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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

What to wear in labour/giving birth?!

64 replies

NoTeaForMe · 24/08/2010 23:22

Hi,

I bought a pack of 2 nighties (long t-shirt type ones) from primark at the weekend and I also bought a pair of PJ's. I saw they had long shirt like nighties too and it has now occurred to me that perhaps they would be better as I'm intending on breast feeding and having skin to skin contact after birth. Do you think the nighties I have bought are ok or should I get some buttoned ones?

What do people normally wear in labour and afterwards?

Thanks in advance!

OP posts:

NonnoMum · 24/08/2010 23:27

A £2 nightie from Primark did me fine. Don't worry about the design, buttons or not, just make sure you have some lovely pjs for afterwards...

Original poster

NoTeaForMe · 24/08/2010 23:41

I'm not worried about the design at all - pretty shocking actually! The query about the buttons was really about ease of breastfeeding and skin to skin straight after giving birth. Would it be easier to have a buttoned shirt than a t-shirt?
Probably a really silly queston!

OP posts:

BranchingOut · 24/08/2010 23:41

Don't worry too much about it - probably best to not worry at all and just put on a hospital gown!

However, remember to take off your bra. I forgot and had to ask my husband to cut it off as I was so hot and uncomfortable, but had drips in both arms by that point.

Marjee · 24/08/2010 23:42

I wore a strappy maternity top and bra, only just made it in time to take off my jeans and knickers so the new nighties I'd bought stayed in my hospital bag! Sorry thats probably not much help

Original poster

NoTeaForMe · 24/08/2010 23:43

That should say they are pretty shocking !!

OP posts:

Honeydragon · 24/08/2010 23:44

I wore (till I thew it off to get in the pool) a baggy black t-shirt with

shit happens when you party naked

on it.

Cheered up the Midwife

Honeydragon · 24/08/2010 23:47

Oh and I remembered to take off my bra with dd (learnt after ds).

Branchingout, that as a tip should really be in the birth guides. I was well fucked of when I had to take my bra off with the drip in with ds .

NonnoMum · 24/08/2010 23:50

And maybe a spare one in case it gets a bit, er, sweaty...

Original poster

NoTeaForMe · 24/08/2010 23:52

Will 2 nighties and PJ's not be enough then Nonno ?

OP posts:

DancingThroughLife · 24/08/2010 23:53

When I saw the list of what to take, I thought the pjs were for afterwards...

In the event, I didn't wear anything. Couldn't be bothered putting anything back on after I'd taken my 'outside' clothes off, but I don't think the afterwards part entered my head at the time. I was too busy concentrating on finding the drugs breathing calmly through the pain.

Like nonno and branching said, don't worry about it too much. See what happens and how you feel when you get there.

NonnoMum · 24/08/2010 23:57

Yes, don't worry about it too much. for my second labour, the nightie went straight in the bin afterwards (lots of skin-to-skin straight after (or skin-to-nightie!!)) but then for my third labour I didn't even have time to get my dress off.

good luck with everything...

WickedWitchSouthWest · 25/08/2010 00:01

I had dc1 in an old nightie and dc2 8 weeks ago in a bra. Far easier for skin on skin straight after if you don't have to strip off! And it was a pretty big bra anyway

For after I had a couple of cheapy nighties. Was advised when having dc1 not to take pj's since a: it's bloody hot in the hospital and b: it's a pain to pull them down it you're being examined alot.

Don't fret though, you'll be too busy giving birth to care :)

stressheaderic · 25/08/2010 00:03

I wore a leopardy-print number with neon pink trim from Matalan. Told midwife (under influence of gas and air) that I wanted to "bring a bit of glamour to the proceedings"

Put clean nightie on after the birth with lovely fluffy new dressing gown, and own snuggly blanket from home, which DP thought to bring with him ALL BY HIMSELF.

spiderlight · 25/08/2010 00:08

A Def Leppard t-shirt :o

LooL00 · 25/08/2010 08:45

I just wore what i happened to be wearing at the time and took my knickers off. This business of having to change into a nightie when you get to hospital is a bit wierd IMHO, you're not going to bed ,you're giving birth.

reikizen · 25/08/2010 08:58

Yes, definately take the old bra off before things get going as it is a right old faff once drips are in or you are sat in a puddle waiting for the placenta! A t shirt is fine, the midwife can post baby down there for skin to skin, although for bfing access to a breast is pretty essential (you'd be amazed how many women have not thought about this!)
LooLOO, I don't think you 'have to' change into a nightie, just something that will allow the baby out and the staff access to the essential areas!! Although I am amazed by the amount of women who wear PJs on the post natal ward, but most women where I work spend all day at home in PJs anyway so they are starting as they mean to go on!

porcamiseria · 25/08/2010 09:57

ha ha this remind me of when I was PG first time, you end up in hosp gown alot of the time, and when push comes to shove you dont care!!!

StarlightMcKenzie · 25/08/2010 10:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

susitwoshoes · 25/08/2010 10:06

it was so hot in the hospital I was in that I wore a stretchy vest that I could pull down for feeding and pj bottoms. Wore T shirt and pj bottoms during first bit of labour then into hospital gown later.
Can't remember what I did about my bra, my boobs were massive (still are!) so prob kept it on until had to go into gown for epiidural, my drips went into my hands so it was easy for them to detach me I think. God, really can't remember, it was only 8 months ago!
Oh, and get some primark knickers.

beancounting · 25/08/2010 13:21

What did women do before Primark?! I had a cheapie nightshirt (with buttons) from there - the plan was to wear it over stretchy yoga style leggings for the early stages and then whip the bottoms off when necessary. In the event I had that outfit on for about 10 minutes and was naked thereafter - clothes just seemed like a big faff at that stage!

So I wore the nightshirt on the postnatal ward instead and it was great for skin to skin (had it unbuttoned for most of my stay!) - so I would recommend something buttoned (of course you could just take a normal top off for skin to skin but with a shirt it's easy to reassemble yourself quickly, eg when visitors turn up etc).

One final point; it might be worth packing for the Sahara if your postnatal ward is as warm as mine - it was horribly sticky and I felt grotty enough as it was.

getstuffed · 25/08/2010 13:29

hosp gown first time so presume it will be that second time too x

notanumber · 25/08/2010 13:50

Are you planning on an epidural? Because if so, foget about nighties (pretty or otherwise) as you'll have to wear a hospital gown for that.

mrspear · 25/08/2010 14:01

A bright pink nightie with mini mouse on the front - hubbie found it in the 24hr Asda as had no bag (was 30 weeks)

As for skin to skin - just pull the neck out and slide baby underneath (midwife will help~)

Octaviapink · 25/08/2010 14:06

I took three big t-shirts to labour in, threw up over all of them and finished the job in just my bra. There comes a point where you really, really don't care what you're wearing!

Lastyearsmodel · 25/08/2010 14:08

I think nightie with buttons down is a good idea as you can preserve what modesty you have left during labour then unbutton straight afterwards for skin-to-skin and BF. Yes, you will want something nice for after your bath, but you won't want to do that straight away. Both of mine have fed for ages straight after the birth and you really don't care about getting changed too soon. Plus if you're having a physioloigcal 3rd stage you could be waiting for the placenta for 30 mins or so.

Spare nightie a good idea as when mw broke my waters with DS she neglected to tell me to pull up my nightie so it got soaked.

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