Water births... What to wear?? - Page 2

[ShadowFox]

I dont have a copy of that book. What is SA???

Originally Posted by wombatclay

With dd1- sports bra and a towel when I stood up.

dd2- sports bra and towel, then a bathrobe once I took the bra off.

ds- I was at a different (more "by the book") hospital with ds and didn't know if I'd have access to the tub. So I packed a binsi and sports bra. I did have tub access but used the binsi for my pp hospital stay. It rocked! It was comfy/easy to wear over the pp pads and chux but looked together/in control.

Given your concerns, maybe check out binsi tops and skirts? The skirt was flattering, comfy, and quick drying/easy to wash clean in the hospital sink. So it may work for being in the tub too. And the tops provide coverage but allow access for "medical stuff" if that becomes necessary. (my dd1 was a surprise c/s and I had to cut my bra off because it had gotten icky but I had an iv and couldn't just take it off. ). They're not cheap (I found the skirt on deep discount) but if they give you the confidence and coverage you need then it's worth it!

(do you have a copy of the Labor Progress Handbook and When Survivors Give Birth? The Handbook is mostly for your support people and your doula may already have a copy... it walks through the birth process with ideas for helping it go smoothly and one thing it addresses is the potential impact of SA.)

[wombatclay]

ShadowFox... that bit was for lizsky (who had posted a little before me). SA is sexual abuse. The Labor Progress Handbook by Penny Simkin is a great book for any birthing woman and her attendants. It basically walks through the whole birth process addressing things that might happen and giving "flow charts" of how to deal with these things and what the downstream impact of each type of intervention might be (physical, emotional, spiritual, cultural, medical, etc). It talks about how a woman's emotional and physical history can impact the birth process... and how her attendants can assist her in different settings. Giving birth can be an especially emotional/difficult experience for women who have been emotionally or physically abused, and there are very few books that address the practical aspects.... Labor Progress Handbook is a good general resource since it really does cover a huge amount of stuff in a very accessible format so it's a good buy for any birth attendant, while When Survivors Give Birth (also by Simkin) addresses the subject more directly. Survivor Moms is another good book but Labor Progress Handbook is the most "how to/what to do" of the three.

I don't want to hijack the thread! But since someone mentioned SA specifically, and it's unfortunately a reality that more and more women are facing, I thought I'd mention the resources that are out there.

[dachshund mom]

I wore a sports bra style nursing bra. I'm very modest, but during labor, never gave a thought to my bottom half being exposed. It was DH, midwife, and asst midwife, with no one else in the building. I arrived at 8cm, but prior to that was just wearing sweat pants at home.

I think a skirt would be in the way. I went from tub to toilet a lot. Your midwife might need to get a heartbeat really low down too.

[~Katie~]

I wore a sports bra both times, I hate having clothing on and strip during early labor. With DD, toward the end I had a towel around my lower half when I was out of the tub/shower in case my water broke. After birth I strip naked.

[lizsky]

Shadowfox, I'm sorry I went on a tangent. Thank you for asking such a good question- I've really appreciated reading through all the responses.

Wombatclay, thank you for the book and skirt suggestions. My husband and I read the Birth Partner by Simkin, but not the handbook you mentioned. I'll ask my doula if she has a copy I can borrow, and if not I'll try to order it.

[laughingfox]

Originally Posted by ShadowFox

Thanks for all the advice ladies.
My husband thinks I'll strip to my birthday suit. But I'd like options just in case. A birthing/swimming skirt sounds pretty neat.. Where would I get one of those?? I might just go naked in tub and use bathrobe when I'm out.

I've been seeing more and more swimsuit skirts without attached bottoms lately. If ordered in a size (or two) up and worn low on the hips, I think they'd be just long enough to keep everything covered enough for comfort (especially while under water), without getting in the way.
Target
Sears
Victoria's Secret

Some "modest swimwear" sites sell longer versions.

[jeminijad]

This time I'll be seeking out a nursing sports or sleep bra, and a pareo type thing until its time to push.

I have some pathological hangups about my breasts (that I just force down in order to breast feed,) and not even the pain of labor pushes that from my mind. I need to be covered.

[Carson]

Another one who wanted to be covered. When I was laboring out of the tub, I had a really easy cut dress on - about knee length, easy on/off. Underneath, I had a cami tank top that I was comfortable in. I didn't mind being bottomless in the tub, but was so happy to have a top on.

[KaylaBeanie]

So interesting to hear that there are so many options! I'm modest, so I envision myself laboring in boxers and a camisole/nursing bra. Plus, I am ALWAYS cold...warm tub or not, I'd probably freeze if I was naked!

[Asiago]

I forgot to mention that I purchased a swim skirt (no bottom attached), prior to the water birth. I wasn't sure if I would wear the skirt and bikini top that I had packed. When it came down to it, I just wanted to hop in that pool and birth the baby then bring him to my bare chest once he was born. I ended up au natural as stated earlier There were very few people in the room, only the key players so I didn't feel that my goods were 'on display'.

As far as being cold, the room was warm and the pool did not have a heater, I am usually cold when in the water, but I was too warm! My husband was wonderful and would periodically take out a bucket of water and replace with hot water but I actually told him to stop as it felt too warm (it wasn't, as we followed the water thermometer guidelines).

[JennTheMomma]

I'm doing a bikini top and boxers. If it's chilly then I'll probably do a long night gown. Once in the pool I'll just be in my bikini top.

[Romana]

Nothing. I don't like clothing in the advanced stages of labor. I usually stay in comfy pajama-type pants and a tank top until I'm ready to get in the water, and get in the water naked (and stay naked).

I would want something to cover me if I was walking around or otherwise not in the birth pool.