A water birth involves laboring or delivering a baby in a tub or pool of warm water, providing comfort and buoyancy. The choice of what to wear significantly impacts the birthing person’s comfort, mobility, and the ease of medical care. Planning attire ensures the focus remains on labor, avoiding physical restrictions or discomfort. This guide offers practical considerations for selecting appropriate clothing during and immediately following a water birth.
Attire Options for the Birthing Person
Many birthing persons choose to wear nothing at all during their water birth, favoring complete freedom of movement. This choice also ensures immediate, uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact with the newborn after delivery, which helps regulate the baby’s temperature and heart rate.
When coverage is desired, swimwear is a popular choice, with two-piece options often preferred over one-piece suits. A bikini top, sports bra, or tankini top offers chest coverage while leaving the lower body free for delivery and observation. Two-piece garments can also be quickly removed or adjusted if fetal heart rate monitoring is required.
Another option is the use of loose, simple garments, such as an old T-shirt, tank top, or labor gown. These items are often made of soft, stretchable fabric and can be discarded if soiled. A loose garment provides modesty while allowing the birthing person to move and shift positions easily, supported by the water’s buoyancy.
Factors Influencing Your Choice of Clothing
The decision regarding attire is often guided by personal comfort, especially concerning modesty around medical staff or a partner. Choosing a soft bra or tank top can provide psychological comfort, even though concerns about nudity often fade as labor progresses. Any garment selected should have minimal fastenings and allow quick, unrestricted access for medical interventions or monitoring.
Material Considerations
The material is an important factor, as certain fabrics absorb water and become heavy and restrictive. Thick materials like cotton or denim should be avoided because they become substantially heavier when wet, impeding movement and making exiting the pool difficult. Synthetic and quick-drying materials, such as those used in swimwear, are preferable because they retain less water and maintain a lightweight feel.
Temperature Regulation
Wet clothing can contribute to a drop in body temperature once the birthing person leaves the warm water. If a shirt or bra is worn, the fabric should not be so thick that it remains saturated. Selecting a light, synthetic option helps prevent the wet fabric from drawing warmth away from the body during the transition out of the tub.
Preparation for Partners
Support partners who plan to enter the pool or be near the edge should prepare attire that accounts for water exposure. Partners should wear clothing that can get wet, such as swimming trunks or shorts, as they may be heavily splashed or partially submerged to offer support. The ability to move freely in wet clothing is important if they need to quickly exit the pool or assist the birthing person.
Post-Delivery Transition and Attire
Once the baby is born and the birthing person transitions out of the pool, a change of clothing is necessary to regulate body temperature. A large, absorbent robe, warm socks, and slippers should be immediately accessible to prevent a rapid drop in core temperature. This preparation is important for comfort and recovery, ensuring the birthing person remains warm during the initial hours with the newborn.
Post-delivery focus shifts to facilitating skin-to-skin contact, a practice that helps stabilize the infant’s temperature and breathing. Therefore, the warm clothing brought for the birthing person should be easy to open or remove from the chest area to allow for this direct contact. Having clean, dry towels and a prepared change of clothes for both the birthing person and the partner ensures a comfortable transition from the water to dry land.