Birthing pool - what to wear?

[kelly877]

Hey all,

So, I don't have a bikini that fits me whilst pregnant but I'm wanting to go in the pool whilst in labour.

I've had a look online and it may be me being silly but it seems daft buying one just for this one occasion, cos I probably won't use it again.

What did you wear? Or what could you advise?

I've heard of people just wearing their bra or a sports bra or something, is that okay? I know some people just go in naked but I don't think I would be comfortable with my boobs out.

I loved being naked!

I bought a larger size cheap longish vest top from primark but just went in naked when it came to it.

Bikini top.

I wore a crop top style sports bra. I felt uncomfortable with the idea of having my boobs out too. Was naked on the bottom half and this didn’t bother me at all.

I was in and out of the pool a lot with DS1- I cant actually remember what I wore, I must have been naked! It actually worked so well my contractions slowed down and the midwife kept making me get out of the pool so then I got really cold. So maybe think about a dressing gown as well?

I took a cheap bikini top but ended up naked, thought I’d feel uncomfortable with my boobs out but couldn’t have given less of a damn when I came to it

I got a maternity tankini. I wore both bottoms and top the whole time I was in the pool.
I wanted to be covered as much as possible during labour (even during end pushing stage my top half remained covered).

I wore a black bikini top because I had planned a water birth although I had to get out to give birth the last push as she was stuck. I plan on water again if I can with this one and will again use a black bikini top. I have my mum in law with me whilst giving birth otherwise I would just have been topless. Not that she would of minded if I was 😂

I was advised to wear nothing otherwise once baby is born you've either got to wrestle out of your bikini for skin to skin or the baby will get cold being against wet material

I had a maternity tankini in the pool, had to get out though as labour wasn’t progressing. Luckily I had a big soft warm t-shirt to put on as I was a bit shivery when I came out.

So my advice is take something dry to put on as well in case you don’t give birth in the pool.

I've bought a £4 bikini top from Primark. I went up a size and it's still a little too tight to feed in or remove quickly when wet (I suspect) but at £4 I'll happily cut out off for ease when baby is here.

I bought a black bikini online that had a cropped sports bra style top. I think it was about £8. I couldn't stay in the pool but I kept the same top on when I got out as it was just like a sports bra, so it was useful for both in and out of the pool.

I bought a maternity tankini as I'm hoping to use the birthing pool but I've also been using it to go swimming while pregnant so have got good use out of it. I didn't think about skin to skin but I'd be happy for it to be cut off me like PP mentioned (or I might already have taken it off by then as other PPs mentioned!)

Think I was naked but can’t remember?!