What do you wear to give birth?

[jinglebellmel]

My son was early and very sudden so I just ended up in the clothes I was wearing, but hoping to pack in advance and be prepared this time around! So what do you wear to give birth? Nightie, shirt, just a top? And if I manage to get my water birth, do I invest in a tanki/bikini that fits or just go with a vest top? Presume swimming coatume is no good as will need easy access to bottom half?? If anyone has brought anything recently and is able to let me know where to save me shopping around that would be great :)

I'm contemplating a bikini top and swimming skirt instead of bottoms. That way I will still feel covered but easy access as needed and enough bare skin for skin to skin immediately after birth

I am usually REALLY shy but I gave birth naked in the birthing pool. I think any sort of clothing might be annoying. The depth of the water covers you up a bit anyway.

My other births were on the bed and I just wore an old T-shirt of dh's.

Another one that ended up naked. I packed a tanking top, arrived at hospital in a loose top and shorts, waters broke just before I examined so everything was drenched. Then I waddled to the birthing room in a paper gown with my arse on display and got into the pool wearing a sleep bra which I whipped off when I decided I'd had enough of the pool.

I carefully selected a dark coloured nightie and a bikini top incase of a water birth.

As it turns out I arrived at hospital 10cms dilated and gave birth naked! It was so hot in the hospital even though it was October and the fan was shit so I just stripped off I never thought I'd be comfortable being naked but didn't care at the time

I packed an old nightie and an old PJ top with buttons (for skin to skin and breastfeeding). However DS arrived fairly quickly so ended up giving birth in a Batman top of DP's

I bought a massive mans shirt from a charity shop. Ended up nakef as I was just too damn hot.

I am literally the most self conscious about my body ever,but ended up doing 7 hours in the birthing pool wearing only a skin class used vest top I had packed about 4 different outfits and was adamant that I wanted to be covered up in the pool etc etc but when it Cam e down to it I was in too much pain to even speak or think never mind care about being essentially naked! I felt covered as was wearing the top but my mum pointed out to me the next day that it went totally see through the moment it got wet and I had no bra on so may as well have been nude! but I can assure you at the time not a single shit was given! I ended up giving birth in a hospital gown as needed to be transferred to the delivery suite and had an epidural in the end,got most wear out of a nice knee length maternity/breast feeding nightie and very lightweight dressing gown that I wore to walk to the maternity ward and overnight.

*skin coloured vest top ffs! Autocorrect fail

If you are keen for a water birth have you looked at rash vests? Sorry if you know already but a rash vest is like a t-shirt made out of swimming costume type material. It is designed for people swimming long distances in salt water so it protects you from sun burn and skin rubbing on skin. It's basically a swimming costume type t-shirt.

They are designed to be snug fitting (As for streamlined swimming with no rub!) but come in all sizes - so you will need a much bigger one than for swimming.

I'd get a rash vest but super-upsize as you don't need it tight. Maybe a v.large men's one or 3 sizes larger in womens.

I planned to wear an old baggy t-shirt when I had DC3 at home, but ended up flinging it off and wearing nothing at all. I didn't care, I was comfy & relaxed.

I think I wore a vest top, but in all the newborn pics I am starkers... I can't remember when I took my top off! Who knows how many people I might have flashed at?

Socks! I was mortified once I'd given birth to realise I was naked apart from socks!

I had a pregnancy tanking type thing in case I had a water birth.

I also had one of these bamboo birthing wraps which could be opened for breastfeeding. I used it at home as well as it was easy for breastfeeding

but in all the newborn pics I am starkers... I can't remember when I took my top off!

Yes - watch out for this. I've been present more than once where "proud father" (probably shell shocked after birth) shows this type of pics round the office to all and sundry. Younger men having an off line giggle about "the state of her tits". Easily avoided.

Although it was a long time ago, way before any special maternity clothes, I gave birth to my second child,,my daughter,wearing a long warmish nightie as it was February, She was delivered by my then husband,on the back seat of our old car. The day before.our dog had been leaping about on the back seat,so I was probably covered in dog hairs after..
I was then taken with my daughter,to the maternity home where I was booked in for the birth, so looked a bit of a sorry sight by then,,So my husband scooted off home and later bought my best silky nightie in to look more glam in !

As mangos said, hubby nearly sent a first pic of the baby with nipple on display to all and sundry. Luckily i looked at it before he pressed send.

I had a long nightdress type slouchy t-shirt the first time but ended up in theatre in a gown and the second time a dark tankini because I had planned to have a water birth. I really didn't want to be naked because I had a difficult first birth and knew that my second birth might not go to plan hence loads of medical staff rushing in and out the room and doors swinging open for anyone to see me!

Hospital gown first time (EMCS), t shirt I was wearing as pyjama top the second time (DD arrived in 50 mins - luckily I was already on the antenatal ward, they got my pyjama bottoms off me, told me I was fully dilated, and there was certainly no time to think about any preferences for what I might want on my top half!) Am always slightly surprised that people try and plan what they'll be wearing for the moment ...

I had a cheap nightie on. Packed a tankini top for the pool but wasn't allowed to use it in the end.

Best was it one of these? I want the bamboo wrap for DC2!

www.thebirthingshirtcompany.com/

I had big nightie with poppers at the front for easy feeding, and old xl tshirt for my two. Actually have no idea about 3rd baby but probably the same.

Re pictures I agree that you need to be careful as people get carried away. My mum insisted on getting a picture of me with my two girls the first time they met their baby brother, I was bf in the photo though you have to look closely to notice.

didnt bother with a nightie, just old T shirt (actually belonged to my oldest DD)

I got a very large cotton nightie with a reasonably low V neck for about £5. It was good - gave coverage during the early stages, the V was wide enough to do good skin to skin afterwards, and I then just threw it in the bin when it was time to leave the birthing suite and go up to the ward as it was covered in all sorts!!

I bought myself some lovely stretchy PJs to put on afterwards which I managed to wear for approximately 45 minutes before I managed to bleed all over them and I ended up wearing my oldest least attractive PJs! Baby didn't mind

I don't know why (as I am not at all a prude) but I like to be covered up during birth and my boobs and bits hidden from view. Hence I chose a water birth, so that my bottom half was underwater without everyone peering at it. (My "wares" being on full display really puts me off pushing and I find it really stressful - weird!) So I just wore a black seamless bra thing, like an Ahh-Bra or the JML one or similar.

my first was a c section after being vaught out so i cant even remember what i wore. my second was a 23 minute labour and my bag was still in the car so i made ex take his top off (he had a jumper to wear) and wore his shirt! was quite handy being twice my size