What to wear in labour?

sazzybee · 2007-01-24T14:10:10+00:00

Apologies in advance if this is a very stupid question. All the pregnancy books I've got say to wear an old t-shirt. Thing is, I'm so massive that any of my old t-shirts are never going to cover my fanjo and bum. Obviously if I'm in the throes of labour, that's not much of an issue but if I'm walking around in the early stages, I'd like something a bit longer. What did you wear? And do you just bin it afterwards or wash it and wear it again?!

themildmanneredjanitor · 24/01/2007 14:11

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AitchTwoOh · 24/01/2007 14:22

i just wore one of the hospital robes in the end, but i did have a t-shirt nightie thing from primark that opened up the front for ease of bfing to wear. cost about £5, as i recall, and it was good to wear in hospital afterwards as they do keep the wards hot hot hot...

wurlywurly · 24/01/2007 14:23

nothing - let it all hang out

lulumama · 24/01/2007 14:24

long sleeveless nightie, from matalan.. £6

bought two

one got soaked when my waters went, the other stayed on until i delivered, but the blood didn;t wash out

IndigoBlue · 24/01/2007 14:26

I got a 2 pack of cheap nighties from Asda for a few pounds in a large size so the bump fitted in it. One that stops above the knee rather than below so it doesn't get all caught up when in labour. I washed mine after & it was fine but you can always throw it away as is so cheap to buy.

Cappuccino · 24/01/2007 14:29

big nightie from god knows where

didn't wear it again as it was ridiculously huge even for when I was pg

I did buy myself a lovely pair of warm cosy slipper socks though and throughout my labour I was uncommonly pleased with them

I venture to say they made the whole experience far more enjoyable and I have never enjoyed an item of clothing more

marymillington · 24/01/2007 14:30

am having the same dilemma

i am not of the most comfortable starkers variety

last time i had this light cotton kaftanny thing that came to my knees but can i find it? no. must have been binned in the never-having-another-one clearout frenzy that came after

ItsMeMellowma · 24/01/2007 14:33

Huge nightie but ended up giving birth climbing on the bed whilst pulling knickers off at same time

The knickers had "Tickled Pink" write across the front!!

USAUKMum · 24/01/2007 14:34

I wore cheap nighties, that stopped above the knee and had buttons down the front (or half way down) so could put baby to breast once born.

decafskinnylatte · 24/01/2007 14:38

Both times bought lovely new night shirts, both times ended up starkers &both times pictures of new baby & my left nipple circulated Dh's office .

Original poster

sazzybee · 24/01/2007 14:39

LOL at Cappuccino

My mum gave me some fluffy slipper socks for xmas and I must admit my first thought was that they would be handy in labour

I shall get my arse down to Primark and Matalan and see what I can find - I don't know why that didn't occur to me. My mum's going to be at the birth so until I'm in so much pain I don't care and hopefully she won't be looking too much, I'd like to keep a bit covered up!

OP posts:

decafskinnylatte · 24/01/2007 14:41

p.s. regardelss of what you end up wearing during, would def. get some nice PJs/nightshirt for afterwards (as if anything like me will be living in them for a while). Hush does some scrummy ones. Think the website is Hush-UK.co.uk.

AitchTwoOh · 24/01/2007 14:43

aaah, now my consultant told me not to wear socks during labour... apparently when the midwives see socks they start taking bets on it turning out to be a CS. they feel there is a correlation somehow, possibly self-fulfilling if you've bet on a 'yes'...

Mumpbump · 24/01/2007 14:44

I wore one of dh's t-shirts which I just washed afterwards. Someone also said to make sure I had socks as apparently your feet can get cold. Can't remember now...

LittleMamaT · 24/01/2007 15:30

I had DS1 in the crazy hot summer of 2003 and as soon as I got to the hospital I ripped all my clothes off and insisted on being starkers. Fine until I had to walk down a long corridor to the birthing pool room - the poor midwife kept trying to cover me up to protect my modesty ( apparently there were one or two uncomfortable looking dads hanging around so perhaps she was trying to protect them too!)and I kept pushing her away. Must have been a truly awful sight.

lorie · 24/01/2007 17:05

I got a baggy nightie from m & s. Was good as it had buttons down the front, ready for that 'skin on skin'. It ended up being covered in blood and baby poo- so don't bother spending a lot of money.

Oh and take 2 or 3 more nighties for after.

sockmonkey · 24/01/2007 17:18

Deffinately wear socks... I did the second time, and my feet were lovely & warm.

I wore a big sleepshirt, got it cheap so I could throw it away after, but as the blood came out when I washed it, it's now lurking in a drawer.

Sheraz · 24/01/2007 17:21

A hospital gown and slipper sox.

NotAnOtter · 24/01/2007 17:29

whatever it is you will rip it off in a rage!

LadyOfTheFlowers · 24/01/2007 17:36

you can usually get huge kaftans at markets- if you can stand the cigarette smoke and hum of burger vans. (ours is an indoor market)
i went naked as i had 2 waterbirths and i think i would have gone naked anyway for the actual birth bit.
in the run up i had a nightie which was just an oversized t shirt really from asda. it was skin tight across the belly and boobs but long enough to cover my fanjo. short at the back (fat arse!) but had dressing gown on to cover that, undone.

laundrylover · 24/01/2007 17:38

I just wore an old T shirt and then the MWs asked if I wanted to take it off when I started pushing so that I could have skin to skin - didn't worry about being naked at all as it just seemed right. DP took his top off and had skin to skin too which the MWs loved. I too had my FIL and friends looking at pics of tiny baby head and HUGE boob!!!

Second time I had a homebirth turn into a hospital one and just pulled on what was on my clothes chair - a black sequinned top which then, due to a drip in my hand, I got stuck with for the birth! It was all bunched up around my neck whilst a poo covered baby fed for 40 mins! Washed fine and still go out in it tho.

laundrylover · 24/01/2007 17:38

I just wore an old T shirt and then the MWs asked if I wanted to take it off when I started pushing so that I could have skin to skin - didn't worry about being naked at all as it just seemed right. DP took his top off and had skin to skin too which the MWs loved. I too had my FIL and friends looking at pics of tiny baby head and HUGE boob!!!

Second time I had a homebirth turn into a hospital one and just pulled on what was on my clothes chair - a black sequinned top which then, due to a drip in my hand, I got stuck with for the birth! It was all bunched up around my neck whilst a poo covered baby fed for 40 mins! Washed fine and still go out in it tho.

elibumbum · 24/01/2007 21:02

I wore an oversize t-shirt (dark colour) and warm socks. I felt cold and shivery during transition. I only got really hot when I was pushing. Take a flannel so your birth partner can mop your brow with cold water! I'm a bit of a prude and said I was never going to be naked - but as soon as DS was born the midwife yanked off my t-shirt for skin to skin contact. My modesty came back about 2 months later!

FluffyMummy123 · 24/01/2007 21:03

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funnypeculiar · 24/01/2007 21:07

DS - one of dh's t-shirts - he still wears it regularly - makes me feel simultaneously
DD - came too quickly to change out of t-shirt I went to hospital in - only just got my knickers off (although mw did comment on how nice & frilly they were )