To labour in my nightdress

As long as no one is looking, it won't matter if they are off.

Midwives will want to check you and you might be hooked up to machines so might just be more practical to leave them off.

I had my first in a nightie, second one I had my top on as I couldn't move and my third one, I can't remember.

By the time your contractions are coming strong, you won't give a monkeys what you're wearing.

You might have to get on all fours and removing your underwear might be a bit tricky.

Wear what you like, as PP have said, Labour can be a wet experience so if you want to wear underwear and just take them off to be examined (which is completely fine if you do, you’re in control of what you wear) pack a bunch of pairs (then a few more!) because wet ones will not feel great!

The only person that decides what they wear during labour is the woman labouring. When your husband becomes a seahorse and gives birth to future children then he is more then welcome to wear what he wants too then

Wear what is comfy to you. DH is being silly. What does he expect you to wear?

I wore a very loose fitting sleeveless cotton night dress. It was long enough to allow me to cover myself when I wanted to. Like you, I was quite concerned about exposing myself unnecessarily.

I really wouldn’t have been able to be bothered pulling knickers on and off mid labour but it was very easy not to be exposed except when I needed to be.

Ultimately, it’s completely up to you what you wear!

I wore a full outfit both times, trousers and knickers came off just before delivery. I had super fast labours though so to be fair I wasn't in labour for hours. I actually arrived at the hospital and delivered really quickly so there wasn't really time to get changed! Wear what you like. Also don't fret about it now, because when you're in labour you'll do whatever you feel comfortable with.

A hospital gown. Nothing. A bra top or bikini top if you are using a birth pool.

It sounds absolutely fine.

My only advice would be to take several nighties. Labour can be long and messy. I brought 3 outfits to labour in. A t-shirt for comfort, a night nightshirt for the photos and BFing and something from the back of the drawer with a stupid slogan on it that I brought just in case I needed an extra nightie.

The best laid plans...

I had a long labour, got through both nice nighties during labour and ended up wearing the hideous thing last, so it's in all the photos of my newborn. I kick myself every time I see it, and I can't show them to DS till he's old enough to get the stupid joke on the nightie!

So yeah, take lots and nothing you wouldn't mind being photographed in.

The knickers may get in the way, but you can always decide that in the moment, no need for your DH to be getting his knickers in a twist about it.

I knew I wouldn’t want to be naked too OP, and when I was in Labour I was aware of what I was wearing the whole time and would not have been comfortable being naked, despite what plenty of people on here say. I also preferred having knickers on, though I got through about 5 pairs even with sanitary towels in after my waters went! I kept my knickers on until they had to put a clip on the baby’s head for monitoring.

I bought a specific birthing outfit with poppers to allow skin to skin/BF and poppers up the back to allow for access eg for epidural. A number of people thought it was silly but it was essentially a nice hospital gown! And I wore it afterwards as PJs, it was great for night time BF.

I find it odd that your brother has such in-depth knowledge of what his sisters wore in Labour. That’s not a conversation I’ve ever had with my brother!!

Eh, what did DH think you should wear?

I agree not realistic to keep undies on right til crowing though. Midwives/doctors keep an eye on what's going on to keep you and baby safe, this is the case long before you're anywhere close to crowing. Underwear would get in the way.

You will also likely have amniotic fluid, possibly urine and possibly faeces involuntarily leaving you at various points. Plus lots of sweat. Your underwear would be frankly filthy and I can't imagine wanting to continually move to put them back on and off whilst having labour pains! And if you have an epidural or morphine-based painkiller making you wobbly that would be even more difficult.

Wearing a nightie is fine though, loads of people labour in nighties. It will also get filthy like, just to warn you.

I wore a long sleeve nightshirt I was cold during labour so changed from a pj top to a nightshirt.

It’s natural to worry about this prior to labour but you will be totally in your own world whilst it’s happening and won’t care - the staff have also seen everything before so will not be in the slightest bit interested in what you look like or wear. All I’d say is to have a comfy bra underneath because you’ll likely get so hot you’ll want to take your night dress off.

I just wore a vest both times. I was so hot and bothered and by the time it's underway you just don't care about who sees what anymore as your mind is so focused.

Another man trying to tell a woman what to do when he has no experience of it!
Do what you want op, tue midwives won't care

Yes this, Labour is quite a wet experience do take spares if you want.

I posted this dress on the first page it’s so great!

Wear what you like.

Having a sister, does not qualify him to give advice on 'what women should wear in labour'.

And ignore anyone who says "I left my dignity at the door" or similar. I didn't and no one should be expected to.

I had my son wearing a nightdress - a cheap Matalan number but no, I didn't keep my knickers on. Mainly because I was induced and monitored and touched and prodded and I couldn't be arsed taking them on and off every time. My nightie was long enough to cover me up anyway.

But, honestly, by the time it came to breaking my waters I couldn't have given a shit if I was wearing only a tailed buttplug and nipple tassels!

On the main note tho, it's fuck all to do with your husband what you wear to push something out of your vagina.

I laboured in a nightdress with both my pregnancies. I didnt wear any knickers but that was because both times my waters had gone and it was too much effort to keep replacing the pads / knickers when they were soaked. So i took them off for an examination and they just never went back on.

In fact, my DM bought me this set for my second. The nightdress was great for the labour and the trousers / top part has been perfect for post partum. https://www.seraphine.com/en-gb/maternity-nursing-nightwear-bundle/ It's pricey but you can watch out for their sales to get it cheaper.

I wore a knee length nightie. No knickers as my waters broke before Labour both times so I'd have needed a million pairs! I wasn't too hot and my first was born in midsummer

You can wear your nightdress that's OK

You are really really unlikely to care by this point.

It's fine to wear anything you like in the early stages of labour.

At a certain point, you'll probably naturally want to take your clothes off, maybe to the point of keeping a t-shirt on, but you'll almost certainly have your pants off before the baby is crowning!

Just plan for what you think you would like now, but be prepared for your preferences to change. For my first I was naked throughout, I couldn't hear anything on my skin, second was coming quickly so I was pretty much in my clothes bar underwear, third was quick too but I had time at the start to put on a t-shirt / nightdress which I kept on.

So, it was different each time.

It's fine. However they might get uncomfortable once your waters break and they get wet. Even if your waters break while you're not wearing them, they'll get wet as more comes. If you really want to wear them, take spares.

Labour in whatever you want. Your nickers won't stop your baby coming out anyway but you can take them off when you're ready.

I will labour probably butt naked which DP thinks is equally strange. But knows he doesn't really get an opinion unless a person is coming out of him.

But you have to be at least pantless honestly you can have a blanket over your knees/legs but I do think you will be more comfortable with no underwear .