Stupid questions about being in labour

[louise182]

My due date is fast approaching and although i am excited about labour and meeting my baby, i am a bit nervous about silly things and have nobody to ask itrw!

Im thinking about these sorts of things not because i am a prude or don't want people seeing my bits! But more because i know there will be a lot of prodding and poking and peering down 'there' and don't want to be restrictive or make things difficult for mw's needing to do internals and things. I just want to be comfy and at ease with what I'm wearing.

When i am in hospital, they have asked that i take nighties/long T-shirts. Do i have to wear these the whole time, or can i wear comfy pjs/jogging bottoms until the pushing stage?

If i have to wear a nightie do i keep my knickers on or off? With a maternity pad if my waters have already gone?

I don't particularly want my ass/nunny hanging out unnecessarily, or be leaking all over the place if i want to wander about or use a birthing ball....

After the birth and time with baby (if straightforward obviously) do i just hop off the bed and go clean myself up if i am able to, and get dressed, or will a midwife help me with that?

Might sound daft or irrational to some, but I've never done this before and just want to know what to expect!

Oh and regarding the "help" afterwards, Id had an epidural and went to the loo whilst they stayed with DD (I had told them it hadnt worked very well lol). Noone checked my wee, and when back upstairs on ward, was given tea and toast and left to have a shower in the morning with no help whatsoever, i even missed brekkie as no one told me you had to go to the day room to get it as long as youre not in the Cotswolds, then the above after care advice from others will be much more relevant!

I can assure you you won't give a shit once you're in labour (probably in labour I mean!)

Really, you're over thinking things, just go with the flow.

If you'd have told me that I'd have been totally naked, sweating, sitting on a bed pan whilst the mw took wee out of me, whilst the anaethetist (man, attractive, young) was talking to me about the epidural, I'd have been horrified!

Seriously. They have seen it all. And more. And lots of times before.

Oh. And no two labours/giving birth experiences are the same. So tbh, it's hard to give advice. Just listen to the mw's, they'll let you know what they want you to do. Good luck!

Hi not stupid questions at all! Why would you know what to do! I remember feeling the same but the midwives are so calm and discreet about stuff and they tell you what to do, mine even said wedge two pads in your pants to save leaks! I think I vaguely remember bed mats/absorbent type mats on bed/near my birth pool both times, soak up all manner of fluids. Then they change them and you won't even realise! Marvellous. After baby born, skin to skin cuddles then dh/midwife dressed weighed etc and placenta delivered, checked for tears/too much bleeding etc then I wouldn't say hopping off the bed but within the hour of delivery in pool (got out strait after for lie down on bed for above checks) I was enjoying nice hot shower then given tea and toast in bed after ( which they clean up while you shower)

Just to add that it is generally better to use the proper maternity pads. Reasons are:

They don't have added chemically stuff like always or body form so the midwives can see if you have an infection or a cause for concern.

They act as very nice thick padding for sore and bruised bits when you sit down for a long time. The thickness also makes it a bit easier to hold cooling gel pads etc in the right place. Chances are you will be sitting down quite a bit for quite a while. I found them much kinder on my piles too (oh the glamour) as the top is very soft next to the skin.

You can easily double stack them in your pants (in most directions!) for when you are lying down or bleeding more heavily.

And if you have stitches they may get caught in the patterns and dry weave top sheet thing of Always etc. that's not a nice thing to happen!

i wore a nightdress each time i had my 3rd 6 weeks ago tbh you dont really care when your in labour all the dignity goes out the window