To labour in my nightdress

[Coolsummer25]

I’m due a baby girl late July. I’m a very private person so would like to labour in a nightdress and with my knickers on. Dh thinks I’m being ridiculous and says he’s never heard of woman doing labour this way and that I will be too hot etc.

I felt the same as you.
I wore a bikini top which was perfect. Nightie over the top and only removed my pants at the last minute.
i felt fine - at the end you won’t care.
Consider tying your hair up at the beginning. Have a trim downstairs. Focus on your comfort.

I wore an oversized nightdress with the first. With the second I was in jeans and a t-shirt until about an hour before he was born. Wear whatever makes you comfortable

@WeightoftheWorld I had epidurals with both my births, no suggestion either time of having a catheter. What would be the point of that? Big risk of damaging the urethra I would have thought and you do NOT want anything getting in your way down there during labour! Midwives are used to dealing with wee and poo during labour, all women let it all go during labour.

I wore a nightie both times with my DDs, just ended up with it pulled up to my waist when giving birth. I was freezing the 2nd time around, no way could I have had nothing on!

Second time around midwife had to tell me to remove my knickers as I didn't realise pushing was so imminent. First labour had been much longer and the epidural meant I didn't feel the pressure/urge to push and thought I needed to pass stool when I felt it during second labour. I had removed them for an examination earlier then changed to bikini top to get in the pool.
Maybe you and DH could watch some positive birth story videos together? Lots of YouTube if you look and you'll see women in all manner of outfits.

I suppose I read it as: tempers were high, the future is stressful, unknown and uncertain and the word ridiculous was used. That's how he honestly felt in the moment and they're a real life couple, having real life uncomfortable conversations. Having read further comments (the catheter etc) he is starting to sound a bit of a knob unfortunately.

I spent most of my labour clothed, when I got to 8cms I removed my trousers and knickers and kept my top on. Do it however you want and wear what makes you feel comfortable. Once at pushing stage you will obviously need to take pants off, but can absolutely keep your nightdress on, maybe put a vest underneath, so if you do get hot you will still have a vest on x

My knickers and pyjama bottoms had to be cut off me at pushing time 😂

But labouring in your nightclothes, or swimsuit, or knickers, or birthday suit - all totally normal options

That's what I did.

Years ago, mind but it was fine

I still want to know why he was discussing his wife's birth plan with his sisters

You'll probably need the knickers off at least towards the later stages but yes of course you can wear a nightie, most women wear something, not heard of anyone labouring completely nude?!! I would say wear an old nightie or a very cheap one you don't mind chucking out if it gets too stained though, and if planning skin to skin contact and breastfeeding get one with buttons down

just Rememver you’ll likely want to change if your waters go in them

It will be difficult to have a baby with your knickers on but a nightdress is normal. It may be good to get one with easy access to the front for the skin to skin contact.

I really wouldn't bother with the kickers but a long nightgown with buttons down the front so you can breastfeed easily/do skin to skin would work well, and you could just flip it over your knees if lying down so no one could see up it until an exam was needed. I'd just have a couple of options with you e.g. put sports bra in in case you fancy that option but also nightie. I wore a nightie for the first one and just a tankini top for the second one (water birth). IME the staff are very good about supporting you to keep your dignity despite birth being extremely undignified!

I had one of these! It's brilliant. They did a pack with this, dressing gown and a PJ set.

I actually bought myself a brand new nightie just for the occasion (first time… by the last time my hospital bag was probably just 8,000 maternity pads and some headphones)

He is bossy and over stepping. It is not his concern. Totally 100 percent up to you. Everybody I know wears a hospital gown.

It doesn't matter what you wear - you just need to be comfy. I really can't remember what I wore for DC1 and DC3.

DC2 was much more vivid because I gave birth at the hospital entrance and can clearly remember mulling over whether it was acceptable to pull down my trousers and pants in a public place but at the same time being very aware that, if I didn't, the baby wouldn't be able to get out. Fortunately a midwife arrived in the nick of time, whipped down my trousers and caught DC2 so I didn't need to decide for myself.

Maybe keep your DH away from the birth nightmare stories - lots of births are very straightforward.

I wore a nightgown too but no knickers! How will the midwife check the progress of your dilation and labour and get the baby out with them on? 🙈

With my first I laboured in my clothes for a while, then put a nightie on to actually have him in (I think it was recommended by the hospital to take an old nightdress for labour). It was a long labour and I kept my knicks on for most of it. With my subsequent children I didn’t have time to worry so laboured in whatever I was in (pjs I think) and just took bottoms off as the baby was coming out! You do what makes you feel comfortable, when your DH pushes a baby out he can wear a sports bra and nothing else and be as exposed as he likes 👍

I wore a nightshirt. YOU wear what you want! It's your body going through the experience.

Sounds completely standard. Unless you want to go in a lovely birthing pool in which case I recommend a £2 primark bikini at most.

Actually this isn’t a necessity although it tends to be presented as a fair accompli. With DC 2 and 3 I didn’t have any internal exams to assess dilation. Most people aren’t aware of this - true of many other procedures too.

Honesty when you’re in agony and the thick of it you won’t care what you’re wearing and what you look like and you really shouldn’t.

I laboured mostly in a nightie, it was fine, ended up completely naked as the labour wards are hotter than the fires of hell, couldn’t stand anything touching my skin, I’m a very insecure person and there were students in the room, doctors for my episiotomy and then a whole load of people getting me ready for theatre, I couldn’t have given a shit I was naked 😂 wear whatever you are comfortable with ☺️