What to wear during labour?

[MiracleBaby2022]

I'm just packing my hospital bag and wondering if the two huge t-shirt/dresses type things I bought were the right choice. Should I have bought the button-down-front ones instead so they can lay the baby directly on my skin straight after birth?

Loads of nice loungewear, PJs and nighties in matalan if you’re thinking of treating yourself OP x

I went in a vest top and shorts but was fully naked after about 2 hours and literally didn't care at all (which is super unlike me!)

I arrived at hospital in a vest top and maternity trousers. I was wearing those until I had a massive bloody show. Was quite happy to mooch about completely starkers for a bit until I had a midwife running behind me with a hospital gown. Although I insisted we're all women my husband carefully slipped it over me 😂

I have no idea what I wore, just whatever it happened to be that day :p think I ended up naked anyway.....

I definitely didn't want to be naked beforehand and although a few mums told me I wouldn't care that never came true...was very glad of being covered up by maternity clothes.

Hospital gowns open at the back which isn't good for walking around if you don't have underwear on (my waters were broken for me, and with regular checks for dilation I didn't bother wearing any). I remember walking round with the drip stand holding my gown together at the back

With my second I bought huge oversized button down shirt style nighties I felt slightly more dignified then.

I had a c section but took a big nightshirt with a nice pattern I'd bought from house of Fraser lol. It came in handy for when the bounty woman came round although I only agreed to be in one picture as I looked a state

@beanbaghashtag haha it seems everyone's ending up naked! 🙈

@Therealrealitystar maxi dresses seem like a good idea !

@Asiama oh that looks like a great dress for labour. Never really considered anything as long as that until this thread. Couple of people have mentioned maxi dresses

@Mackmama thank you, I've just bought a whole load from happy mama, will post later once I decide what to keep!

@sasbiscuit @Chanel05 @showersandflowers naked seems to be the way!! 😄

@WTF475878237NC I've noticed the delivery gowns I've ordered are made of a very cool material, I actually feel freezing cold in them, so hopefully that'll help keep mine on rather than off too 😅

@dowhattyougotttado the thought of being in an nhs gown with my bum showing is somehow much less appealing than being naked - they're awful aren't they!

Option 1:

So I had my delivery today. Here's the first gown/dress, they dont call it a labour/delivery gown but it's the nicest one and apart from the narrower section at the bottom of the dress, I can't see why it wouldn't be suitable for labour.

It's made of a cooling fabric.

Option 2:

These are actually called labour delivery gowns. Very cooling material.

And then lastly got one of these for hanging out in after birth:

I'm keeping this last one, but not sure which delivery gowns to keep 🤔

Does option 1 pull up over your bump easily? Either way, option 2 looks better to me.
You might now even wear the one you think though. I liked one of my labour nighties so much, I wore it for the last few weeks of pregnancy. It was in the wash when I went to be induced so I had to wear a spare one I bought and didn’t really like. I was told when to put it on, and even though it was June, never felt like it was too warm or that I needed to take it off. I did end up wondering why I still had my socks on though. I didn’t realise the hospital recommended it until afterwards.
I would definitely bring a couple of pairs of pyjama bottoms or maternity leggings. A normal hoodie was enough coverage for me, but you want back up trousers in case of leaks.

@TangledNemo option 1 looks tight but actually it isn't at all, it doesn't restrict anything other than the view. It can be pulled up easily and is very stretchy. It also has pockets and is overall a much nicer gown than option 2. But the delivery gowns have buttons all the way down the front,whereas this first gown has it on the back.

I do have 2 cheap giant t-shirt dresses too, which I've packed already, so I've got a fair amount of choice! Also got several pj's so I should be covered for all scenarios. Leggings are packed!

But what's with the socks? To keep our feet warm during labour 🤔?

Option 1 would drive me mad with all the buttons to do and undo, so I'd go with option 2.

Personally I would go with something much longer. I got into all sorts of weird positions during and after birth, so felt that the length of my gown protected my dignity (at those times when I cared!!)

Sorry just to add, don't stress about it too much! When you are in labour these things will be an insignificant detail. With my second baby, it came so quickly that I was still wearing my office clothes. One of the midwives must have removed my knickers and skirt for me. I got into my labour gown after baby was born and I had a shower. My clothes didn't bother me one bit during labour because I was so preoccupied with the actual labour.

@Asiama ah the option 1 gown's buttons are just poppers, and having tried it on it makes life super easy for opening and closing, whereas option 2 gown has normal buttons and I struggled to do them up and that's without being in labour. Also option 1 is quite a bit longer and the bottom parts seems to protect some of my dignity unlike the other one. Think I'm going to keep that first gown. I'm sure nothing will go to plan anyway, but at least I'll have one decent gown as well as the t-shirt dresses.

@Asiama also, just to add, I'm being induced and being high risk I will be in hospital quite some time before proper labour begins - hence keeping a few different options in my bag

Good luck! I was also induced both times - first baby was 3 hours, 2nd was 20 mins!

@Asiama 3 hours! Wow, that must have been record quick for an induction, no?