The thing is with wearing something on your bottom half, is that even if you are using the pool for pain relief.. (though you might not even experience pain, if you are calm and relaxed), then you will be in established labour. It is going to be pretty tricky getting off your bikini bottoms in established labour - it is certainly the last thing that I would want to do?!
Surely your OH if he feels funny about wet clothes (and I can't blame him, the thought of a t-shirt all cling and wet would make me feel funny, esp in labour), then surely he can't have any problems about you being naked. Honestly your MWs are not going to bat an eye lid about you being naked. Also it makes life so much easier for skin to skin and breast feeding or just keeping the baby warm after they are born - your body will help regulate their body temperature better than any clothes or even an incubator could ever possibly do (not saying that you need an incubator.. just that in some less developed countries I have seen incubators being used that even not even plugged in.. as they are trying to emulate developed world practices.. but baby would have been safer right next to mummy)
I can also totally agree to with the larger chested ladies.. if you have big boobs and you think that they would only get in the way, and make you physically uncomfortable - then that is a really good reason for support. But embrassement for me isn't - that is something very personal, that you have to explore yourself. I think you might surprise yourself as labour and birth is essentially a very primative event, and you will be unlikey to care! (I had thoughts before DD was born that I wanted to get a wax done - only once have that done in my life - that I should think about trimmig back my pubes, getting a bit of fake tan on.. but in reality, these are not the things that you care about, or your even remember. Your MWs CERTAINLY won't. From my MW friends, they are more likey to think that you are slighty insecure, esp if you have taken the time to have a brazillian done! hahaha!
They might have a good story to tell if your OH was naked hahahaha - I know one MW who told me a story of the OH being naked.. and although it was a good story, and they found it funny for a little while, they still have their job to do.. and it really is totally insignificant in the big picture of labour and birth! ;-) So if he is getting in consider some trunks or swim wear for him.. and a change of clothes. They are your support if you want them present, and they are likey to get wet as you hold on to them and they touch you, rub your back etc, etc.
But if you want your OH in the pool, it is totally upto you - some find it really good support physically and emotionally - they can help you get good positions (say squatting, with them holding you from behind). Although one of the other great things about being in the pool is, that is your own little world.. your own space, and if anyone wants to touch you, they have to lean in and enter YOUR space. It can act as a protective sphere, like a type of birth nest (not too get too hippy about it), but it really has it's benefits and can add to your sense of security and protection.
For me I'm so aware that I'm a mammal, and this is a natural physological function of my body (and yours, and every other women), and I want a nest of security and support that has my smells, freedoms and my dearest loved ones around me. So for me that was one of the reasons why I choose a home birth. I could set up my own environment - and also guarantee that I could use a pool (there wasn't going to be anyone else in it when the time came, and I could also get in and out whenever I liked).
Explore what you think about your body.. and imagine what it would be if you could have any location in the world to get birth in. What would it be like? Would it be dimly lit or bright and in the sunshine? Would it be close and personal, or with open spaces. What type of sounds would you like, or smells, who would be there with you.. and how would you want them to act and react to you?
xxxx
