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Childbirth

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

Original poster

What were you wearing (if anything) when giving birth?

182 replies

Pannacotta · 07/05/2007 23:23

I didn't want to be stark naked last time, made me feel quite exposed/vulnerable and I ended up giving birth in an old dressing gown which I had to hold up around me.
Am hoping for a water birth but in case not does anyone have any suggestions of what to wear which gives a bit of privacy but won't get in the way?
Are eg old, big T shirts any good?

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Biglips · 08/05/2007 10:11

i did wore my pjs whilst i had my contractions in hosp (had a induction) but threw up violently so the hosp had to give me their gown.

ThomCat · 08/05/2007 10:30

Naked both times.

I also then got instant skin to skin contact the second they were born and stayed that way for ages after.

Clothes would just irritate me and get int he way and 2nd time round I laboured in the bath at home anyway and like I say they are would also prevent immediate skin-to-skin contact.

gingeme · 08/05/2007 10:35

Started off wearing a big t shirt with my water birth but the water was so warm I took it off. It was stuck to me and felt awful anyway. Plus when you actually get in the water you feel kinda covered up anyway. Good luck with it. Water births are fab

ang772 · 08/05/2007 12:53

I was wearing a t-shirt when I had my son(water birth). when i got out the pool the tshirt was stuck. would have been better with nothing on

mamma2kids · 08/05/2007 12:55

Both times I wore the T shirt I was wearing that morning as didn't have time to change. The second time I barely had time to get me knickers off!

princessmel · 08/05/2007 12:57

I had a naff t shirt on with ds. I was sick on my a doubly naff nightie I'd bought for the birth. I got them in matalan. 2 for £5. It had a teddy in a santa hat on or something similar!
With dd I was wearing a hospital gown. The ones that do up at back. But it was right down low and pulled up high so practically naked. I was very hot.

madamez · 08/05/2007 13:03

A big baggy t-shirt/nightie with Little Miss Naughty on it and hair dye stains down the back. It was an ancient one I couldn't even remember buying, but I found it during a pre-labour clear out of the bedroom, thinking I'd wear it for labour then bin it... but of course I couldn't actually bear to bin it afterwards (it was rucked up far enough not to get too messy) and it's in the memorabilia box along with all the congratulations cards, first pix and the Babygro that we dressed DS in the night he was born, cos I couldn't bear to pass that one on either.

Boco · 08/05/2007 13:07

Well i wore this and these with some peachy lipgloss and a little rouge.

chilledmama · 08/05/2007 13:30

LOL Boco!!!

DrippingLizzie · 08/05/2007 13:33

When I went into hospital to have DS I forgot to take a baggy t-shirt with me. I didn't fancy a surgical gown so asked DH to go to nearby supermarket to get a cheapo t-shirt. 20 minutes later he came back with a black, sparkly Lycra vest which wouldn't have covered my belly button, let alone my fanjita. When I asked DH why he'd bought such an inappropriate top he said "well I thought I'd get you something that you could wear again."
Total and utter fuckwit.

chilledmama · 08/05/2007 13:35

ROFL LIzzie!!!!

ledodgy · 08/05/2007 13:35

dd - a night shirt
ds - The jumper I came in. He came very quickly!

BabyMadwithBump · 08/05/2007 14:14

An old baggy t-shirt with both DS's and MW bined them both time after the birth when getting cleaned up!

nykate · 08/05/2007 16:20

I have several friends in US who have used a binsi birthing skirt and raved. www.birthinbinsi.com

NomDePlume · 08/05/2007 16:22

nowt

ChocolateFace · 08/05/2007 16:25

Do not wear a long sleaved nylon Donna Karan top with a fleece Gap hoody over the top. Ver hot. Very uncomfortable. Very stupid.

bobsmum · 08/05/2007 16:26

Hospital gown both times - don't remember actually getting into them, but then I only brought nice nightwear for after the birth - forgot to bring the manky stuff.

Flamesparrow · 08/05/2007 16:32

Completely starkers both times.

I tend to like bein naked anyway though

tigerschick · 08/05/2007 16:34

An old white vest top and a HUGE tubigrip holding the monitor in place.

Quootiepie · 08/05/2007 16:37

oversized cheap nightdress, but I threw up all over it 1/2 way through and had a hospital gown put on (+ needed open back for epidural). I think I was nudey for a litte after I was sick, but I didn't care

Quootiepie · 08/05/2007 16:39

actually, thinking about it I remember having DS put on me, and there being nothing there - I must have lost the gown when I was asleep So I guess, technically when I gave birth I must have been nudey.

peanutpie05 · 08/05/2007 16:44

I stll had my knickers on when dd made her appearance. M/w wasn't really concetrating and I went alot quicker than she expected ... so got caught on the hop.

Thankfully they were a flimsey little g-string so it proved to be very little resistance!

Think I had an old nightie on too.

cupcakesgalore · 08/05/2007 17:30

One of those open at the back gowns. Started in a huge t-shirt but got uncomfortable with the tens machine bits hanging down etc. With 3rd was starkers in the birthing pool. My inhibitions fly out the window in labour - there's not much dignity left when the m/w and 2 students have had a good rummage around!

turquoise · 08/05/2007 17:55

Old big t shirt here - Gunsn'Roses.

hospital gown for 2nd - cs.

babyonboard · 08/05/2007 18:00

DS - a huge black maternity vest top, I had a black nighty in my birth bag but never even opened the thing
DD - My best wrap dress and tights around my ankles (very fast)