STMs: what did you wear during labor?

JNOVA2015

We had our birthing class yesterday, and in most of the videos the laboring moms were very scantily dressed - just a sports bra for some, buckass nekkid for others. Just curious what others have worn while laboring?? The idea of being basically naked through 24 hours of labor really freaks me out. I don't know why it never occurred to me before that many people might labor naked....

I had been thinking of bringing a tank nightgown that I can wear with a sports bra - that's what I usually sleep in (without the sports bra) and I'm really comfortable in it. It's short, but not so short that it doesn't cover my butt! I think it would be much more comfortable than a hospital gown, and I have several so I don't care if one is ruined. Would that be ridiculous?

Also, do you go commando the whole time?? Or can you wear underwear and take it off for the exams and pushing? Is that just a huge pain?

Miz_Liz

A lot depends on what you want your birth experience to be. For example, if you want an epi, odds are you won't be able to wear a fitted tank top. I personally wore a hospital gown the entire time (nothing underneath). Also, if you get an epi, you get a catheter, so you need to be commando. Plus having underwear on would really just be a pain in the ass. I had blankets over me the whole time too and never felt exposed. By the time I was pushing and more exposed, I didn't care what I was wearing, I just wanted baby out! They say when you go into labor, check your modesty at the door...I was worried about this too, I don't like to feel exposed, but honestly, it was fine.

prairiedreams

As pp hospital gown. It also makes it easier in case of emergencies, or having an IV (as they tend to snap at one shoulder).
Honestly you stop caring for the most part and I try remember that my "goods" are not that special in l&d as this is what the medical staff see day in and day out.

kat+1

While I laboured I wore a black nighty. During transition I felt the need to be naked and didn't have anything on. My body needed to be able to open up. I didn't wear panties as my water broke and I was leaking so it was better just to leak and not have wet panties or a pad on.
I stood for 80% of my labour and at the end I layed down to push because I was so tired.
You could get a pretty pushers gown to wear they are pretty but also just like a hospital gown so you can look cute while having your baby.

For me I chose the black because it wasn't going to get ruined by blood and I could wear it after baby was born. it was lose so I could breastfeed in it too. When I was walking I put on my thin black house coat so I had more coverage and I could be warm out in the halls.

This time I will be making my own pretty pusher that is black and pink as we are having baby girl. My birth will be different different from last time, last time I had a midwife, this time I will have and OB. Or student deliver( no midwife in this part of Canada) so more people will be around seeing my body and I am not comfortable with strangers seeing me naked.

hclzmm14

If you want skin to skin right when baby is born (which you probably will because it's our motherly instinct) you won't want to have a sports bra on. I just wore the hospital gown because I did decide to do the epi and that needs to be open in the back. Plus if you need an emergency C section you're not going to have time to get some nightgown off.

You truly will not care about your lady bits being exposed when you're pushing.

aveline8

Wear what you are comfortable in. I had a midwife delivery in hospital with limited exams, no IV or any interventions and I wore a comfy super loose tank nightgown with a nursing bra underneath so I could easily go skin to skin after the delivery. I think I wore underwear for most of labour can't really remember but then you definitely will lose those during pushing lol!

PixelPosy

I wore 2 hospital gowns one the normal way and the other like a robe. Nothing underneath. Took the robe one off when I got an epidural.

bhargrave88

Hospital gown, it was a pain in the rear to try to wear my own stuff with all the constant checking and etc. I wore the hospital gown the entire first day because they poke you so much and push your stomach after birth..to make you gush several times. I hate blood so it grossed me out. The following day I put on a tank and pj bottoms.

JNOVA2015

Thanks, all! Very helpful. I find hospital gowns so uncomfortable, so I'll probably figure out some kind of gown to bring at least until I make it to transition or can't take it any longer and beg for the epidural

With the epidural, does your back have to stay exposed? Or is it only exposed while they're doing the procedure? I guess after that point you're pretty much confined to the bed anyway...

ElleMF728

I also stayed in the hospital gown.  Whatever I had been wearing would have been completely ruined, childbirth is pretty messy business.  The blood was enough to stop me but DS managed to pee all over everyone and everything on his way out as well.  

One of the things I remember most about labor was how unbelievably hot I got, I don't think I've ever felt that before or since.  That may be why some women had chosen to just be naked.  

CaliforniaDream87

Hospital gown and I will do the same this go around.

hclzmm14

JNOVA2015 said:

Thanks, all! Very helpful. I find hospital gowns so uncomfortable, so I'll probably figure out some kind of gown to bring at least until I make it to transition or can't take it any longer and beg for the epidural

With the epidural, does your back have to stay exposed? Or is it only exposed while they're doing the procedure? I guess after that point you're pretty much confined to the bed anyway...

The epi stays in your back the whole time, so your robe just has to be open around your back but your butt will be covered more than likely. It's bandaged so it doesn't move, don't worry

bpwife&mama

I also wore a gown. I could have cared less what I was in. At one point I was naked in a tub.

jakesjess

I wore a t shirt. So silly in retrospect. With the incessant checks underwear would be pointless. I'm wearing a black nighty that is short and can pull down easily when baby is delivered. I'd go full-nude but I know the l&d nurses personally.

Thj417

When I checked in to hospital I was told to disrobe and change into the hospital gown. Disrobe aka take everything off!!! I was so far done with my first pregnancy I didn't care anymore. 41w5d.

holli0801

I ordered something (on sale!) from bamboo mama. I want to feel as "at home" as possible, so wanted something super comfy and something that was mine, that I would wear at home. I also have a cotton black robe I could easily wear. I don't think I'll wear anything underneath but it depends on leaking.... I plan to be up walking and in and out of the bath tub as much as possible ...(well, more ideally I will do as much of this at home as possible, where id be much more comfy being naked!)

breezymeema7

Hospital gown and nothing but my God given glory underneath

lvrunningirlie

Just wore the hospital gown. The whole labor process is intense enough the thought or worry over being commando didn't even register. And I would have hated trying to get underwear on and off while already in pain.

Also, my baby's temp was low so we had to do skin to skin immediately to get him warm, any extra clothes would have been an issue.

jesicabrennan

I started my induction in pajamas then my water broke and I ended up in the hospital mesh panties (comfiest thing ever!!! And a tank top. Once labor really started going though I got in and out of the shower/tub a lot and was naked for the vast majority of the time. Worry about it all you want but when it comes down to it you really just don't care! You're so absorbed in what you're doing that being naked is like the farthest thing from your mind!!!

mrsrfwii

I wore a hospital gown too. I didn't mind it and I feel it was just easier, plus none of my stuff got ruined. If you are thinking of having an epi then it would probably be best to use the hospital gown too.

ann_jeremiah

With DS1 - In the beginning of labor... At the hospital... I wore their gown and yoga pants and socks... As things progressed I took of my underwear and yoga pants.

With DS2 - I didn't have time to worry about wanting pants on.. I ended up with an emergency csection after laboring and pushing. I assume they would have had me switch into a hospital gown at that point if I wasn't already in one?

Really... As soon as I checked into the hospital, they asked me to change into the gown.

mikeandjenn

I'm delivering at birth center and so I'll bring a few sports bras should I want them for the tub, because my boobs are huge and having them flopping around isn't fun. I'll also bring some night gowns. But like, I may just be walking around naked. No one cares, and when you're in the middle of labor you might surprise yourself with what feels most comfortable. I would say if I was a first time mom ugh those hospital gowns I can't wear them but honestly my first birth I couldn't have been bothered with the material and what it actually felt like

kettlekitten

I wore a long nightie with breastfeeding panel at the top over yoga pants. Underpants etc came off when it was time to push but the nightie stayed on during pushing - not that I cared what I was wearing but that's just how it panned out. As soon as baby arrived and got plonked on my chest the nightie got covered in vernix and blood. Doctors and midwives have seen so many tits, bums and vaginas, yours won't be anything special, and you'll be busy thinking about other things anyway...

Perfect Sonnet

Don't wear underwear.  That sounds like a huge pain.  I just wore a hospital gown and nothing else.  I know some people like to wear their own clothes, but labor isn't a clean process.  There is blood, placenta, and a pretty slimy baby that gets tossed on your chest.  You may want to leave off the tank and bra, so it is easy to do skin-to-skin time right after labor.

Suzanne237

Hospital gown

puccagirl77

I wore a hospital gown. I vomited on it after giving birth, so I was quite happy not to have that to take home and clean. Honestly, the very last thing on my mind was what I was wearing.

jessandandy09

hospital gown towards the end for each of them.  But I end up basically naked because you just start getting rid of clothes!  I didn't go into the hospital with my first 2 deliveries until I was further along and my third was the middle of the night so I had on pajamas to start.  I also like to take a warm shower during the labor process so, that is a good time to switch to the hospital gown for me with nothing else.  just the gown.

* funny story* after my 2nd child was born and the dr. placed him on my belly (gown up around my ta-ta's), I pulled off my gown to nurse, and the dr. who birthed my son (not my normal ob) turned his head and said "let me give you some privacy"  --- He just had his hands in my vagina as my 9 pound baby boy came tearing out, but my boob made him blush!

JNOVA2015

Thanks so much for the feedback, everyone! I think it's absolutely a situation where I won't care at all in the moment, but having a plan in advance will at least make me feel like I'm slightly in control of an uncontrollable situation . Self-deception at its finest!!

leanne69

I'm so happy you asked this question because I was thinking the same thing! When I went to a natural birthing class they were showing us different laboring positions and one was on all 4's ( ahem,, kind of like doggie style?) and I was horrified.. I just stared at the pic and and actually asked the lady.. sooo like is my butt out at this point? Like just out there? And she confirmed. I wanted to die. Was hoping to wear a light short nightie or something to cover up a little!