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

Original poster

Shouldn't matter, but what do I wear???

26 replies

Funkycherry · 31/05/2010 23:08

It might sound odd that I'm even stressing over this, but.......

What do you wear to give birth in?
Do they give you a gown?

The reason I ask is that I don't own any nighties and it seems silly to buy new ones just to get covered in blood and god knows what else!
Also on people's hospital bag lists they've put PJ's, but I would have thought you can't wear these even afterwards as docs/MW's will be needing to examine you.

I feel so dumb for asking this, but don't have anyone else I can ask

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CleanHankie · 31/05/2010 23:22

Wear whatever you want to, go naked if you want to. By the time comes to it, you may not even care or get the chance to change into something different.

For what it's worth, I purchased a nightie from primark as I wanted something to cover most of me, and being a larger lady a t-shirt wasn't going to do. Meant I could throw it once DD was born, and I didn't feel like it was wasting money. I did however invest in some breastfeeding nighties for afterwards

WillowM2B · 31/05/2010 23:51

You can take your own old t-shirt/nighties but its not entirely necessary as the hospital will provide gowns.

I gave birth in hospital gowns both times if I remember rightly. I've got some nighties for this time around but may end up with a hospital gown again. Depends on circumstances.

nagoo · 31/05/2010 23:57

My sister asked me this, and it made me laugh. I ended up going to the hospital in my pants a vest and DH's dressing gown! So I'm not the best for advice.

The pyjamas were required though, and choose dark ones (I got £6 Asda black ones)so you won't be mortified by staining.

I was a rudie nudie giving birth. The jamas were for after I had a bath and that, and no one wanted to get them off me.

Sonilaa · 01/06/2010 07:34

they give you a gown in hospital. for the first birth I gave birth in it and it was so messy I had to change it 3 times.
for the second birth I was given the gown, but could not stand anything on my skin so gave birth in my birthday suit
For afterwards I had breastfeeding nighties and jumpsuit bottoms (which I only put on to go to the loo or dinner because it*s sooo warm in the post natal ward).

MumNWLondon · 01/06/2010 08:34

I travelled to hospital in a pair of DH's (jersey cotton stretchy) dark PJs & crocs (double up as shoes, slippers and flip flops) and wore them until I got soaked when my waters broke.

I then took the trousers off and DS2 born shortly afterwards.

Right after the birth lay on bed under a sheet, huge ST wedged to catch blood, and about an hour later had a shower and put on clean PJs plus knickers and nursing sleep bra.

Don't really understand point about them needing to examine you so not being able to wear PJs??? - need to wear knickers etc after birth to hold ST in place. Have never been given gown but then never asked.

notyummy · 01/06/2010 08:43

Do you know, I can't remember. I was admitted the night before I actually gave birth for an induction. I think I wore one of my new maternity (i.e bf) nighties that night in hospital, and that ended up being what I gave birth in as I went into labour that night. I had a spare one to change into and DH took everything home after the delivery and washed and ironed it all for me (plus cleaning the house and changing all the beds so everything smelled lovely when we came home. What a star! He changed/made my bed in hospital while I went for a shower and the staff there all wanted to give him a medal....)

SqueezyB · 01/06/2010 08:49

haha, I can tell you're a first timer as I stressed for ages about this when I was pregnant with DD - in the end things happened so fast DH didn't have time to go back to the car to get my bag and I ended up starkers in the birthing pool anyway - when I got out I think they may have wrapped me in a towel!

I did end up buying a 2-pack of cheap nighties from mothercare that I packed along with a couple of pairs of dark tracksuit bottoms, and that's what I wore afterwards. TDC2 is due in 5 days, and this time I've packed the same nighties and some yoga pants as well as a pair of maternity pjs for if I end up staying in.

ThickyStarlightTrollGirl · 01/06/2010 08:56

This?

ilovesushi · 01/06/2010 09:08

I bought a cheap t-shirt style cotton nightie in a big size from M&S for my first. It blue with white polka dots and very cute. But all the way through labour doctors and midwives kept asking me if I wanted a gown as I might spoil it. I kept shouting "It only cost a tenner! I don't want a gown."

I figured having a baby was a big enough event to warrant a new outfit. I mean I spend a few grand on my wedding dress, so what's a few quid on a birthing outfit.

I am due with my second at the moment and have bought another blue and white nightie but with a few improvements. Longer length, the other one rode up when I sat on my birth ball and I hated the feel of bare flesh on rubbery plastic, and spaghetti straps to cope with overheated hospital and for quick breastfeeding access once baby arrives.

Good luck!

LoveBeing34 · 01/06/2010 09:11

I wore to top I arrived in!

hazeyjane · 01/06/2010 09:17

They will probably give you a gown if you want one.

I wore a really pretty lacy white nighty and the MW thought I was insane, but it was really light (it seemed to be boiling in the hospital and on the ward) and comfy, had buttons down the front (for b'feeding), and was pefect really.

It washed really well, and I wore it again a year later when I had dd2, it feels very special.

This time (dc3 arriving in July) I won't be able to wear it because I'm having a c-section so will be gowned up. I'll still take it to wear after though.

I wore pjs on the ward, and don't remember it being a problem with being examined.

sillysow · 01/06/2010 09:20

Ditto LoveBeing34. I was still in bra and t-shirt when I was passed dd!

GetThePartyStarted · 01/06/2010 09:23

I bought some very cheap nighties from Primark, so I could chuck them afterwards. My hospital will only give you a gown if you have come in with nothing else, so might be worth checking.

stainesmassif · 01/06/2010 09:28

when it came to it i couldn't have cared less what i was wearing - i ended up in a vest only. of course, you know that you can buy this if you are really worried. approved by the nct!

HotSprocket · 01/06/2010 09:29

I was wearing a tiny crop bra top thingy, and i was trying to take that off.
Bear in mind the hospital will be unbelievebly hot and you won't give a toss what you look like.

bleedingheart · 01/06/2010 09:33

I gave birth wearing the top, vest, bra and jewellery I went in in, things happened before I had a chance to get changed, I had packed a cheapo nightie from Primark like many others on here and am doing the same this time. The more old-fashioned ones are quite long so feel more demure for afterwards!

BettyButterknife · 01/06/2010 09:34

I bought a twin pack of cheapo white men's vests from Asda. Still have one, so I'll wear it when DS2 is born next month! Threw the first one away as it was covered in blood.

Can't remember what I arrived in at the hospital though, just that when I was fully dilated I changed into just the vest.

Shaz10 · 01/06/2010 09:43

ThickyStarlightTrollGirl a bargain at £60!

stainesmassif · 01/06/2010 09:51

ah, sorry tstg, didn't see your link before and posted same.

BumpandEm · 01/06/2010 12:10

Hiya, I was a bit sad and bought some loose nighties from the supermarket and they did the job fne. I also got a cotton front opening top in a sale that i wore as a breastfeeding top/nightie afterwards.

LadyCressida · 01/06/2010 15:46

I bought 3 enormous size nighties from primark with buttons down the front and they were brilliant. Long enough to walk around in without flashing, big enough to put baby inside for skin to skin cuddles, easy enough to breastfeed with them and cheap enough that i really didn't care about bleeding all over them!

mrspear · 01/06/2010 15:53

My plan was to buy what LadyCressida did but i went into labour at 30 weeks; no hospital bag so hubby went to the 24hr Asda and came back with a pink mini mouse nightie [hmmm] Although once washed it had no stains so it went in the charity bag

p s i wouldn't take my knickers off (fear of losing dignity as nightie was short!) and the midwife said take them off now or i will cut them off!!

ohnelly · 01/06/2010 16:19

I wore gown they gave me both times, even though I also packed a cheap primark nightie I never got around to putting it on. Lucky really as I got it a size bigger than normal thinking that will do but didnt bother trying it on before packing it - wore it few weeks later after giving birth & it was too tight so would never have gone over my bump!! So If you get one get it about three times bigger than normal! lol

Original poster
Funkycherry · 01/06/2010 16:31

Thanks for all your replies. I'd love to answer you all individually but there are just too many

You've confirmed what I thought;

1.Nobody else will care what I wear
2.I won't care
3.Whatever I plan will probably change anyway!

Thanks.x.

OP posts:
countrybump · 01/06/2010 16:41

I wore the t-shirt and bra I had arrived in, luckily it was a brown one anyway, so didn't show up all the blood stains and it washed well anyway.

I had a maternity nightie from Next and some maternity PJs in my bag, and wore the nightie after my shower, as it was way too hot for PJs!

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