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Original poster

What to wear when giving birth?

34 replies

gertrudestein · 24/04/2013 19:23

... just that really. I get that you might be naked. But what do you wear to go to the hospital? Do you change at some point? Would you recommend a night dress? Or will they give you something to wear?

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craftycottontail · 24/04/2013 19:33

I've packed a couple of old baggy nighties that I can bin afterwards if they get too messy and a bikini as would like a water birth ideally.

Having watched One Born Every Minute (earlier on, not lately!!) the midwives will tell you when you need to take your bottom half off.

Also think about if you want to do skin to skin after the birth (it's encouraged at my local hospital) - you might want to wear something that opens at the front so you can have baby on your chest/tummy

YokoUhOh · 24/04/2013 19:37

I rocked up to hospital in my checked pyjamas and Uggs (6cm dilated) and gave birth in just the top and a bra. Got given a gown to go into surgery afterwards :(

FrustratedSycamoresRocks · 24/04/2013 19:41

I nicked the comfiest and baggiest of DHs t-shirts both times Grin I'm still deciding which one the nick this time.

Flisspaps · 24/04/2013 19:42

I wore one of DH's old white t-shirts. I wore the same one for both DC.

Littlemissexpecting · 24/04/2013 19:42

I've got a nightie packed with buttons at front but also planning a water birth. Not taking bikini as once it gets wet I'll want to take it off. Got pjs packed for after and might chuck a t shirt if DHs in too incase I do want to be more covered. With regards to going into hospital I've not really thought about it. Probably what ever I'm wearing when I go in so pjs, leggings, jeans, could be anything!!

MrsMcEnroe · 24/04/2013 19:42

You fling on whatever is to hand and / or comfortable when you dash to hospital, and you give birth in that, minus the bottoms .... That's what I did both times anyway! Didn't even think of changing into a nightie until afterwards ? I wasn't there to sleep! And if you want to keep mobile you will probably be roaming the corridors while in labour, so some tracksuit bottoms or similar will be useful Smile

BeanoGrigio · 24/04/2013 19:43

I got a cheap short nightie with buttons all down the front for skin to skin and feeding after birth. Despite forceps and episiotomy it remained spotless so I have kept it for this dc due in August too.

PotteringAlong · 24/04/2013 19:48

I gave birth in the tshirt and vest top I rocked up in!

Gintonic · 24/04/2013 19:52

I don't give with this baggy t-shirt thing - i wore a white dress and leggings! Early on they had me walking up and down the stairs, so I was glad to be in "proper" clothes.

I got changed into a bikini top when I went in the birthing pool - for comfort rather than modesty, as my boobs were massive and I didn't want them flying about the place.

Just wear what you feel comfortable in!

holidaysdistantmemory · 24/04/2013 19:52

I bought a three quarters length t shirt from New Look which covered my dignity during the interesting bits and which I didn't mind getting trashed. Then for the post baby being born photo that ended on the mantlepiece, changed into a pretty maternity nightie (call me vain :) ) on way on and out of hospital, normal maternity clothes

mrspaddy · 24/04/2013 19:54

Oh my god I am not going to give birth naked.. oh please tell me I don't have to do that! Holy Shi...
I am planning on a dark coloured nightie open front (button).
Saw one in M&S that's me...
Into hospital I think my normal maternity gear.. top and trouser job.

garlicyoni · 24/04/2013 20:00

Oh, PLEASE wear a long, flowing, appliquéd, spangly number! You won't care what you're wearing, but it'll cheer everyone else up Wink

BreastmilkCrucifiesAFabLatte · 24/04/2013 20:01

With DS I wore my very whitest and fluffiest dressing old gown because I didn't believe I was properly in labour until the MW assured me I was definitely fully dilated. And by the time the MW told me that, I was already pushing and thus not quite able to manoeuvre into the massive shirt I'd planned to wear.

BreastmilkCrucifiesAFabLatte · 24/04/2013 20:03

And with DD I arrived at the hospital in white tracksuit bottoms. (To any first timers: not recommended. In whatever manner you give birth, there will be blood, there will. Blood is red.)

Strange, really, I don't usually wear white.

miffybun73 · 24/04/2013 20:08

I arrived in tracksuit bottoms and top.

Gave birth the first time in one of DH's old T-Shirts.

Waters broke at about midnight 3 weeks early and just grabbed what I could find ( Plan was to pack hospital bag the next day!)

All went well and DS was born about 7 hrs after waters breaking woke me up so wore the same T-Shirt the next time for luck :)

cathers · 24/04/2013 20:13

I arrived in what I was wearing that day- a wrap dress I think. Pottered around for an hour or two before labour was advanced enough to really smart, then changed into a vest top and pj bottoms, which quickly came off and replaced by a sheet!

FrustratedSycamoresRocks · 24/04/2013 20:16

gintonic I only had the t-shirt on for the pushing stage. I rocked up in maternity jeans and whatever top I had been wearing that day.

holidaysdistantmemory · 24/04/2013 20:22

Mrspaddy, I was never naked in either of my labours, the thought horrified me for some bizarre reason (looking at graphic photos of naked women in labour from baby books I think). no-one saw my boobs and my long t shirt covered my private bits until I was so far gone that I didn't notice. Fear not! Though you may not care when its you!

whiteandyellowiris · 24/04/2013 20:26

in the nude is the best

ShadowStorm · 24/04/2013 20:26

I wore a black nightie.

Noggie · 24/04/2013 20:28

Primark for front button down nightie or shirt x

Original poster
gertrudestein · 24/04/2013 20:30

Ha ha mrspaddy, I hope that doesn't happen too but a surprising number of birth stories seem to include, 'and I was naked, so ..'

thanks for your tips everyone - think I will grab a big T shirt and hope for the best!

OP posts:
rundontwalk · 24/04/2013 20:31

I wore a primark nightie with buttons down the front and trackie bottoms with slip on ballet pumps. Gave birth 30min after getting there so was glad to b able to just whip the bottoms off. Button down front was great for early skin to skin & breast feeding.

tilder · 24/04/2013 20:31

Think comfort, easy on, easy off. I found little buttons fiddly and just lifted big nightie up for skin to skin. Used hospital blanket for warmth and modesty (not that either were high on my list by that point).

Agree with breastmilklattee (sorry, can't remember your full name) that there will be blood. Clothes after are as or more important. Think lovely things like leaking pads, leaking boobs, vomiting baby etc. Comfy clothes smaller than maternity, trousers in dark colours (how I regretted the light grey).

I think I went for lounge wear type stuff.

Good luck!

EhricLovesTeamQhuay · 24/04/2013 20:32

In the nude is the best? Why?
I arrived in a t shirt and maternity trousers and was far more advanced than I realised so I ended up labouring in just a t shirt for a while. Would never have expected myself to be so carefree about it but I was! I almost went out of the room to find a loo in just my t shirt...midwife kindly grabbed me and wrapped a sheet around my bottom half! Then she persuaded me to put my nightie on, it was short, just covered my bum and had poppers at the front.