What do you wear???

I'm only in the first weeks of third trimester, but I'm starting to think about the whole labour and birth thing more (very excitedly!!!)

Just wondering...a really practical question...

what do you wear during labour?

Cheers!

I had my clothes on for a while (t-shirt & 3/4 pants) then a hospital gown & nothing else!

I had my clothes on to start with then they asked me to put on the hospital gown (very sexc!!not) i think i left my bra on but that ended up off. by the end the hospital gown wasnt really on either!!!

Lots of my clients start off with tshirt and undies but then end up with nothing after a shower or whenever. If they get cold I put a blanket around them, but five minutes later they are hot again LOL

Others have worn all sorts of things - you could wear a sarong, bikini, bra and undies, crop top and undies - the list is endless - whatever you are comfy in. For me, the first time a gown as I had the induction and epidural and second time all of my clothes as I got there and was pushing almost right away LOL. Of course I had to get the pants off though ;)

Monnie - the suggestions from everyone are great ones. I personally strip off as soon as I get there - I have used water immersion and the shower a lot and I feel more comfy without the restriction of clothes...

Many women find the crop top thing a good one - bear in mind that once that baby comes out skin to skin contact is really important so wear something that can be easily removed... :hug:

just a t shirt for me!! that come straight off just before she was born

Just a nightie for me - a bit more covering than just a t-shirt cause I can wear no knickers then.

So glad you started this thread, Monnie...I've been wondering the same thing myself! ;)

Kelly, I love the bikini and sarong suggestions...I think that'll be a winner for me! :D

At the start I had on 2 singlets, and shorts, but I think I just ended up in a singlet and knickers.
I never at any stage wore or was offered a hospital gown. I did have my own dressing gown there though.

I had my clothes on when i got to the delivery suite (just mat pants and a top) but stripped off straight away to get in the bath. I had to get out when we saw there was meconium in my waters and then i just asked to put a hospital gown on, i didn't want all that stuff getting on my clothes or new nightie!

I'm a bit of a prude usually and swore i would stay clothed but ended up naked most of the time and preferred it.

What a great thread! Ive just been thinking about my labour bag and what to pack - I bought a tshirt nightie and thats it, but will have to check out the sarongs I have at home to see if they will work now that my bum has gotten bigger :D

I kind of assumed id be naked for most if it as I plan to be in the shower for the most part! Oh and must remember to bring shorts for your birth partner if they are going to help you with the shower, water immersion!

Definately a change of clothes for your DH too. Doug always found it good to have a shower afterwards anyway to freshen up.

I packed my maternity gym pants and a t-shirt to wear (super comfy) but ended up having to wear a hospital gown because I was induced.

I had trackie pants & a T-Shirt on when I arrived at the hospital, then after my shower I got into a gown & stayed in that (nothing else) Although by the end that was pretty much just laying on the bed hahaha

I say just wear what you feel comfortable in & if its practical for child birth, even better!!

I was starkers with the first two because I went in the bath and was too hot and bothered to put anything on.
With Caleb I ended up wearing a hospital gown because my water broke and wet my clothes and the midwife grabbed it to cover me as I was shivering . I wasn't interested in argueing and they put it on me but looking back at the photos they look too "medicalised" for my likings.

Lol, sounds like the majority of us turn up in what we were wearing for the day then end up in a hospital gown for a short time then starkers.
I know i couldnt wait to get my bra off because it was way to hot. I actually cant remember alot of labour so thats a good thing. I remember the pain though, i wish that would erase from my mind. Time is ticking closer. Oh well.

With Eliza I started off in my nightie but then I had the drip put in and went to a gown because my sleeves were too close fitting.

This time I will just pick a T-shirt that it doesn't matter if it gets wrecked. Preferably a dark colour!

I am too bashfull to go starkers - I am wearing my fave nightie which is mega stretchy with spaghetti straps because I get hot in sleeves at the best of times! - it is long enough to cover my bits so I don't have to wear undies, but short enough to hitch when someone needs to see my bits!!

Good idea about the singlet or bathers for the shower and bath, I never thought of that, will go pack them now!

I've always begun looking great in my own jammies / shirt. And I always end up in a hospital nightie...then I jump straight back into my clothes when I have had bubs & have had a shower.

The hospital nighties I guess are so easy as you don't have to send the really soiled stuff home with hubby.

I just wore a shirt... to bad it was also WHITE...and had a bra on as well...!

I was wearing trackies and a tshirt when I arrived at hospital, then I wore a hospital gown for about 5 minutes because I wanted to be naked but the midwife thought I would be too cold, then I was naked because I was in the shower. I didnt even think of wearing anything in the shower?

I took my own nightie but ended up getting straight into their gown as that way I didn't have to worry about dirtying my own stuff and it was actually nice and comfy, it was an actual maternity gown not just a backless smock. I think I wore it for about an hour then got in the shower and was nude for the rest of it. Al the best for your birth

I turned up in comfy maternity 3/4 trackies and a singlet, but ditched it pretty quicly to get in the shower! After awhile in the shower I wanted to get active so popped on a tshirt and undies. I'd packed an old tshirt of DH's to wear so as to be comfy, I could have lived without the knickers but as my waters were still leaking I needed something to hold the pad in while walking and rocking LOL!

After that I hopped in the bath and when I got out to deliver I didn't bother with clothes, it was the last thing on my mind PMSL!

ETA It didn't occur to me to wear anything in the shower either. I felt happier my whole labour in as little as possible!

Oh wanted to say my hossy also supplies fluffy towelling dressing gowns which was great for wandering around the room when I wasn't in the shower and great for after birth too when you get the shivers. The best bit was they took it awayu and washed it after the birth :-) Also the nightie I planned on giving birth in had access for BF as in my mind I couldn't imagine getting naked (even though I did in my first birth as well???) but at the time it was very natural to be labouring naked (although DH did keep trying to cover me up - he's such a sweetie)

Ben's birth was very fast (3 hours).... i ended up giving birth in a red top and fluffy purple bed socks!!!

I think here in Germany they are pretty relaxed, i was induced, but was never asked to put on a hospital gown (until after the birth).

I opt for the hospital gown too - I know they are ugly - but at least I don't have to wash it.

a big stretchy cotton dress, didnt stay on long tho.. i really enjoyed being nude!!! hehehe... i was in and out of the shower and birth pool a bit...

Both times I bought huuuge men's tshirts from Best and Less that cost about $10. They were comfortable to labour in and could just be thrown out when they got messy. And just t-shirt material type shorts, but they don't really stay on long.
I went for comfort as you can see LOL.

Started in normal clothes (skirt and t-shirt), then naked for bath, then t-shirt only once I got out, then naked again until after DD was born as I remained in the shower for the rest of the labour.

1st birth (DD)was induced, i was allowed to wear my own nightie ( it had a cute teddy bear on it!) i took it off for showers and then put a hospy gown on..
2nd birth (DS) started in my clothes and then i put hospy gown on. i had waters leaking all the time so i was happy to be in a hospy gown.. ( i had taken my nightie from DD birth to wear but i never did.. i have kept it as my labour outfit.. i never soiled so its my special treasure..

Im not really taking anything to 'give birth in' as such. Have packed a tracksuit to wear to hossy, then have packed a pair of pJ's in labour bag. Will probably just end up wearing the gown. I suppose I could pack one of DH old T-Shirts, or a new one I don't like ( :

Monnie

I had trackies but vomited on them straight away so opted for the hospital gown (at least you don't run out and you don't have to wash them and really they are easy to strip on and off when needed)...then i had nothing (was in and out of the shower to relieve labour pain until baby come)..dont be bashful (i am usually) but when the time comes you don't care really !

Hmm you know, I havent really thought about it until now and am so happy that have stumbled across this thread!!

I am really unsure of what to do.. I want to sure the shower and bath and just thought that I would go in naked and then I thought I would just jump in to the hospital gown? Its funny how most people ended up naked!! I have my sister coming in with me and I dont think she will like to see my naked LOL

My plans is to pack singlet and knickers to wear in the shower and bath and then maybe a nightie or another singlet and knickers to wear when I am not in the shower. But who knows what will happen when you are actually in there!!

Veronica, don't put any pressure on yourself to cover up for anyone else's benefit. If covering up is what makes you comfortable then great, but otherwise just feel free to do what you want! If your sister is going to be there for the whole birth then she's going to see more than just nakedness LOL :)

Personally, there's no way I could have been bothered to change every time I got in and out of the shower or bath, that would have taken up precious energy!

sezjm, yes your right!! She is going to see more than me just naked. LOL I was with her while she was in labour and I got a side view of her and I didnt find myself feeling uncomfortable or weird around her from seeing that. It is a natural thing afterall!!

And good point on getting changed all the time. If I was to cover up maybe a big shirt or long nightie would be best cause I can just rip in on and off..

:)

What a good thread!

I've got a black bikini (bought cheap overseas) and a sarong, and also a long black tank top as well which I plan to wear in labour. Also have a spare pair of mens pj pants which could get popped on, and thrown away eventually (great $3 investment I think). I don't want to wear the hospital gown as I'm a small person, and those things always dwarf me and get all caught up everywhere. Besides, I'd like to look half decent in some photos and I don't think I'm likely to remember to put clothes on at the end!!!!

I was in a singlet with a towel wrapped around the bottom half, and when I was in the bed I jsut had the sheet over the bottom half. Was very easy that way!

I bought a big men's bonds shirt and wore just my house pants.. when i was pushing, just had the bonds shirt on..

I had a c.s for the first so didn't have a choice but to wear a sexy hospital gown. For the next two, I was in the buff. I just couldn't handle anything touching my skin, it just irritated me so much. I did bring along a nightie to wear so that I could just pull it up when it got down to business, but it didn't last more than 10mins after arriving at the labour ward.

when i was admitted to the delivery room i changed into a dress nighty. i was so modest but by the time i was in full labour i was screaming to get my clothes off.. you get very hott and tend to feel restricted with them on.