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

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 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!!

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.

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

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.

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!

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

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

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.

As my much as I am "whatever works for you", I think popping them on and off is unrealistic as you have no idea what your labour is going to be like, what position is going to work best for you etc

I wore an oversized t-shirt. Most women do. The only time I was exposed was when being examined or pushing. Rest of the time I was covered.

He only had the conversation because we had just talked about my hospital bag and labour outfit. He thinks I should wear a sports bra at the top nothing on the bottom for ease of the midwife.

I also didn’t want to be too exposed and I absolutely did care even in the throes of labour. At one point a doctor and big group of people had to come in to check on something, I was examined but nobody bothered to re-cover me and had to ask about 3 times ‘Please can I have a blanket over me I’m feeling really exposed!’ even though I was about 9cm dilated and trying to breathe through painful contractions.

Nightie is fine. I think DC1 was hospital gown, DC2 naked as I was so, so HOT 😰 and DC3 was definitely nightie which wasn’t a great idea when I was wired up to be fair. I’d probably say no knickers as you might be bleeding or leaking but it really sounds fine.

With my youngest, I wore a maternity dress without underwear. I had a light blanket over me so I wasn't exposed at all. But he's my third child so by that one I didn't care anyway 😂

I did this with my labours, obviously had to take my knickers off for exams and at the end but was fine to keep them on for walking around etc. Once my waters went with dc2 I had to wear the net knickers with a pad as i was still up and about.

You may wear whatever you like and change into something else if you want to. Your husband should support your choices. When you're at the height of your contractions, feel free to tell him what you think of his opinions. :)

I planned to wear a nightie but in the end, in the moment, I ended up naked. But loads of people will labour in a night shirt / big t shirt. It’s your labour, your body, and it’s you who needs to be comfortable.

I would say wear what you like/go with how you feel at the time. It's not up to anyone else but you, and the midwives to some extent.

I'd buy a few button up ones

I laboured in one of DH’s t shirts so basically the same. I think at some point it switched to a hospital gown either when I had an epidural or when I got prepped for an emergency c section (can’t really remember the timeline). Quite normal to wear something, unless perhaps you have a water birth. I’m not sure you’ll be too fussed on the underwear once you’re in labour, but no reason to not wear them I think, until you start pushing or need to be examined.

I was hot and intermittently shivering cold with my second two so had a dressing gown on but tbf they were at home, in winter, and unbelievably the boiler broke BOTH times! You might not be too hot. But probably won't be so cold in hospital.

Agree that knickers won't stop your baby coming out anyway, just don't wear jeans! Loose knickers is fine

The midwife is there to help you not vice versa. She won’t mind at all what you are wearing.

Great minds! It took me so long to write my comment whilst wrangling the baby, i hadn't even seen your post! 🤣🙈

Edited to add - that was meant to quote @Tospyornottospy !

Erm I'm not sure why he has an opinion on this! I wore a medium length night shirt (like a very long t shirt) but you will need to have your knickers off. Honestly after the first examination you probably won't even think about being able to put them back on.