Water Birth Clothing

[TeaPiglet]

Hi mamas, I'm due in 3 weeks and I'm planning a water birth but I don't know what to wear. Have no bikini and want to bf so need to get my tatas out easily. Any suggestions welcome. Hope you're all well.

May I ask the other ladies about the temperature? Are you hot/warm because obviously your body is physically busy or can you be cold?! Silly I know but just wondering!

Generally it's warm but not as hot as a hot bath. You do have some control. I can't see anyone being cold, you're generally pretty hot in labour and hospitals are hot. Tbh, I don't remember actively registering the temperature much at the time. All I can remember is the bliss at sliding in and how much it helped the contractions to have the water completely covering my bump.

I had a lovely student midwife who poured water with a jug over my back to keep it warm.

Nothing but mainly because I didn't plan for a water birth but was offered one when I got there!

I also didn't register re temperature but I do remember them checking and putting more water in

@serialplanner ..
When I got in, it was warm but not as warm as id of liked it. I asked midwife if I could get it warmer and turned out the bath was temperature controlled and it couldnt go any warmer. It had never dawned on me it would be temp controlled for baby and it just wasnt warm enough for me was like a tepid bath lol. Generally i like hot baths tho so maybe just not to my liking.

I think I wore a tankini with my first, took the bottoms off not long after I got in. With my second I think I got in wearing knickers, sports bra and long vest. But maybe not the vest? I can't remember for sure. Once you are in you are mostly covered up as the sides are quite high and you'll likely spend most of the time leaning over the side.

As for temp, both times when I got in it felt like I was getting into a hot tub, definitely felt much hotter than a bath. I just assumed my partner and midwife had got it at the right temp. The initial heat stopped my almost non stop contractions in their tracks for a few minutes both times. That was bliss but sadly it didn't last.

I just wore a maternity bra that had feeding access but I took the wet bra off after bub was born before he fed anyway.

Only wore something because I wanted photos immediately after/during so wanted to be somewhat covered.

Was naked for my first (non water) birth.

@TeaPiglet honestly, I felt completely comfortable, cellulite, stretch marks, saggy bits and all.

The water just felt like a wonderfully warm, safe cocoon. It was just my husband, me abs the midwife.

I was also off my tits on gas and air. I really could not have cared less what I looked like.

Good luck - you'll be fine in the nuddy!

I got in the water wearing the bra and top that I happened to be already wearing. When I got out (for an epidural) they gave me a dry gown to put on.

I wore a tankini. I know most people say you end up not caring about it, but I knew I wanted to remain as covered up as possible the entire time, and I did. I had both the top and bottoms on in the pool as I wasn't far along enough to need to remove my bottoms.
Even during the pushing I was on the bed in a nightie, I kept the top of me covered the whole time. I didn't see any need to be exposed at all, there was no reason to be at all

Although this thread is mainly about clothing and not the actual experience it's actually convinced me that I want a water birth now! Sounds like it really, really helps with the pain of contractions.

I wore a crop top type thing, laboured in the water and got out during the pushing phase because the water felt too warm, it was the right temp for baby, but I don't like to be warm when I'm in pain. Took off the crop top when i got out as it was wet and just carried on wearing nothing

I’m in the nothing camp too! I packed a crop top to wear but I rocked up to hospital fully dilated and was desperate to get in the pool. It was touch and go whether there’d be time for it to fill, in this time I was just getting my clothes off me like they were the most annoying thing in the world, got into the pool and about half an hour later he was born. I’d LOVE another water birth, it was glorious.

@Luckyelephant1

Although this thread is mainly about clothing and not the actual experience it's actually convinced me that I want a water birth now! Sounds like it really, really helps with the pain of contractions.

IT DOES. I was very, very reluctant to get out so the midwives could check my dilation.

The pool really helped me. I had a long early labour (4 days of contractions because the head wasn't fully engaged). I had my tens machine to start, and used the birth ball. Then I got in the pool when I felt I needed it and would benefit. I would have stayed in there and had a water birth, but the midwife advised a pethadine injection because I was physically exhausted from the long early stage and hardly any sleep day and night, so needed to rest before I had to push. I knew I wanted minimal drugs which is why I opted for my machine the ball and the pool.

I would recommend it to anyone who is able to use one, I think they're brilliant. (I was in the birth centre. It had a permanent plumed in birth pool, other things like the birth ball and so on, and was en suite. I even joked to my midwife that if I had a glass of pink champagne it would feel more like I was relaxing in a spa. If they took away all the medical equipment it would be very similar to a spa tbh).

I’m planning on wearing a bra.. don’t really enjoy being naked. I don’t mind my belly being out but don’t really want my boobs out the whole time.

Literally just wore my bra but I wouldn’t have cared if completely naked at the time lol. I’m taking an oversized lightweight vest top and hope to have another water birth

OP whatever you decide hope all goes well with the birth.

I didn't wear anything, I felt extremely constrained in clothes once the contractions started properly.

The water in the bath is kept about par with your body and it really really helps with pain.

No midwife will think anything about whatever you decide to wear so just be comfortable.

I just wore a black vest top.