Water birth - what do you wear?

[Craftycakey15]

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.

I'd also shaved off half of my huge bush the minute I went in to labour in a panic but quickly realised it was silly and left the other half so must have looked a right state!

I was in all my glory and didn't give a toot!

I wore a bikini top. Didn't give birth in the pool but was labouring in it for quite some time.
Pack sthg in your bag but tbh when it comes to it you really won't care, neither will the midwives. The.

Just wore an old bikini top. Have to say though, in contrast to most posters I am FREEZING when I'm in labour. My first labour was on a humid, thunderstorm day and I couldn't get warm. I wouldn't assume you'll be hot.

Thanks for so many replies!

Nothing. Just didn't care, by the stage they actually let me into the water. Also meant I could scoop baby up and have her on my skin straightaway, no midwife laid a finger on her!

I had an unexpected water birth, I wasn't planning on having one (or not) just that a bath became available and I took it.

It was lovely and I wish I'd done it for dd1. There's no intervention (which suited me) and ds was born in his water bag which was quite a surprise! Getting out afterwards was pretty tricky I have to say!!

I wore one of my dh t shirts the first time and nowt the second time. Me and my baby both in our birthday suits

Why would you want to wear anything, unless you needed to keep your puppies under control, when the midwife will be getting an eyeful of your arsehole and your lady flower, which imho is far more private than your boobs.... sorry little rant.

Just a vest top you won't wear anything on the bottom.

Cordy
Because people are different and have different preferences?! No need for a rant
I take on board what everyone is saying about not caring about being naked, however I don't think there is any need to judge any woman who wants to keep her boobs covered.
I had to have my boobs examined by a male doctor the other day and weirdly I was more embarrassed by that than I have been by all the vulval/vaginal examinations I've had.
Judge me if you must!

Also... "lady flower"?!!

I wore a sports bra, wore them pretty much throughout my entire pregnancy. can't even remember how I ended up just in that. no recollection atall of removing the rest of my clothes and wasn't a conscious decision to keep it on

Cordy because I wanted to? Because it made me feel more relaxed? (Surely something to aim for during labour ) Why do you feel the need to judge what makes other women comfortable at such a time?

Ladyflower?

Wtf? I definitely don't have one of those.

Nope, don't have "puppies" either

Yes I asked this question because my boobs are huge (GG right now) not because I care about being covered or not. I thought I might be uncomfortable that's all.

Mine were almost that big when I had my water birth. I honestly don't remember noticing them, and I didn't wear anything.

I wore one of dh's t-shirts. I remember cringing when the midwife said she had a great view through the see through pool side when I was kind of floating with my legs akimbo but I couldn't be bothered to move into a more dignified position!

I wore a very stretchy, very cheap maxi dress then whipped the whole lot off when it was time to get in the pool. I guarantee you won't give a shit when the time comes! You'll probably also burn whatever you wore anyway ...

Crafty, mine were that size. Everything kind of floated. I would just get on with it as though you were in a warm bath. Clothes just get in the way.

I packed a bikini top but didn't wear anything, was too desperate to get in the pool to worry about putting anything on. Worked out well as it meant we had skin to skin in the pool while waiting for the cord to be cut, was then bundled up in a towel. I'm breastfeeding so several midwives then went on to have a good look at my boobs while trying to help with latch and positioning anyway.

Nothing both times... second time I had a fleeting though of "ugh I'm getting starlets in front of this woman (the midwife" but then had another contraction and quickly got back in that I DONT GIVE A SHIT mindset.

Waterbirths are amazing btw - good luck!