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Original poster

Whatcha wear for a water birth?

37 replies

Kanfuzed123 · 31/10/2021 20:14

I’d love water in labour… not sure if I want to birth in it but I’d like the option of water and lots of movement and walking around.

I don’t own a bikini (and I’d never wear one again) and I don’t like my body so being totally naked isn’t an option for me. Do I get a tankini, but a maternity one? Any cheap places? Don’t want to invest lol.

What did you wear for yours?

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Sexnotgender · 31/10/2021 20:15

I wore a crop top bra type thing.

Fiestyfish · 31/10/2021 20:16

I found a second hand maternity takini top on eBay

waterlego · 31/10/2021 20:17

I wore a tankini. Afraid I can’t remember where I got it as it was years ago but it was a maternity one with a nice big front to cover the belly. I gave birth in the pool so obviously just had the top on by the end.

Puffykins · 31/10/2021 20:20

I wore nothing. Everyone in the room had their eyes trained on my vagina. I didn't feel that covering my breasts was going to change my feelings of exposure....

hotmeatymilk · 31/10/2021 20:21

I wore DP’s T-shirt as I didn’t own a bikini that fitted pregnancy boobs.

Driposaurus · 31/10/2021 20:23

I wore a borrowed tankini top the first time, and nothing the second time.

A t shirt would have been just fine though. or a crop top type of bra if you’re worried about them bobbing about. It’s really warm water.

Cakeandslippers · 31/10/2021 20:23

I was planning on wearing a bikini top or nothing but everything went so quickly I just hopped in with the bra I was already wearing. I didn't notice what I was / wasn't wearing tbh

WyncyG · 31/10/2021 20:23

Just a bikini top but for pregnancy and postpartum I just wore those stretchy unwired bras 24/7 and they'd be perfectly fine too. To be honest your inhibitions come down in labour so you might be totally happy butt naked!

Mum2jenny · 31/10/2021 20:23

T shirt n knickers, but the knickers will go!!

SirSamuelVimes · 31/10/2021 20:24

Nothing. But I was at home, don't know if I would have felt more inclined to have something on my top half if I was in a hospital. Being completely naked does make the immediate skin to skin, baby finding boob part of the process simpler.

I also found every sensory input infuriating during labour so I think having anything like a bikini top would have been awful!

Silenceisgolden20 · 31/10/2021 20:24

I wore nothing. Honestly by then, I was so glad to get in the water I stripped off and didn't give a crap who saw me!

Stopsnowing · 31/10/2021 20:25

Nothing.

Silenceisgolden20 · 31/10/2021 20:25

There was only 1 midwife and partner in the room, no one cared

PlanDeRaccordement · 31/10/2021 20:27

I wore a sports bra

Hetyanni · 31/10/2021 20:40

Zilch. Naked as the day. I am not a naked person at all but in the moment it all came off.

JacquelineCarlyle · 31/10/2021 20:43

I wore a vest top. Honestly though, no one will care what you wear so please don't stress about that.

Jijithecat · 31/10/2021 20:49

I wore a vest top too.

Twizbe · 31/10/2021 20:52

I got a maternity tankini from ASOS.

If you don't have one, just get a cheap vest to wear.

mrsed1987 · 31/10/2021 20:54

Nothing because I wasn't planning one but was offered it. I asked the midwives and they said whatever I wanted, I was so desperate to get in the water I just striped off lol

Original poster
Kanfuzed123 · 31/10/2021 21:02

It’s my second delivery so I know ‘no one cares’ it’s just me. First was induction so was v much bed bound and kept my pj top on the whole time.

I’ve got a few old sports bras that was well past their use for sports so that’s a great shout!

How did everyone find water with the discomfort? I was so gutted I didn’t get to use it first time around, so I’ve got everything crossed I can this time.

OP posts:
Sexnotgender · 31/10/2021 21:03

You need to be comfortable. Saying no one cares is not true, if you care then that’s what matters.

JacquelineCarlyle · 31/10/2021 21:07

To be honest, for me the water birth didn't ease the pain or the ring of fire, however what it did do was completely relax me between contractions to the point that I was nodding off (before the next lot of pain would come).

What I didn't like was climbing out of the tub to deliver the after birth - that felt horrible and I was very cold so not a great experience but it was nice for the birth itself.

SirSamuelVimes · 31/10/2021 21:07

It was a massive relief for me. Felt so much better the second I got in. I didn't have any other pain relief (was meant to have gas & air but that went wrong) but the water was just enough - just! - to make it bearable.

Twizbe · 31/10/2021 21:13

I loved my water birth. It was my second as well.

The water felt amazing when I got in. I had gas and air and a few contractions were totally painless.

I was in a good position for birth and the pool meant it was very hands off as well (which I wanted)

My labours are quick so I delivered in the pool which was great. They drained the pool immediately and covered me in a towel. I think the plan was for me to deliver the placenta out the pool, but that came quickly too.

Sexnotgender · 31/10/2021 21:13

@JacquelineCarlyle

To be honest, for me the water birth didn't ease the pain or the ring of fire, however what it did do was completely relax me between contractions to the point that I was nodding off (before the next lot of pain would come).

What I didn't like was climbing out of the tub to deliver the after birth - that felt horrible and I was very cold so not a great experience but it was nice for the birth itself.

I delivered the placenta in the pool. Was that not an option?

I just chilled in the lovely warm water snuggling my newborn waiting to deliver it.