hospital birthing gown

[LazyMachine]

I feel a little stupid posting this question, but I'm appalled at all of the 'birthing gowns' for sale and their ridiculously high prices. I would rather just wear a normal cotton hospital gown that can be changed as many times as need be and then slip into my comfy gown after I've given birth & cleaned up. Did your Midwife Led Unit provide said gowns?

I took my own. Was offered a gown but, even in the throes of labour, I didn't want my arse hanging out (wasn't bothered about fanjo)!

Mine was from mothercare. 2-pack. Button down the front for BF/skin-to-skin.

I'm wearing the same one for this DC too .

Mothercare used to sell nighties that button right down the front think they were bf ones... I think they only give you gowns when you need to go to theatre

Went shopping today for nightie post birth and what a nightmare. Found it very hard to find a buttoned front nightie. Found a couple in m&s but not so happy with the style. For birth im going for an old nightie at home.

I bought a couple from Primark in Nov to give birth in. Maroon cotton with a lace trim. V unattractive

Have you seen this in M&S? £12.50

www.marksandspencer.com/Maternity-Pure-Cotton-Spotted-Minishirt/dp/B003K9N0XW

I was thinking of getting it for labour as buttons down all the way (assuming they aren't fake buttons!) and is cheap enough to chuck if it gets manky.

Crafty i think thats the one i bought today. Not very nice looking but it has buttons so should do the trick.

I'd ring the mat unit to check if you're expecting them to provide a gown as I'm sure they won't - they didn't provide me with sanitary towels when I went in as an emergency with bleeding in late pregnancy - something I considered an absolute essential.

I can't see that a gown would be any more helpful to bf in than a t-shirt/nightie as they button at the back....

Not if you wear them backwards, Mutley! In my home country the hospital gowns are designed to be worn either way, so I'm just going on past experience that apparently doesn't hold tight in the UK. How shocking that they wouldn't provide a sanitary towel for you - doesn't seem right. Must've been a horrible experience.

I've been inspired by Binky (thank you!) and have added to my labour bag one of my favourite black nighties. It's bamboo, so super soft and it's incredibly flattering comfortable. It's not got a button down front, but it's cut low enough that I can just pull off the straps and push the top down for instant skin-on-skin.

I'll probably end up nekkid anyway

Cheap big tshirt did the trick for DS1's birth - for DS2 I was naked (birthing pool birth and couldnt stand the feel of fabric on my skin)

I bought a dark blue 2-pack from Mothercare with DS1 and they buttoned down the front for skin to skin and breastfeeding. To my surprise, they washed up really well and I ended up using them to sleep in post-birth for breastfeeding at night etc and I've been wearing them all through this pregnancy and will use them for delivery of DS2 in a few weeks.

So, don't automatically disregard the more expensive ones - especially if you plan on having more kids

Hospital gown for both DD, I refused to buy something to chuck afterwards!

Oh, I didn't consider the Mother are ones the expensive ones - they were actually only £26 for a 2 pack, but I hated them when I tried them on. (Probably because I'm a pj person and I already have several pairs of breastfeeding pjs for after birth - but they aren't particularly practical during birth!)

*Mothercare

I took off all my clothes and walked around butt naked until i had the epidural then lay on the bed equally naked. The midwives and staff are going to be looking up at your most intimate parts getting stretched and squished and watching you poo and curse, a wee bit of booby and tummy flesh is hardly going to shock them!

Matalan do button down nighties. I bought 2 for my first pregnancy 2 sizes larger (not maternity). I thought I'd be chucking the one I gave birth in but ended up taking it home and it washed really well. Nice soft cotton and I'm wearing them still! Great for breastfeeding. Here are some they have at the moment although it looks like they've only got the ones that button halfway - still plenty of room for baby: www.matalan.co.uk/fcp/categorylist/dept/womens_womens-nightwear?resetFilters=true#filters=TERTIARY_FILTER!nighties&productsPerPage=40

Filter the page to nighties if its easier.

I have just bought a two pack of nighties from Mothercare online - they are predictably pink and floral but provide easy boob access for feeding and a bit of space for skin on skin (although not much). I figured I'd wear one for birthing and then change into the other one afterwards (and probably bin the first one). I was going to take my normal dressing gown to hospital to wear afterwards but definitely won't be letting it near any of the gorey action!

I have heard that you get quote hot and sweaty (sorry clueless first timer) so I thought something cotton for the action woudl be a good idea.

I am planning on having an epidural so that's a very good point about needing access at the back - maybe I'll bring a shorter t-shirt too just in case!

I wore one of DHs old tshirts. We took it home and washed it, and there were still some blood stains, but I wasn't allowed to either throw it away or wash it again on DHs command he's so sentimental .

But then DSiL was house sitting for us a while back and went on a bit of a cleaning/laundry spree and she put it in the laundry! That second wash actually got rid of all the staining and it has now been relegated to a sleep tshirt. It's actually got holes in it now but now I've got attached to it and don't want to get rid of it...

Do Marks and Spencers still have their 'granny nightie' section? They have some lovely nightwear but I'm sure the button-down-the-front nighties are still hiding somewhere. They might work?

I wore a black vest top & pj bottoms for labouring in. I was induced after waters breaking and not going into labour on my own.

Vest top came off just as I started pushing to get skin to skin contact.

For after delivery I got some lovely button up nighties in Primark - perfect for skin to skin & breast feeding.

Watching the video back of DD2 birth I look bloody awful so aiming for DC3 to look a lot a bit more presentable!

Ooh thanks for matalan link, there's one near me so will be going soon to have a nosy. loved the butterfly baby doll, although not practical at all

Just buy a cheap Primark nightie to labour/give birth in, as long as its comfy and clean its fine. You will probably want to throw it away afterwards anyway, although I've washed mine and kept it for the next baby, tightwad that I am.
I did have a hospital gown given both times as I had an epidural and it was the most bloody uncomfortable restrictive item of clothing I've ever worn!

I laboured in a bikini top. Post birth I put on BLACK (very important!) nursing pj's