Birthing pool etiquette

[JackJack84]

Just wondering if you can go in a hospital birthing pool naked? Hopefully I will have a water birth & I'd prefer to go in naked but not sure if this is the 'done thing'

I was naked in the birthing pool, but not through choice! We had left the bags in the car when I went to the hospital, with the plan that my husband would pop out to the car once I had been assessed. I was kept in, despite only being 2cm dilated. I was offered the pool for pain relief, and I was in so much pain I just took my clothes off and got straight in! At that point I didn’t care. My DS was born very soon after, and the bags were still sat in the car.

A midwife gave me some sage advice; ‘leave your dignity at the door and pick it up on your way out’

Thanks for all the replies! 😊

I've been a healthcare professional for 16 years so I'm used to seeing my patients in all states of undress & don't bat an eyelid so I assumed it would be fine in labour but just wanted to check. The only water births I've seen are on OBEM & they all are clothed on the top half but maybe that's for the sake of tv?!

And the poster who mentioned about bikini bottoms, obviously I realised I would be naked at the bottom half 🙄

I'm a pretty go with the flow kinda person so I'll just see what happens on the day!

I've had 3 water births, wore an oversized t-shirt for each one. But go with the flow... There's no right or wrong and midwives have seen it all!