September 2013 Moms
Shanmarie1083
member
Naked during labor?
Shanmarie1083
member
My bags are already packed but it suddenly occurred to me that I have nothing for the shower and labor tub. My hospital has a jetted tub and a shower for use during labor and since I'm trying to go drug free this time I plan on taking advantage of it. For you moms who plan on laboring/delivering in the shower or tub are you thinking that you will do it naked or in a swimsuit? As of now I have nothing packed. I labored in a hospital gown with DS, but I had an epidural so I was in bed the whole time. I'm not super modest and don't necessarily care if the nurses and DH see me naked, I'm just not sure what the "norm" is for these situations. I see lots of moms choose to be naked in birth center births, but is that the standard for hospitals as well?
So a non clicky poll: How do you plan on laboring?
1. Naked
2. Fully covered in a hospital gown or one you brought from home
3. Something up top (like a tank/sports bra) and nothing on the bottom.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Naked during labor?
For the tub, I'm going to bring an extra sleep bra that I have. I prefer to have these girls wrangled in the water
I won't have anything on the bottom.
For laboring in the room, I will have one of my loose old navy jersey knit skirts and a bra. I already don't like stuff touching my belly, and I'm quite certain I'll feel the same in labor.
I'm a birthing center mom, so no real input on hospital specific.
With DS1 I though I'd do a bikini top. Had one that offered plenty of skin for baby on chest after he was born. I don't consider myself a prude, but I'm pretty modest with being naked in front of anyone but my fam. As it turns out, labor makes you a whoooooole different person. I was in full swing when I reached the birthing center. I walked through the doors, stripped naked and said "take me to the tub!" Not at all my plan! I was buck nekkid the whole time an couldn't have cared less. I just wanted to be free from ANY restraints.
ETA: even with how un-modest the whole labor process is, I still wanted to be covered some. I never had any desire to be completely naked, even in the tub.
So... After my long story, I say do whatever you are comfortable with. No one is going to tell you what to do, you are delivering a baby.
I should also say that I packed a bikini but never even took it out of the bag!
DST T4L
Also, in case you didn't already, make sure to ask your dr about their policies about the shower/tubs in the rooms. I have been advised just because its there doesn't mean all dr's allow use of it. At my hospital you actually have to have written permission from your dr to use the shower in the LD room.
For various reasons, I wasn't allowed to get into water with my second, so I think I gave birth in a gown. Not sure.
In any case, if I'm able to get into water at the hospital this time, it'll probably be naked. Clothes at that point are really just a nuisance.
Hospital gown. The hospital where I delivered DS didn't allow bras of any kind to be worn during labor; I have no idea if this hospital has the same rules or not but I can't imagine having the restriction of a bra on during labor.
I'm still undecided if I want to labor in the tub or not, knowing how uncomfortable I'll be when it comes time to push. I might pack a bathing suit top, just in case.