Homebirth Observation - Page 2

[barefootpoetry]

In the comfort of your own home, you're probably more likely to feel less inhibited and get naked. In a cold hospital where strangers are constantly coming in and out...not so much.

I've seen plenty of HB videos where mama was wearing a sports bra or tank. I've also seen some totally nude hospital birth photos. It's all personal preference.

[Belle]

I was probably one of the naked birthers you saw on youtube. I origninally tried to set it up as a private account and couldn't get it to work. So I just posted it as is. I've had to delete some crude comments about my birth.

I'm just more comfortable birthing in the buff. My first dd was born in the hosptial and was naked for that birth too. My dh said he offered me a hospital gown and I told him. "NO!" I don't remember that at all. I think that I made some of the hospital personnel nervous because I was birthing in the nude.

It's definately not a requirement to birth in the nude. I don't think my midwives cared either way what I was wearing.

[ChristSavesAll]

I plan on having a bra on and possibly a tank over that (I had DD breasts before getting preggo and have no idea how big they are now but I have to keep them tucked away) I will also be wearing a mid thigh skirt that is made out of fabric that is similar to swim suit material during labor and birth. A lady from my moms church would like to come and observe as she has only had hospital births and is interested is seeing the homebirth experience. I wouldn't mind being nude with just DH and Ds but my momma will be there and like I mentioned her friend so yeah I will keep covered up. Plus then I can show off my amazing HB video and pictures without feeling embarrassed later.

[jrabbit]

I'm fairly modest normally, but in birth, I was naked at the hospital and at home. At the hospital, I took clothes off to get in the tub and refused to put them back on. I didn't even think about it until I was preparing for the second birth 4 years later! At home, I figured it would just be the same, so I didn't worry. I considered wearing a sports bra/tank, but I really don't like the feeling of wet clothes, so I didn't pursue that thought. Ironically, there were more people at my hb (a friend, but not **that** good of a friend), and we have pictures of me holding the baby with boobs right there! I was probably a little embarrassed after the fact, but upon reflection, it doesn't bother me because birth *to me* is a celebration of the human body. '

We had our pictures on the internet ... and for a little while, our site was messed up so anyone who typed in our domain name went DIRECTLY to that boob shot first! Some friend of my DH pointed it out - and my DH wasn't bothered. The friend was horrified, though! We did immediately fix it because our site was linked from a non-profit website that we were associated with ... and that wasn't really appropriate FUNNY, though, I thought!

This time, i think I want more pictures, maybe video. Haven't thought it through, but I guess we'll talk about it - and see how "out there" we want my boobs to be.

--janis

[Unoppressed MAMA Q]

Originally Posted by amandamcgrady

I just wondered if you should be naked for any type of monitoring "eyes, hands" since the traditional monitoring isn't used.

I am laughing my fool head off at this use of the word 'traditional'.

That aside, I don't have a plan in general about clothes or not. I don't really think I'd be likely to have much on, though, and haven't in the past.

[Patchfire]

I was nude for 90% of dd's birth - in a hospital.

I was nude for maybe 30% of ds's birth - at home.

I think honestly for me it depends on the time of year. DD was an August baby, I would have been nude ANYWHERE, it was so hot. DS was a March baby, and I got cold fairly easily. This one's coming in November, and I anticipate being clothed unless I'm in the pool.

[amandamcgrady]

Originally Posted by Unoppressed MAMA Q

I am laughing my fool head off at this use of the word 'traditional'.

That aside, I don't have a plan in general about clothes or not. I don't really think I'd be likely to have much on, though, and haven't in the past.

I am VERY new to this site... Did I say something not accepted here. By traditional I mean all the stuff they strap to you in the hospital, the blood pressure, they measure your contractions, etc.

Whats the joke?

[Belle]

Originally Posted by amandamcgrady

I am VERY new to this site... Did I say something not accepted here. By traditional I mean all the stuff they strap to you in the hospital, the blood pressure, they measure your contractions, etc.

Whats the joke?

Perhaps the word you are searching for is "conventional" monitoring. Traditional monitoring would be an ear pressed up to the mother's abdomen.

[prothyraia]

Originally Posted by amandamcgrady

I am VERY new to this site... Did I say something not accepted here. By traditional I mean all the stuff they strap to you in the hospital, the blood pressure, they measure your contractions, etc.

Whats the joke?

All the stuff we think of now as "traditional" as far as birth goes is really very very new. And the more unconventional things (i.e. homebirth) have a much longer track record.

[amandamcgrady]

I definitly "meant" conventional. Thanks for explaining. I was feeling a little self concious didn't know why I was being made fun of......

[Unoppressed MAMA Q]

Originally Posted by amandamcgrady

I definitly "meant" conventional. Thanks for explaining. I was feeling a little self concious didn't know why I was being made fun of......

Why because you said something funny that you're being made fun of?

[Full Heart]

Clothes bother me in labor. I don't even notice stripping though. I end up being naked and have no idea how it happened.

[*MamaJen*]

Your post made me laugh. Before I got in the tub, I spent ages very carefully getting dressed in a sports bra, bikini underwear and tank top. My midwife later confessed that she found it really amusing.
Throughout labor, I ripped off one piece of clothing after another -- you can actually see the progression in the photos. I barely even remember doing it. I just couldn't stand clothes on.

[rockportmama]

Hi! Congrats on your planned homebirth! If you don't like the idea of being nude at birth, there are places that sell birthing clothes (although any clothes would work, of course.) try www.birthinbinsi.com

As for me, I was nekked as a bluejay. In a hospital with people walking in and out unannounced all the time, I don't know if that would have happened. Granted, there are no pictures untill afterward and I'm covered by my blanket.

The fun thing about homebirth is that you just do whatever works best for you at the moment! Water, bed, all fours, dressed, naked, quiet, yelling, sleeping, walking, pictures, no pictures. No one "allows" or "lets you" do anything. Very nice!

[taramommy]

Have to say I agree with those who say that once you get naked to get into the tub or shower, there is absolutely no interest in putting clothes back on. I was butt naked both times I gave birth in the hospital and probably will be this December giving birth at home, too.

I always talk in my class about how observers can get a clue to where mom is in labor by how much of her modesty she's lost. Bra and underwear or just a t-shirt? Probably active labor. Naked? She's gonna push soon. lol. Well, obviously there's more to it than that, but it is true - you can sometimes tell where a woman is in labor by how far undressed she is.