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What do you wear??  

post #1 of 50
4/15/04 at 5:28pm
Thread Starter 
I hope this isn't too fluffy a thread! :LOL I've been watching these great homebirth videos from my midwife, and I'm starting to wonder -- does anyone wear clothes when they give birth at home?! My 18 year old little sister was watching some of it with me and she looked at me & asked "WHY can't they just wear something?" I was impressed that she didn't run from the room yelling "ewww," so I laughed. I told her that at that point that she probably doesn't care, and it's convenient and she is probably close/comfortable with everyone there.

That said, I'm not sure I would be entirely comfortable being 100% nekkid. I don't know what I could/would wear that wouldn't be inconvenient, though.

So what are you all/have you all wore?
post #2 of 50
4/15/04 at 5:50pm
Considering that almost all clothes have caused me at least some minor discomfort throughout my whole pregnancy, I envision I won't have the desire to wear anything except maybe socks for my always cold feet. I may put on one of my partner's giant t-shirts or perhaps my favorite t-shirt nightgown that I had to retire a few years ago for wear-and-tear reasons if I get chilly, but I'm hoping for some sunny weather the day I give birth.

And I'm hoping to birth this baby in water and I hate the feeling of wet clothing on me in the tub and I don't think I will like the inconvenience of wearing my tankini top, not to mention hot water is not good for the lifespan of bathing suits anyway.

So it'll probably just be nakedness for me.

warmly,
claudia
post #3 of 50
4/15/04 at 6:10pm
based on my own and my clients' behavior in labor, i think it's safe to say you can guesstimate how far a lady is in her progression by how many clothes she still has on!

i start out dressed, and shed as i go along. last birth was in january, and the house was not as warm as i'd hoped, so i had some warm wooly socks on. but that was it... i even had to get someone to hunt down my glasses so i could see my new babe!

k
post #4 of 50
4/15/04 at 6:21pm
I always thought I would wear clothes cause well I am shy around other people but when it comes to birth all clothes are OFF. Couldnt imagine giving birth in a hospital and having to wear something: :LOL
post #5 of 50
4/15/04 at 6:35pm
For all of my labors I was just wearing a nightgown for most of it, and then when I heated up (or got in the birth tub) I took it off.

Clothes become a hindrance, an irritation. I have been naked for all of my births. That said, I was also definitely inhibited by it. I have never understood when people say, "don't worry about it, you definitely won't care that you're naked and other people are watching you." For me that was just not true. In my last birth story I wrote (about being in the last hour of labor): "I consider to myself that no one else in the room would even think of baring themselves in the presence of each other. The laboring woman, however, is assumed to be beyond modesty."

Sorry to impinge on the fluff factor there. :LOL
post #6 of 50
4/15/04 at 6:39pm
Thread Starter 
:LOL blueviolet

Thanks ladies...you're makin me feel better -- I'll probably just go with the flow. I might still shop for something like a sleeveless button down the front nightgown, though.


ANYbody out there wear clothes? :LOL
post #7 of 50
4/15/04 at 7:10pm
:

I have a special gown that I only wear when I am in labor.
I don't know many others that are clothed at a homebirth though. I have worn it at all 4 of my births and am planning the same with babe due in Sept. I have seen all types of moms though from naked as the baby-tank tops-gowns etc. I even know a mom that has a black negligee that she wears and borrows out to friends that is guaranteed to birth a baby!!

Best Wishes!!

Sarah
post #8 of 50
4/15/04 at 9:19pm
I was fully dressed right up until I felt the urge to push, then I just took off my pants & underwear, and kept on the sports bra & big t-shirt. The midwife asked if I wanted my shirt off, but I didn't.
post #9 of 50
4/15/04 at 9:28pm
My first was high interventionsa so I was in the hospital gown and nothing else. there were tubes and wires and moniters every freaking where. Nessecary but irritating (preterm labor they were trying to stop or at least slow down for a few days) I remember being very self conscience when I was finally allowed to labor and my midwife picked up on it and put a sheet over me. By that time I was in transition.

With my other two, a home birth and a birth that happened in the middle of a cervix check (hehe -are these bh contractions doing anything? lets see? Well, yeah I would say they are doing something, you arecompletelydialated. Hmm, who knew . . . ) I was completely dressed until I had pushed a few times with Lily and then my dh pretty much had to insist I take my shorts and undies off. with Ava I already had my pants off when I relized I was in labor and they stayed off for the next couple of minutes while i finished up. Then they wraped us up in a blanket and pushed us over to the hospital where I changed into a gown because my shirt was wet and I was cold.

So no, I could never be about the business of labor if I was naked. way to distracting to me. I am so self conscience though.
post #10 of 50
4/15/04 at 9:46pm
Ugh, no buttons for me! I'm too impatient!

With my first, I wore...a hospital gown With my second, I wore a t-shirt and yoga pants until I wanted to get in the shower. Then I wore my bathrobe for a bit. I started throwing up (ah, transition!), and I was off to my birth pool (I wore a black shelf-bra thing. I, like blueviolet, never lose my inhibition all together I'm still me!

All that said, your comfort is key!

Best wishes with everything,
post #11 of 50
4/15/04 at 11:08pm
I took my clothes off to get in the shower, then just didn't bother to put them back on when I got out. Never had a second thought about it at all. A couple hours baby was born, I realized I didn't have any clothes on and put on a sweatshirt.
post #12 of 50
4/15/04 at 11:20pm
Rats, it just dawned on me I dont think the house we are buying has any sutable privacy window coverings. I will have to fix the problem right quick with me being a nudist during labor and birth.

Yet another expense we dont need
post #13 of 50
4/15/04 at 11:21pm
Thread Starter 
Weeeee...this is going to be fun :LOL I am getting a bit of a "gonna have a homebirth" high! My dh (& ds) and I met with my midwife to be tonight and I really like her. We talked a little bit about clothes and she commented that she wore the tank top type thing too. I'm thinkin' that's how I'd be most comfortable, but with a light robe or something sometimes too. I just cringe at the thought of my flubby white butt jigglin' around. Can anyone tell I have butt issues? :LOL



By the way, did I mention I'm having a HBAC? :LOL I am so excited!!
post #14 of 50
4/15/04 at 11:28pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally posted by momto l&a
Rats, it just dawned on me I dont think the house we are buying has any sutable privacy window coverings. I will have to fix the problem right quick with me being a nudist during labor and birth.

Yet another expense we dont need
Oh yea, I was going to say something about this & I forgot (placenta brain ).

For a cheap covering you could buy a bunch of tulle and just put it over the curtain rods for daytime, or some cheapo (walmart $1/yard) fabric that is opaque for nighttime. You could sign up for JoAnn Fabric's mailing list & they send out a 40% discount coupon every other week and every couple months they give out a 50% off discount coupon. If I don't get around to getting my curtains done in time, I will do this -- especially the tulle/sheers thing -- I would be way stressed if it were light out and I had the blinds drawn. It just depresses me if my house is dark and dank. Not as much as I would be upset if I flashed one of the neighborhood 13 year old boys, though. :LOL
post #15 of 50
4/15/04 at 11:28pm
momtol&a, we don't have window coverings either. I just tacked up some sheets!
post #16 of 50
4/15/04 at 11:54pm
I start off wearing whatever I was wearing that day. As things start heating up, the clothing starts coming off one by one. The shoes get uncomfortable, then the socks, then the pants...by the time I get in the water, I'm wearing nothin' but a scrunchi!

I like being naked for birth, it's feels free and natural and it's easy. I especially like having my stomach and chest bare to put the baby on the moment he comes out.
post #17 of 50
4/15/04 at 11:57pm
Quote:
Originally posted by SamuraiEarthMama
based on my own and my clients' behavior in labor, i think it's safe to say you can guesstimate how far a lady is in her progression by how many clothes she still has on!
:LOL So true!
post #18 of 50
4/16/04 at 12:05am
blueviolet, I was thinking of sheets BUT if its dark outside and the lights are on inside wouldnt the sheet be thin enought to allow for some pretty good shadows?

I would be a living shadow box :
post #19 of 50
4/16/04 at 12:10am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally posted by momto l&a
blueviolet, I was thinking of sheets BUT if its dark outside and the lights are on inside wouldnt the sheet be thin enought to allow for some pretty good shadows?

I would be a living shadow box :
Now THAT would tramatize the neighbor kids! :LOL You could try aiming some lights at the sheet -- that might minimize the shadows going the other way?
post #20 of 50
4/16/04 at 12:12am
Depends on whether the light is between you and the window, and how strong the light is. Do an experiment -- I bet, though, that it wouldn't be a problem.
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Mothering › Forums › Pregnancy and Birth › Birth and Beyond › Homebirth › What do you wear??