To labour in my nightdress

There's nothing wrong with your choice. Boohoo do some really stretchy maternity nighties with buttons which I swear by!
With regards to your pants - even after my waters broke in a big gush at home, the water sort of keeps on coming so I took mine off at the first opportunity because they were soaked. Something worth considering. Plus you might also not like the restrictive feel of pants at that stage. Take spare pairs and don't be disappointed if you change your mind. Your nightie will keep you covered anyway.

This. I thought I'd feel really exposed and vulnerable but by the time DD was coming I genuinely didn't care what I was wearing (ended up being nothing in a pool) or who was there. I just needed to feel unrestricted and get the baby OUT!

Wait, what? 😂

What the fuck

Is he worried you'll flush the baby away?

I wore a vest top with my first in the pool, I didn’t want my knickers on though. Do it however you like!

The second I didn’t make it the to hospital, I had him fully clothed and stood up. my knickers came off so my husband could catch him.

Trust me, you won’t give a crap what you’re wearing when you’re in full blown labour. I ended up basically naked with an open robe on and didn’t even notice.

You both need to go in with less rigid ideas. Go with the flow.

Wear a comfy nightdress/long baggy tshirt and pants if you like. I did the same (no pants though- pointless). They may need to monitor the baby in various ways and when you're uncomfortable and in pain you won't be arsed with putting pants back on all the time. Inhibitions will go right out the window.

Be prepared that you might be so loopy/in pain/hot that you won't give a flying fuck anymore anyway. I laboured with only gas and air and ended up completely naked. I was in agony and so unbelievably hot. I stripped without even knowing what I was doing. You just don't care.

A bit random, but have you thought about a stretchy Maxi dress? I gave birth in one of these the first time around and it was great. I could hoist it up or pull it down to whatever height felt comfortable throughout the labour.

I would ask your DH kindly to stop passing his birth anxieties on to you. If he has a great female family network to chat about these worries then that's great. He doesn't need to be making suggestions about putting bloody catheters in from the get go!

This is true, although not all midwives will wait for consent unfortunately.

Also, I was kept in the waiting area for 3hrs despite being in agony with no pain relief, and I was not admitted until I eventually allowed them to examine me, by which point I was 7cm. So you made need to "consent" to be allowed treatment.

I had a couple of great loose t shirt style nightdresses with buttons at the top for feeding. Brilliant as covered but not too thick/warm. They washed well and did both my deliveries and post partum too. Mine came from mothercare in a two pack. I did wear pants to keep pads in as lots of meconium, very big very cheap full pants from primark i think 😁 had my nursing bra on too. L cup by then so a bit of restraint was useful.

Wear what you want to wear you can always remove stuff as you feel.

I wore the biggest tshirt i could find from primark for both of mine. Ended up naked both times because i was so hot but I didn't really care by that point.

Please ignore your husbands anxiety, it's waaaay too controlling. Do you have a mum/best friend/ sister who can be your birth partner instead?

I was planning to do the same, but then went in the birth pool. Just kept my bra on in there. Had to get out as contractions slowed. They gave me a sheet which stayed over me for the remainder of the labour, only lifted it to examine me. They were very considerate about my modesty, I didn't have to ask.

Wear what you like as long as they can get access for monitors, aids, TENS machine etc . I took a couple of my own nightdresses but soaked through both within an hour when my waters broke so ended up in a hospital gown with a sports bra underneath. I didn’t care at that point and I was able to change into some clean dry pyjamas when I moved to postnatal ward. You may want a nightdress with back access if you want to use a Tens machine or get an epidural.

I also wear a nightdress because I felt more comfortable. However, they will make you remove your underwear and once the pain hits, you won't think about anything other than getting the baby out. I am planning to do the same this time around as well

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I wore a nightie for every labour. Knickers on initially, off when it was business time.

You also don't need to examined if you don't want too.

A lot of posts on this thread about how midwives will 'need' to examine you. They don't need to. Occasionally there is good reason for an examination, but it really doesn't have to be routine. It's totally up to you.

Wear whatever you want.
Don't randomly get cathetised because your partner is paranoid.

Sounds like you and your partner could really benefit from doing a hypnobirthing course.

You can wear what you like. Go in a suit and tie if that's what you wish. Just because you're giving birth doesn't mean you lose all autonomy.
If you want to wear pants then wear pants!

Women welcome to keep their knickers on, examinations are entirely voluntary and knickers only need to be removed for the actual examination (usually once every 4 hours) during an examination any decent midwife will keep you covered with a sheet any way. If you have an epidural may as well leave knickers off as you’ll be less mobile so more of a hassle taking them on and off (but can still remain covered) The midwife usually needs to check the colour of the waters every 30 minutes but usually the waters don’t break until advanced labour in most cases. Many women keep knickers with a pad on until pushing baby out, particularly if they are mobilising as they don’t want to get anything over the floor and easier to see what’s colour vaginal loss is on a pad than just dark coloured knickers

I was in a hoodie and joggers until 10 minutes before my water broke with DD2. I only took them off because I was getting too warm. I was then in a tshirt and knickers, waters went and they ended up cutting off my knickers as I went into a bit of shock and couldn't move.

Labour in what you feel comfortable in. I would highly recommend some of those tena knickers that can be ripped off, just incase. Midwives dont care if you are wrapped up or completely naked. It's your comfort they care about and making sure you get baby out safely.

I wore a nightie in all 3 of my labours. No knickers though… you aren’t flashing your bits at everyone just because you’ve not got knickers on… I kept a sheet over me

To be honest I gave birth many years ago now and what I was wearing for the event didn't really come up .Just as well really as both mine came fast and it never really came up .I'm sure the midwives managed to strip me fast enough .. They and my husband took care of me .

I wore the same nightdress ( from Pippa Dee) during labour and delivery with all 3 of mine. What the hell does your husband think you should wear, or does he want you naked? Tell him you are the one in Labour and will do and wear whatever the you want.

May i suggest taking him to your next midwife appointment and getting her to explain to him. It's about comfort for you. No catheter needed etc

I actually got given a catheter to give birth because I couldn’t wee in front of 2 midwives watching me and they decided I had issues with urinating (it was just stage fright). It was the worst part of the whole experience, so stingy and awful, really wouldn’t recommend it OP. Your husband sounds like he needs help and also gets no say.