What did you wear to labour in?

[berrybump]

Hi - might seem like a really silly question but I'm wondering what people wore to labour in? Am thinking t-shirt or cotton nightie but what about breastfeeding - do I want buttons? Or did you labour then change into something new straight away? How hot will I get? Will I be wandering in corridors looking for a toilet so need more than t-shirt and/or dressing gown? When does all the bleeding start? Hope you get the gist of my questions - probably worrying too much Thanks

[FrazzledFairyFay]

Hi, I wore a big, cheap, cotton nightie for both my labours - with spaghetti-type straps and I did my first bf in that both times without any problems.

[PuhPeng]

I was planning to wear an old t-shirt but was too hot so ended up in a hospital gown. It was fine.

[FrazzledFairyFay]

Sorry, pressed post too soon

in the hospital I was in, the labour rooms are en-suite but I def needed a dressing gown afterwards on the postnatal ward. Taking a couple of flannels with you, which your birth partner can wet for you and put on your forehead should help if you get too hot. Hope that helps

[ratbunny]

when it came down to it, we left the case of things in the car, and I ended up wearing dh's batman t-shirt that he had on over his long sleeve top.
I honestly didnt care what I was wearing, or if anyone saw anything while I wandered up the corridor to the loo, as I was high as a kite

[PuppyDogTails]

I bought a strappy breastfeeding nighty but was whisked into a hospital gown as soon as I arrived on the labour ward

[PutThatInYourPipeandSmokeIt]

I went to the hospital in what I was wearing that day - tracksuit pants & tshirt I think and then naked for the pool then they gave me a gown. I got cold rather than hot in labour I would say.

I personally would go for whatever you fancy and know that if it comes down to it for the breast feeding, you can change out of what you gave birth in (you will anyway as you will want to shower etc) and wear a gown if you want to.

The bleeding starts immediately after the birth and the placenta also has to come out and then the bleeding continues. I ended up in a gown post birth and then showered and back in to comfy clothes of mine.

[JamesAndTheGiantBanana]

A lot of delivery suites have en suite bathrooms to save you trawling through the corridors, but it might be an idea to have a light dressing gown to cover you if you'll worry otherwise.

I laboured in a hospital gown, as that's what they seemed to want and I wasn't bothered, though I took a dark blue tshirt style nightie I didn't mind getting ruined.

When it comes down to it you probably won't be as modest as you think, you go into a weird zone, you're focussed on the event rather than what you look like, and nobody in the room will care anyway!

The bleeding is fairly immediate, you need to have a bath and then put on a maternity pad. You'll probably be ok walking to the ward afterwards but when you first get up after your first rest/lie down you may have a bit of a leak. They put big incontinence pads on the bed for you to sit on (and they don't mind if you get blood on anything anyway, they know that's what happens) if you're worried about leaking on the floor beckon a nurse over before you get up, and they can put the curtains round/help you.

Don't worry though, take a big dressing gown and you can chuck it on and be instantly clean and respectable!

[nelliesmum]

Started in a cotton nightshirt and ended up naked, have no recollection of how...useful for the breats feeding.

[staranise]

i gave birth in one of DH's old t-shirts, showered straight away afterwards, then wore a nightie and also took a light dressng gown for wandering around in. I get cold feet in labour (literally), especially afterwards, so bed-socks were a must

[nelliesmum]

BREAST feeding...

[madamez]

I put on an old Mr Men LIttle Miss Naughty t-shirt that was clean but stained round the neck with hair dye from years ago, thinking I would bin it afterwards. I sweated right through it in labour, changed into another baggy t-shirt with a v low neck afterwards... but that daft Naughty t-shirt is actually now in DS' baby memorabilia box along with the babygrow we put him in when he was born....

[lacarte]

Same big old t-shirt both times - and I remember asking the midwife the same question and getting a funny look

[TheMuppetMuggle]

i wore a very long cotton tshirt, which was loose and comfortable to sleep in/labour in!!!

[nelliesmum]

Can remember smiling wryly at one of my first-time-Mum friends packing make-up in her labour bag.

[ScienceTeacher]

I wore the same Blooming Marvellous cotton nightshirt for all five of mine.

You only bf for a few minutes in your labour gear. After the first bit of colostrum you have a shower.

[slinkiemalinki]

I wore a Blooming Marvellous nightie too. It was a bit too long and would look for something shorter as it was a pain with the tens wires coming down my back. I too was absolutely boiling but would not have fancied being naked.

[tigana]

Labour in huge old Tshirt of DHs, also had old, long skirt with elasticated waist (to allow the wandering about etc, but happy for it to be binned if got...um.. messy)
After labour changed into nightie with buttons and straps.
Didn't put ds to breast immediately post-labour, should have done, intended to, but I was so out of it and the MW didn't suggest it so...forgot! HOw stupid was that!

[SparklyGothKat]

I was wearing what I arrived at hospital in, minus my maternity jeans and knickers, with my top bunched up under my breasts. I didn't even change into my long t-shirt

[lilolilmanchester]

I wore a regular nightie. To be honest, once you get started, you won't care what you're wearing!! Take some socks tho, my feet got cold.

[mymama]

I wore the same nightie for all 3 births. Didn't get a drop of anything (iyswim) on it.

Have kept it for sentimental reasons.

Do you suppose dd might want to wear if/when she gives birth?

[mamamelly]

I made a big deal of getting my 'labouring' nightie- just something to do i guess, i ended up going to bhs and getting a simple but not matronly cotton nightie with easy access to breastfeed, i wore it when i wasnt pregnant and it made me feel really skinny as it was so baggy!!