oh well didn't worry me at all