What did you wear to give birth in?

[roberta]

I'm due next week and I've just realised I don't really have anything to wear for the birth - a large T-shirt was what I was thinking but am worried will be too short and quite cold - any advice on what's best to wear and where I can buy?

I wore a big t-shirt. Suggest buying a cheep one or do what I did - used a freebie we got with some beer!! The writing on it said 'hug me, I'm drinking Labatts ice'!!!

Huge T shirt for me too. I think it had a bear on it (donated by friend, no way would I have bought it). Interesting question! And answers.

I wore a huge button up nightie from Mothercare, donated by a friend. It wasn't the most glamourous item of clothing but I didn't want anything good to get spoilt. After 3 days I didn't care anyway!!!

Once i was up and about I changed into a much nicer pair of PJ's.

The hospital was warm so don't worry about being cold. I did take a dressing gown just in case though - or to hide the nightie anyway!

For Ds1 I just wore a hospital gown - never thought to take anything else in.

With Ds2 I had a lovely homebirth and wore a very old nightshirt with two cute owls on it. However, I didn't really notice the slogan on it saying "Let's have fun!". The midwives thought it was hilarious.

I wore a big black t-shirt, you won't be cold hospitals are very hot places. I gave birth last month and it was boiling in there. A dressing gown is usful for when they move you from A to B. Take flip flops for the shower afterwards. Good luck.

Wore a really old nightshirt I'd had from when I was about 12! And I've stil got it, so not that callous about kids things. Agree about the heat. My daughter was distressed when she was a day old and after nurses and doctors had examined her, they concluded she was just too hot!

Hmm, the sundress I put on when I got up that morning (it was very hot), everything went so quickly towards the end that I never took it off so I just asked them to chuck it afterwards as I really couldn't face trying to wash it..

I wore a surgical gown (c-section) but for the month in hospital before hand a really nice nightie with pintucks in thin cotton lawn that actually made me feel quite attractive. For hospital afterwards a cotton pique dressing gown was warm enough, plus old hotel slippers that I could throw away afterwards. However, I always have bare feet at home so kept forgetting to wear them. I thought it was important to have something reasonable to wear in case of visitors. Also wore makeup! Vain, moi?

Oh make up, yeah! As soon as my contractions started and I knew this was IT, I applied more make-up! For the photos, of course!

Another vote for the T-shirt nightie! I must have been clean and neat too 'cos I still wear it now.

And as others did, I had a "glamorous" satiny nightie to wear afterwards, and it was cream, BUT...who are disposable pants expected to fit?! I'm a size 14 normally, knew they came up big so bought the smallest size. No chance that they'd keep the maternity pad in place, so exit one cream satin nightie - just when I had my friends visiting too! Oh the shame of it

And no, Frieda, I still have ds's plastic name bracelet and a piece of dried up umbilical 'stump' too - not revolting at all!

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Roberta, I wore a pretty,thin white cotton nightie for the labour and birth (made me feel feminine) and took a different one to put on straight after for the first photos. Pity I couldn't have put different hair or face on as well!!

For dd I had a t-shirt I think - but ended up ripping it off at some point. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would give birth naked, but at the time I honestly didn't give it a thought - too self-absorbed to care what anyone else thought about it. I just couldn't handle the feel of anything on my skin. And it seemed sort of natural to be naked for the birth anyway. Ds was induced and I had a gown on the whole time.

I wouldn't wear anything you love in case it gets stained. Just something comfortable and loose-fitting. Agree about the socks though - the labour ward was warm but my feet were freezing! I actually bought disposable underwear for the days after the births. It's quite comfy really, and saves soaking/throwing out heaps of good knickers! (Yes even with the maternity pads, sorry!)

Oh and pack a tennis ball - great for back massages!

Just remembered about my nails .... I had nail extensions at the time (needless to say they are now long gone) and had had them done in a lovely plum colour just the day before. Despite there being a rule in the hospital about no nail varnish the midwife said they looked so nice she wasn't going to make me take it off! The photos taken just after dd was born had me looking like death warmed up but with a beautiful set of nails !!

Make sure you don't run out. I had a prolonged experience on a hot, august antenatal ward. DH had just gone home to pick up more nighties for me, he was told to disappear as not a lot was going to happen, and I was wheeled into theatre and he missed the birth.

He returned as I was being sewn back up and the rest is a haze. Flip flops are great, hospital floors are very yuckky around here.

If you are biggish and swingyish of boob then consider something like a sloggi sports bra/carriwell seamless maternity bra or a stretchy nursing bra/vest (in black, or you may have to ditch it after) - with a very light dressing gown/hubby's shirt/old tee-shirt over it and flipflops. You will almost certainly no care what you look like during the actual labour, but its uncomfy to have your norks swinging and you do need to be able to grab a quick cover up for when 10 medical students/your MIL barges in..

Clearly I was the exception but it was freezing in the labour unit where I was. The midwives all wore jumpers on top of their uniforms and explained that the temperature was centrally controlled and they couldn't modify it. So I had an old Tshirt plus wore my hoodie the entire time - I'd come in with it anyways as we arrived in the middle of the night. It ended up stained of course but cleaned brilliantly and when I wear it now reminds me of my lovely DS. [Same for the shirt DH wore at the time.]

But as everyone says frankly you won't notice or care really what you're wearing. Agree to bring some flipflops or Crocs or something washable for your feet.

Very important - bring an elastic band/hair clip if you have long hair, otherwise you'll have your hair hanging over your face throughout the labour.

And bring a nice 'photo' nightgown for the post-baby pics -- ideally one that buttons down the front if you plan to breastfeed (not easy to find).

Run, run from the zombie thread...

With DS1, I started off wearing a t-shirt but was in a birthing pool to start with and got cold and ended up taking it off...then I think I had nothing on and to be honest wasn't that bothered although if anyone had told me before I would sat in a birthing pool surrounded by strangers and naked I never would have believed them!!

With DS2 I had my nightie on and didn't have time to change as the oh so competent midwives didn't believe I was in established labour and I nearly had him in the toilet....but that's another story :)

Don't worry too much, you'll be fine :)

PS - I agree with mum2toby - it is the most amazing thing ever, I get broody just thinking about it.........I loved being pregnant, giving birth wasn't that bad and to hold your baby for the first time, truly magical :)

I've just realised the OP was in 2003 - how come it has suddenly come back????