What did you wear in labour/after birth in hospital??

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Just wondering what I need to pack for active labour and after? I’m trying to source long baggy black buttoned up nightwear but it’s quite hard!

I hate wearing nighties so I just bought a cheap large sized primark one for labour. Second time i had a section so wore a hospital gown for that. Both times I changed into loose pj bottoms, massive black pants and vest top as the wards are usually roasting. I had a catheter with both which made pj bottoms harder, but its doable.

My point is @wolfgirrl being in labour is not undignified and why would you have lost your self respect? I don't respect anyone less because of their choices during labour. You sound like you had a grim time. All the more reason you and veryone around you should have high opinion of you and not judge you when you're doing something flipping miraculous!

@Angelik whatttt? Labour is so undignified 😂 unless you're one of the women shown in hypnobirthing videos, it looks pretty hideous! I felt more in control and dignified with my clothes on. Totally dont judge anyone else but that's how I felt!

Sorry wolfgirl totally understand - I think us naked birthers were not so hooked up to stuff/not lying down.

I would say the more medical intervention, the more undignified it feels.

If you have the luck to be able to go for it au naturel, I don't think it's undignified. It's kind of an amazing natural process and show of power.

@ponchek have you had an intervention?

I wore a soft bra top and nothing else for ds, I had a blanket, but that went eventually when the action started. With dd, i started out with a bra top, hospital gown and pants, but the pants came off pretty fast, and I ripped off the hospital gown because I was too hot, then made dh put fluffy socks on my feet because they were freezing. So I gave birth in a bra top and socks. As many have said, dont over think it, it's likely you will end up in some variation of what you travel to the hospital wearing, or a gown, or nothing. There is no dignity in childbirth, and yet it's the most powerful thing in the world, so no one gives a shit what you are wearing, as long as you are comfortable.

I bought a button up night gown in black from primark. Actually gave birth in my bra and socks. It was snowing out too! I was so hot and when I wasn't I had blankets on me. Afterwards I stupidly only packed leggings which is ridiculous so I made my OH go out and buy massive joggers from the men's section. In this weather I'd say loose thin trousers, in black!

I should say the reason I found leggings ridiculous is because I was constantly in and out of them either changing pads, catheter, checking stitches.

I can’t remember what I planned to wear in labour, but what actually happened was I arrived not in active labour yet, changed into bikini to have a bath to see if labour would get going, it did so very quickly, so I delivered wearing the bikini top and immediately took it off to try to breast feed.

Afterwards I wore loose summer pyjamas - long shorts and a wrap top so easy feeding access. To go home (3 hour journey) I wore a cotton jersey maternity/nursing dress and maternity leggings. And I was very glad to have a rubber donut cushion to sit on in the car!

@ponchek No need to apologise on my behalf. I was induced and on the drip, strapped down so they could monitor baby's heartbeat. Still ended up in the nip!