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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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PinkTulips · 12/05/2007 13:35

upwind, my skirt and string top outfit looked exactly nlike that and didn't cost loads of dosh

pmsl at cutting you knickers off luna

mrsmalumbas · 12/05/2007 13:36

I had a doula client once who arrived at hospital wearing a lacy black vest top, a sarong style skirt, and sunglasses perched on top of her head. She looked so glamorour and serene, just pausing in the lobby to have a mahoosive contraction with much moaning and heavy breathing, much to the consternation of everyone visiting etc. She was already in strong labour and her waters had broken at home which is why I met her at the hospital instead of going to her place first. Anyway, baby was born exactly 6 minutes later, mum was on her hands and knees on the floor having only just made it to the labour ward. Fully dressed. And she still had her sunglasses perched on top of her head.

lunavix · 12/05/2007 14:49

PT -

I was kneeling on the floor as it felt most comfortable (I was in a right pain haze) but dh was trying to get me onto the bed even though the midwife was telling him that the position I was in was best to give birth. So I was refusing to lift my knees up to let her take them off incase he pulled me on the bed so she had to cut them off

lunavix · 12/05/2007 14:50

For some reason there was a lot of blood with DD - looked like a set from a Tarantino movie. Afterwards the MW wafted the knickers at me and asked if I wanted them back I declined

PinkTulips · 12/05/2007 16:33

ouch, was the opposite with ds. dp was the one fighting my corner as he knew i wanted to deliver on my knees but the mws made me turn over to chheck me as they didn't believe i needed to push. of course at that point the head crowned and i couldn't turn back over as i was convinced i'd break ds's neck!

Donkeyswife · 12/05/2007 21:15

I bought a pair of special 'maternity' pj's which were rubbish - well the bottoms were okay but obviously weren't on for long. But the top a vest type thingy - well what can I say - obviously built for an about to give birth size 0 person. Didn't keep it on for long and ended up giving birth starkers which didn't bother me at all as had lost all inhibitions after being in labour for hours!

Next time it'll be a big t shirt.

forgottenfreetime · 12/05/2007 22:09

First birth - in hospital -Mothercare maternity nightshirt.
Second birth - home water birth - vest top.

Big t shirts tend to float in the water and get cold. You might want to think about something a bit more clingy.

dontgetmestarted · 12/05/2007 22:34

i was fully clothed, as Edie arrived very quickly. hardly had time to get my trousers down.

mummyto2littleprincess · 13/05/2007 00:44

i just wore the nighty that i took in the hospital with me but i took another 2 change into after

LAURACOLLEY · 14/05/2007 11:21

i wore a t shirt. i still wear it now

Chelseamum · 14/05/2007 11:23

an ugly mothercare wide cotton something... i chucked it straigh away!

Gingerbear · 14/05/2007 11:31

An old scuba diving teeshirt with the logo:

'Remember when sex was safe and diving was dangerous?"

bev27 · 14/05/2007 12:37

Oscar was born a bit too quickly so I was pushing sitting in a chair fully clothed knickers and all!!!

editor100 · 14/05/2007 12:39

I went to primark and bought a £2 nightshirt (with buttons so I could put my baby to my breast as soon as possible). Even though you have very little when you give birth, I wanted to keep some dignity!

melrose · 14/05/2007 12:40

Hospital issue gown, let them do the washing!

hayes · 14/05/2007 12:42

hospital gown my waters had already broken over my own nightshirt

madmarchhare · 14/05/2007 20:21

Another Primark nightshirt here

Mojomummy · 14/05/2007 21:12

DD1 a new look t-shirt & spent the labour laying down

DD2, a very unattractive beige stretchy bra.
I actually threw my shorts, knickers & t-shirt off & jiggled around leaning on the bed, whilst the poor midwife crouched down looking upwards at it all. Labour was about 45mins, fortunately for her ( I had terrible piles)

suis · 14/05/2007 21:48

I took a carefully selected loose cotton maternity shirt in my hopsital bag. I was then shoved into a hopsital gown as soon as I arrived and couldn't have cared less what I was wearing at that point.

Twinklemegan · 14/05/2007 21:52

I gave my DH strict instructions NOT to let me end up topless/naked even if I claimed not to care. And he did have to remind me of that. I'm so grateful to him - it's all embarassing enough already.

Wotzsaname · 14/05/2007 21:55

eg old Big Tshirts are great.

Pannacotta I didn't have a water birth. But wear something you feel comfortable in, no-one but you, will remember what you wore.

I wore a big Tshirt with dd1, that meant alot to me at the time. It gave me strength because I had worn it through some tough times in my life prior to being pregnant.

It was bright orange and I look at the pictures and I am glad I wore it to this day! Even though I don't look like a magazine photo pic, I know and can remember how I felt inside....fantastic!

lucy5 · 14/05/2007 21:57

Dd a big tshirt nighty thing.
DS a hospital gown [thats what you have to wear if you are a Marbella belle)

Spidermama · 14/05/2007 21:57

DHs shirts. I'm not the vain type but I remember every time fleeting concerns about my appearance.

Paula Yates used to buy a dress especially for the birth. I found it ridiculous at the time, but now I can see where she was coming from.

LowFatMilkshake · 14/05/2007 22:03

I wore a big M&S nightie with a cat on it for both my births - still wear it occasionally now two - shall never ever part with it!

Dh bought it for me before we even married!

Brangelina · 14/05/2007 22:09

I unfortunately puked over my "birthing" t-shirt upon staggering into the delivery room and ended up having to wear my brand new crisp nighty that I was saving for the post birth photos.
I didn't think to bring a second spare and when I asked DP to bring me a fresh baggy t shirt from home he arrived with this skimpy midriff baring thing. Not quite the thing for a sedate hospital ward post c-section.
I ended up with the same by now rancid, blood and milk spattered nightie for all 4 days of my hospital stay, I don't remember ever having smelt so bad and I'm sure my room mate's visitors sniffed as they entered the room .
The moral of the story? If your other half's anything like mine (after 4 years co-habiting he still didn't know the location of my t-shirt drawer!) always take loads more t-shirts than you need.