To labour in my nightdress

I wore a bikini with DC1 as I was in a pool for 10hrs. With bottoms ON.

With DC2 i was in a nightie but no knickers as actually I lost all inhibitions by that point.

But I found the whole thing worried me no end before hand. The thought of breast feeding freaked me out, skin to skin contact made me feel horrible when I thought about it. So on that basis I didn't hold the babies until they'd been wiped and cleaned and don't remember if they were naked or not I'd had so many drugs.

You have to make labour as close to the scenario you want as possible. Good luck OP

I think this may not be a valid reason to be catheterised!😂

This is what i planned to do but the staff took off all my clothes "in case of a c section" and i was in too much pain from contractions to fight them off. I was given a flimsy gown but let me tell you, hospitals are COLD. I was fucking freezing and shivering non stop for HOURS, it made the whole ordeal much worse than it needed to be. I'm an assertive person but I was in too much pain to put anything back on myself. I kept telling them I was freezing and they denied it and said it was just adrenaline.

So wear what you like and make sure he is on board with supporting you before you enter the hospital. His job is to help you not to be telling you what to do, if he can't understand that he's a controlling misogynist with no place in the labour ward.

I truly think giving birth when i was ice cold probably contributed to my tearing too.

Not that I'm bitter or anything.

with first had nightie on as I was in hospital for few days before so just went from ward to birthing room. when my waters were broken got soaked so was given a hospital gown which was also needed for an epidural later on.
with my 2nd labour was so quick stayed in my dress just took knickers off then changed into a nightie later as she was born just before midnight

He really doesn't know much!

Everyone I know (who I've discussed it with!) wore t shirts or night shirts. I'm pretty sure I kept my knickers and leggings on until access was needed!

I think he needs to work on his anxiety. Midwife here, we would never catheterise someone in normal labour because their husband was worried they’d have the baby in the toilet! It’s an infection risk. If you happen to go into the bathroom during labour let the midwife know if something changes while you’re in there! Some women do like to labour on the loo.

I wonder if your husband's unreasonable "demands" are making you overthink & anxious?

If it’s long enough then you won’t need to worry about not having knickers on! Trust me, when you’re in labour you won’t care!

I don't remember taking my pants off tbh. I suppose I must have done at some point but honestly, in labour, what you are wearing is the least of your worries.

I had my first at home unexpectedly & arrived at hospital sans pants!

I doubt a pair of paper (surgical?) ones have ever been more welcome!

I wore a long top/t-shirt the entire time (although I ended up hitching it up for most of the time).

I wore underwear initially but they have to keep checking how diliated you are and it’s easier to keel them off.

Someone told me that you leave your dignity at the door and they couldn’t have been more right!
But the midwives are amazing and honestly don’t care.

Your DH needs to chill out with his anxiety else he’s going to make you a nervous wreck!

Tell him that you will wear whatever makes you feel comfortable and that if he carries on trying to scare you or tries to tell you what you should do, then he can stay outside and not be present during labour/the birth.

It’s really important to have someone supportive during labour and birth.
If you don’t have that person then it’s better to go in alone.

Did I read this right? He's discussing your birthing plan with his sisters?

Also, until your husband pushes a person out he gets no opinion. Zero. DH learnt very early on that he was unlikely to survive labour if he tried to tell me what might help.

I'm an extremely private person and normally dress very modestly. However, during labour I ended up in just a bra, and I literally did not care at all. It was so intense I don't think I gave a single thought to what I looked like.

Tell him to piss off and mind his own business, unless you’re going to insist he wear a three piece and tie at the time!! You won’t give a shiny shit what you’re wearing when it starts. I’m an insanely private person and my dignity got left at the labour room door. Good luck!

If you want to wear pants take LOADS of spares. They just get wet all the time.

If he thinks you should just get a catheter in he’s really showing off his ignorance! The catheter would make it harder to move around and moving around reduces your chance of needing interventions.

I wore a very baggy nightie and knickers for my second labour. First time around it all went too fast and I think I was still wearing a t shirt.

I wore a night dress to labour in, didn’t realise women laboured naked, other than in a pool. 🤔

You'll need to take your knickers off before the baby crowns. The midwives need to be able to see as soon as you start pushing so nightdress is fine but it will be up higher nearer your waist. You will not want to have to think about knickers in between contractions, and by that point you'll be too distracted to care anyway.

This takes me back to being 15 and having my appendix removed. I was going down to theatre and still had my knickers on, no one had mentioned anything about it. I remember taking them off and stuffing them down the side of the bed. I wish someone had made it clear from the outset. This was some time ago so hopefully communication is clearer now.

I agree with wearing whatever you are comfortable in.

And once in transition you REALLY won't care about knickers!

It’s weird behaviour tbh.

It’s fuck all to do with him what you wear/don’t wear OP. Tell him to give himself a shake.

I was still in my work clothes! The trousers and knickers had to come off - they were wet from waters leaking. Think I kept my blouse on for some odd reason! Either way you honestly won't care about modesty as you'll be in the zone focused on the task in hand.
Also knickers would've been pointless as they'd only end up soggy with waters, plug etc and changing knickers repeatedly wasn't something I wanted to be doing.
You probably will want to go to the loo a lot as your body gets rid of any waste prior to birth - I recall pooing a lot. And I can see why your husband might be worried the baby will end up in the toilet but it's highly unlikely - you get some warning before it pops out!

I bought a big cheap! shortish nightdress (it will get messy) to wear.

Wear what you want. Pyjamas would be inconvenient obviously but there's nothing wrong with a nightie.