what to wear in labour...eeek

[ladygagoo]

This has most likely been done to death so apologies..... but what exactly should I wear for labour?

I'm not really one for the full buff, but no doubt things might change but what exactly do I wear to start with at least? I shouldn't have watched OBEM at all but some of the women on there look frankly ridiculous... I am planning on going to hospital. Can anyone suggest where you get something suitable?

TIA

With DD1 I ended up in a hospital gown as I was having a bath in hospital when I felt urge to push. With DD2 I was in the clothes I walked in in as they didn't believe I was in established labour and I felt urge to push in the assessment room. Lucky I had time to get my jeans off! The truth is you really won't care what you have (or haven't !) on

Actually I did care what I looked like and what I had on. I covered myself several times when I felt the need to, including when pushing the baby out. I kept a towel around my waist. And got dressed less an hour after the birth to receive visitors.

It is ok to care!

I bought a cheap nightie out of primark and some of those velour track suit/ jammie type things for the few days after and lots if big pants

I planned on a long length vest top - but in the end I was wearing my very favourite Stella McCartney top.......DD arrived very quickly.

Ah well. It all comes out in the wash!

Cheap old nighty. On each occasion it went straight in the bin afterwards.

You wont care once your pains come on thick & fast, i nearly gave birth with me knickers on last time as midwife insisted i wasnt ready to push, had to get dh to launch my pants off ready for dds arrival-i still laugh now thank the lord they came off in time-i still have those knickers

I had a cheap nighty in my bag and a nice cotton front buttoned one for once cleaned up. I wnet in wearing my bf vests that where so cumfy during pg, but all happened very quick and lucily they offered me a hospital gown so I kept on vest and gown but just as dd was crowning they encouraged me to strip off for skin to skin anyway, so I chucked on cheapy straight after then and had nice cotton one for after bath.

I can't remember what I started in but I was very hot and think I just took everything off halfway through. Though in the early pics I appear to be wearing a nightie though I can't remember putting it on.

Couldn't bear wearing nightie. Wore jersey maternity dress - knee length, floaty.
It made me feel less like I was in hospital/ I'll, and was able to shuffle about, go outside for little walk without feel self conscious.
That said in the last few hours I was starkers and just didn't give a shit. I would never have believed it beforehand!

ill not I'll!

I ended up in just a bra both times. With dd I stripped to said bra prior to getting in the pool. With ds I went through several sets of clothes after my waters were broken, then asked dh to help me remove my t shirt which was irritating me in later labour.

I wore a maternity dress from jojo maman bebe as I didn't manage to get changed, blood washed out though.

Cheap nightie in a bigger size from sainsbury's. Went straight in the bin.

I wore the hospital gown the first time and the second time a maternity secret support vest and a cardie!
I took my joggers off!

I bought a cheap nightie in sainsburys, it came off just after they put the monitor on & I was naked for 12hours...and it was the last thing on my mind!

With DD - large long shirt

With DS - best fluffy white dressing gown... I couldn't quite believe I was in labour because the contractions didn't seem sufficiently painful, and by the time they were, I couldn't get the thing off. But the MW was great at explaining how to soak the blood out

I wore normal nighty and trackies, when i got to hospital i took trousers and knickers off and that was it.

Thanks for all the ideas - I don't feel quite so clueless now

I went and had a look in Primark yesterday - they seem to only have a selection of playsuits might have to re-think that idea

I got a button down shirt style nightie and a maternity/nursing sleep bra underneath so could have skin to skin and feed baby without exposing anything. With my 1st 2 I had a water birth so wore a bikini top and lower half was in water so I didn't worry about being exposed.

I wore a longish strap top with an elasticated top and floaty bottom (obviously because of the bump) from primark, but ended up naked anyway because I got in to a pool! I didn't think about it the first time but this time round will probably take a bikini top as I want another water birth.

To be honest I think a nightie would be fine but once you're in full swing you really don't care. Can't stand all these people who are obsessed with looking good during labour - IT'S LABOUR FOR GODS SAKE!!

I got to hospital nearly fully dilated and rigid with fear. They got me in the birthing room, DP had to strip me off and the MW had to literally prize my pants off and shove a hospital gown over me before i was off and pushing. I was totally in my own world and wouldnt have given a crap if id been naked

I bought a £3 nightie from Primark, most women wore them tbh! I was induced so was much better but for most of the time I was completely buff except from my dressing gown and I hate being naked! Don't think I put a nightie on until they took me to the ward 6 hours after DD was born. So whatever you think you like, the opposite will most probably happen!

Good luck

You probably won't care once you're in labour, I don't even remember what I wore. But I do remember it calmed me down to plan things in advance at the end of my pregnancy! Get a few lightweight cotton nighties and if you want to breastfeed wear a nursing bra and make sure nightie opens at the front for easy access.
Buy giant knickers. The biggest you can find. Comedy knickers. Forget the paper ones, they are pointless. Bring pads.

Bring your own shampoo/conditioner/toiletries and get the mini ones so you don't have to carry too much stuff. Buy slippers that are easy to slip into without bending over to adjust.

Wore a mothercare breastfeeding nightie which I then took off so wore nothing. This was at the pushing stage. I actually remember asking if I could take it off (!) and the midwife saying 'of course'! :)

Planned to wear big old t-shirt of DH's. Actually wore nothing (in pool) or a hospital gown.