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.

You will seriously not be able to keep your knickers on - they will be doing checks on how dilated you are and you'll be in no state to pull them off and on again. I also went through labor in a nightie. Twice. The second time a midwife actually said "lets get her nightie off" and I said "over my dead body lady, it stays on" and it did.

Do as you like.

It's very unlikely you'll care in the slightest at a certain point.

In regard to what your dh is saying about making the midwife's job easier - the midwife is there to help you, make you feel comfortable and will work around your preferences as much as is practical and safe. A nightdress is not problematic. They want you as relaxed as possible, not stressing.

My waters broke at home and by the time I was in hospital (the morning after) I had gotten through every pair of knickers I owned and all the maternity pads! Constant random gushes and was probably the part of labour I disliked the most 🤣 the nightie would be nice and comfy though I imagine

I'd love to know how having someone's hand up you keeps the baby safe?

My baby came quickly. Had a tshirt dress on and knickers and was still standing waiting for a bed when baby's head was born. Obviously removed the knickers but I wouldn't worry!!!

I wore a nightdress. No knickers though. Your midwife will need to check you and it will be a right pain getting knickers on and off.

Only thing I'd recommend it that the night dress had easy access to your elbows in case they need to put in a cannula. I had a 3/4 sleeve one which was annoying, warm and needed to be changed.

I wore a night dress until I was changed into a robe for an EMCS. I honestly can't remember if I kept putting knickers on and off.

P sure you can wear whatever so long as you remove your knickers for the actual birthing part (and any consented vaginal examinations)

I spent most of my labour in my comfy pregnancy pyjamas 🤷‍♀️

This might not be a good idea. A midwife can see whats happening with your vagina / vulva by looking. It gives an idea of how far on you may be.
For my first labour i wore my pants for a long time as I had to wear a pad because my waters were constantly leaking. However, once in active labour, I couldnt even stand to have anything between my legs.
with my second, after the midwife examined me and told me I was ready to push I couldnt even stand to wear my top and gave birth naked. If anyone had told me Id have done that before hand Id have laughed at them for being so ridiculous!
You might need a few tops to wear if youre in Labour a long time - I suggest wearing a soft crop top type bra, baggy t shirt and shorts type PJs. Take plenty of pants too!

Your husband can wind his neck in, frankly. Wear what you like.

I wore a sports bra and big t-shirt that kept me covered. No knickers (that I can recall!) but the t-shirt meant I wasn’t exposed.

What you feel anxious about now will go out of the window when you’re in labour. By the end I would have performed a striptease and gleefully showed my bits to the hospital cleaner if it had meant getting my baby out safely/quicker/easily! Looking back it was an overall positive experience. I’m almost envious you’re going to be going through it yourself soon!

And wear whatever the f* you want x

@Coolsummer25 I honestly can't remember what I was wearing to have the DC. Do know that the first labour was long so I assume I changed clothes during that. And I was reasonably covered for most of it. No reason not to wear a nightie and knickers. Or large t shirt/maternity t shirt and knickers.

I bought breastfeeding nightdress for afterwards. in hindsight I should have bought a couple more nighties as they need a daily wash in the early days post pregnancy

Your breasts will be huge so you'll have to buy one specially

Not necessarily @PrincessTeaSet . My small boobs didn't increase in size when pregnant. I just went up a band size.

As a midwife, I've seen women labour in all kinds of outfits! You should wear whatever feels comfortable, however trying to fiddle around with taking knickers off while baby is actively crowning doesn't seem very practical. So maybe once you start pushing you might want them off.

I dress modestly for religious reasons so I can sympathize with you.

For myself I wore a nightie that buttoned down the front. I eventually just left my knickers off and my nightie covered me so I still felt comfortable.

Putting a catheter in because your husband is worried you'll give birth in the toilet is absolutely bonkers. By that logic you should just be tied to the bed 'just in case'.

He needs to calm down and stop making this into such an issue! It's really not. Wear what you like and your team will work around/with you. If you think about it some people go into labor at work, fully dressed and somehow we are still able to deliver their babies. I'm sure your midwife can handle a pair of knickers haha.

I bought a cheap t shirt nightie for mine. Ended up completely naked each time! Just couldn't cope with being restricted.

I laboured in my night dress, and kept my knickers on for quite a while. At some point when my midwife came to check on me she asked, "how attached are you to these knicks?" "Not at all", "Can I cut them off then? It'll be easier" 😅

You don't have too have any checks for dilation unless you want them.
In two labours I didn't have them. I did check myself out of curiosity though.

Your body and it's up to you what you allow in labour and what you wear.

I laboured in a nightdress and pants (and a pad as my waters were just leaking for ages). Had to change out of the nightdress and pants and into a hospital gown when I was going for an emergency c-section. He might be right about it being hot (mine was end of November and I was boiling) but if you’re comfortable then it’s up to you.

Do not agree to a catheter unless you actually need one. You’re basically just increasing the chance of a urine infection, there’s absolutely no need for one. Unless the midwives advise it (I had urine retention and just couldn’t wee for absolutely hours so had to have one)

Midwives and obstetricians don't "put their hand up" just for fun. And in a fairly straightforward labour they don't even do that anyway - they just look to see how things are progressing.

You must have the longest arms in the world

This!

Whilst I was happy to have exams in labour I hate a lot of the language used here- ‘You’ll have to be checked and examined’ ‘They will need to examine you regularly’ They can only examine you with your permission and some women opt to not have routine examinations in certain circumstances. And a PP commenting that midwives often ‘don’t bother getting consent’ for vaginal exams, umm that’s literally assault so is definitely not okay. Informed consent always in labour and birth.

I’ve had 3 babies and only had my dilation checked in one (my first) labour.

(due to circumstances rather than choice; I didn’t turn it down)

I think you should wear whatever you’re comfortable with. From experience I wouldn’t worry about modesty during labour. You may be very physically exposed when giving birth (I know I was) but it doesn’t matter. Once you’re pushing, if all is well you’ll be just be focussed on birthing well.

I wore a long tshirt.
However, your husband seems to be listening more to others about labour than the one person giving birth to his child.
A catheter? Tell him to get off google and stop discussing your labour plans with other people!

Have you thought about a water birth? Being in the water definitely feels more private and you can still have a top on.