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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Water birth - what do you wear?

98 replies

Craftycakey15 · 19/10/2016 17:40

Has anyone has a water birth before? I'm wondering if I need to get a cheap tankini top or bikini top to wear? My own don't fit now like most of my clothing.

OP posts:
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bobcat85 · 19/10/2016 18:17

You can wear a bikini or tankini top (as long as it's not floaty and the midwives can see). Alternatively you can be naked.

fatsowhale · 19/10/2016 18:18

Wear nothing. Whatever you wear will piss you off and you'll end up wrenching it off and resenting the effort.

Winegumaddict · 19/10/2016 18:25

I wore a normal vest top not even a maternity one just one which was stretchy. I didn't want to be naked but I was not about to buy something specific to ruin it!

manhowdy · 19/10/2016 18:26

I didn't wear anything and was in far too much pain to give a shit!

carmenta · 19/10/2016 18:26

I didn't wear anything. It felt weird to have a top on with no bottoms, and you can't wear bottoms (for obvious reasons).

fuzzywuzzy · 19/10/2016 18:27

My friend just wore her bra.

Scentofwater · 19/10/2016 18:28

I second wearing nowt. It also makes it easier when you get pissed off at being in the water as you don't have to then take wet clothes off.

Don't worry too much about wearing clothes while giving birth if you're in a hospital or centre, everywhere will be toasty warm and you really don't need to cover up with the midwives, they've seen it all! just if youre starting somewhere other than a hospital and there's even the smallest chance you might be transferred then have a big coat and nice thick socks. My feet got chilly in the ambulance as they got even more swollen during birth and I couldn't get my slippers on.

ShoeJunkie · 19/10/2016 18:28

I just wore an old vest top.

BreatheDeep · 19/10/2016 18:32

I was naked. Did pack a big t-shirt but in the end didn't even contemplate using it. But wear whatever you think you'll be comfortable in

ShutTheFridgeUp · 19/10/2016 18:32

I wore normal vest top too, and for some reason kept my bra on too. Didn't like the idea of being completely naked and exposed.

Kel1234 · 19/10/2016 18:32

I got a maternity tankini, I didn't end up giving birth in the pool, but got in it for over an hour.
I didn't like the thought of being naked, I was covered up on top the whole time.
But ultimately id say wear whatever you feel you will be most comfortable in

Jenijena · 19/10/2016 18:33

I wore a tanking top. I suspected my boobs would float and irritate me and that helped contain them...

29redshoes · 19/10/2016 18:35

I would cheerfully have worn nothing but I got given a hospital gown. I was quite surprised as this hasn't happened to anybody else I know!

JolieColombe · 19/10/2016 18:50

I wore my maternity tankini top, as I knew I would feel uncomfortable topless, which I know is daft given the midwife had given me a sweep, was watching me push a person out - and sewed me back up again after! But I figured it didn't matter if it was silly, as long as I was happy. Also on a more practical point I am quite large of norkage and I didn't want them getting in the way Wink

Dixiechick17 · 19/10/2016 19:39

I wore a sleep bra crop top thing, only because by that point I just wanted to get in the water, when I got out during the pushing stage I stripped off. Everyone is different though, I hated clothing on me and was hot and bothered.

Craftycakey15 · 19/10/2016 21:04

I'm going to try and find a vest that fits as my boobs are huge and take it off when I get irritated !

OP posts:
janethegirl2 · 19/10/2016 21:07

I'd wear nothing.

QuilliamCakespeare · 19/10/2016 21:07

I took a bikini but just wore my bra in the end. Or just hop in naked. I guarantee you won't give a shit!

cantmakeme · 19/10/2016 22:41

Started in a big t shirt and ended up spending hours naked and didn't care. Am normally quite modest as well.

Oopsypoopsy · 19/10/2016 22:56

I took a bikini but never wore it, all modesty goes out the window down there so what's a couple of boobs floating about! Best to just feel free! 😆

malvinandhobbes · 20/10/2016 07:29

I wore a i bra, and it was a problem when we wanted to nurse right away because I was too tired to take it off.

or, I was holding a newborn in the water so couldn't use my hands to take it off.

I don't remember why it was a problem - but it was. A very small problem.

ByeByeLilSebastian · 20/10/2016 07:31

Same as others, I completely stripped off. I'm not usually one to be quite as brazen but it just felt natural.

Heatherbell1978 · 20/10/2016 07:35

I wore a bikini top but wish I hadn't as I had to come out of the pool to actually give birth as my waters hadn't broken. So then I was freezing for the next hour or so while I pushed - I'm sure I asked someone to take off my soaking wet top but maybe I was too high on gas and air... not sure! Next time (February) I'll be naked!

Acorncat · 20/10/2016 07:59

I wore a tankini top. I definitely didn't want to be naked, i didn't really get that whole in pain and not caring stage. Plus the pool slowed everything down so I was in there for 2 hours making small talk with the midwife between pushes. I took it off immediately before he was born so we could do skin to skin.

RattieOfCatan · 20/10/2016 08:07

I'm not planning to wear anything tbh. I have wondered if I should go get a bikini too but I really can't be arsed. I have a maternity tankini but that's a bit tight and I know I'd feel really restricted in it and I can definitely imagine ripping off a top in frustration partway through!

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