What did you wear?

TNgoldengirl

What did you wear while l&d'ing? Specifically in a hospital. A friend said she wore her own clothes, and that was more comfortable. I know you're obviously very exposed while giving birth. But what about the hours before pushing, that you are at the hospital, vs still at home. I had an epi with my first, so it was just the hospital gown. So this may sound silly, especially since I'm sure it'd be the least of my worries going med-free...but I couldn't imagine just being on all fours, my bum sticking up in the air all exposed for whomever walked in to directly see. I'm pretty modest. We also have the option of laboring in a tub, but not delivering there. 

tokenhoser

At home, I wore yoga pants (that I didn't love) and a tank top. At the hospital, I did change into the gown because things were going to get messy. Whatever you wear in the hospital should be disposable. I ended up naked and not caring. There was a sheet to keep me covered and warm if I got chilly, but the gown just annoyed me and didn't work well on all fours.

aylafsu88

At home I only wore a nursing bra.  I was in the tub and then on the toilet the whole time so it was easier to be nude from the waist down.  When we went to the hospital I wore gym shorts and a T shirt.  As soon as I got to my room at the hospital I stripped down to my nursing bra again and got back in the tub.  I thought I would be more modest because I am a reserved person in general.  However, when I was in labor I did not care who saw me and that I was nude.  I was more focused on contractions. You lose a lot of your inhibitions when you are in labor.

annabelle.27

I was naked at the hospital. I laboured in the shower on the birth ball. I didnt get out until it was almost time to push. They threw a gown on me but at that point I wouldn't have noticed or cared it I was still naked.

At my homebirth I had intended to wear this old nightgown of mine but things moved way too fast to think about something like changing. I can't remember what I was in during my prepushing labour, it would have been whatever I put on before going to bed that night, and during pushing I stripped down to my sportsbra.

NoeliaV

I wore two hospital gowns. One covering my front and the other like a robe to cover my backside.

TNgoldengirl

Which leads me to another question...what if you have a bowel movement while pushing..if you're not on your back where MW or OB can nonchalantly dispose of it?? Is there less of a chance in some positions? I know I prob won't be concerned with these things when the time comes but right now it's intimidating!

missmuffin87

I wore swim suit top while I was in the tub and then I had brought a short bathrobe to wear when I was out of the tub. I also had a comfy cotton nightgown/ beach cover-up dress from VS that was long enough to cover my bum, but not so long that it got in the way.

I ended up delivering naked though, just because things happened pretty fast at the end and I still had my swim top on, but the MW had me take it off right before DD came out because the fabric was cold and wet and wouldn't have been good for the baby to lay on. I wish I'd had thought to change into my nightgown before pushing.

I was prepared to throw away any clothes that got really gross, but my clothes were all fine. A little blood isn't that hard to wash out.

superned

With #1, after I showered and got ready to go in to the OB's office, I wore a sundress - no need to worry about taking pants on and off.  I changed into the gown at the hospital, but ended up being naked a lot of the time, either in the tub or shower.  I had a gown on while pushing.

With #2, I was wearing yoga pants and a maternity t-shirt (no bra) when I went into labor and literally did not have time between contractions to think about changing (or putting on a bra).  I was ready to deliver when I got to the hospital, so we literally tore my pants and underwear off in triage and they covered my bottom half with a gown while I was wheeled to L&D.  Somehow, I got my t-shirt off and the gown on while we were waiting for the OB, and I delivered with the gown barely on.

My biggest regret about my birth is that things were so crazy that I ended up losing my (brand new) yoga pants in triage.  Lesson - don't think about it too much, and be prepared to throw out (or lose) whatever you wear!

pdilly2b

At home before the hospital, I wore my normal thing for that day, which I think was yoga pants and a tank top.  At the hospital, they gave me hospital gowns to put on (one open in the back and then another on top that opened in the front).  I wore my bra under it, no underwear because they would check me periodically and I didn't want my water to break on my own clothes.  When I got into the tub, I put on a sports bra (no bottoms).  My big thing was I didn't want my boobs flopping around because I find it distracting and wanted some degree of modesty.  When I got out, back with the normal bra and the gown.  I guess for pushing, I took off the second gown so my butt was out for pushing on all 4s.

 

For the pooping thing, I think the midwife will find a way to be discrete in whatever position you are in.  It really is just something you won't be worrying about, even if that's hard to believe now. 

beachcomberbride

I know it's hard to believe but you really won't care! As far as pooping, you don't even notice and they are really amazing at getting rid of it

KrisM86

For the first 24 hours of labor, I wore yoga pants, a sports bra and a stretchy top. When I needed to transfer to the hospital they had me change into a gown.

bornmommy

I ordered one of those cute hospital gowns that I wore for about 5 hours and from then on I was completely naked.  I liked the gown though because I wore it the rest of the time I was in the hospital until I was discharged.  Easy on, off and easy for nursing plus it made me feel better than the gowns they have there for you.

Into+the+Kitty

I went through about 20 hospital gowns. In the tub, I didn't care about being seen naked, but found that the weight of the wet gown on my stomach really helped. Every time I got out of the tub I changed into a dry gown (with one covering my back if I was out walking the ward.

When my water broke and I started pushing, I wanted absolutely nothing on my body so I was fully naked.

Next time I plan on wearing a swim suit top and bringing a heavy towel that I can leave in the tub in case I need the same pressure to feel relief. It was just a major pain for me getting in and out of wet gowns. I probably would have just labored naked but the room was really cold to me, even with the heat up.

abell77

Just have a few different options available and then just do what feels right to you in the moment.  I am a modest person too.  However, during my first labor (well into active labor) I reached a point where my strongest urge was to not have a single stitch of clothing on.  In between contractions I began taking all my clothes off.  I stayed this way until I gave birth.  I did not care one bit who saw me, at all.  It was crazy, I laugh about it now.  Who would have thought I would have become "that naked lady" during labor?  With my second it was a much easier labor.  I arrived at the hospital in shorts and a tank top with a very thin kinda sports bra almost under.  Things happened fast so soon after I got to the hospital the nurse helped me out of my shorts and I started pushing.  My husband knew I wanted the baby on my chest right away so he reminded me that I probably wanted to take off my shirt.  I left the little bra on to preserve some shred of dignity after my previous naked escapade, lol.  It was easy to pull down when baby wanted to start nursing but made me feel like I was at least a little covered up.

amandaleigh1

I had a hospital birth. I started out in pajama pants and top, then wore nothing for the majority of my labor while I was in the tub, after getting out of the tub, I was really cold but I wanted the relative openness of the hospital gown, so I used that.

My modesty went out the window completely! I really did not care at all. You will end up doing what seems most comfortable at the time.

hamiltks10

I spent my entire time laboring at home...in yoga pants and a tank top with a zip up hoodie and then naked in my tub.  

I had gone shopping just a few days before to find something to wear at the hospital...and I bought a long, black skirt.  It was a big deal for me...I really didn't want to wear the hospital gown.  But, by the time I got to the hospital I was fully dilated and my body was pushing. They asked me to put on a gown in triage, and I did it without hesitation.  

I couldn't have cared less at that point what I was wearing....really.  The gown was perfectly fine.  My husband even asked me if I wanted to change once we got into the delivery room, and I said no.  It just didn't matter to me at that point.

If I had spent all of labor at the hospital...then yes, I would have wanted something else to wear.  But once you get past a certain point, like others have said, it doesn't matter. 

NydaP

I went into labor late at night with my first son, and early in the morning with my second so I was in pajamas both times while laboring at home.  I then changed into a jogging suit to go to the hospital.  I changed into the hospital gown as soon as I arrived at the hospital both times and kept that on the entire time.

I realize many women lose their inhibitions during labor, but I'm not one of them.  I was paranoid about being seen naked by anyone other than those who were absolutely necessary.   I even kept my underwear on after changing into my gown during my first labor. 

TNgoldengirl

NydaP:

I went into labor late at night with my first son, and early in the morning with my second so I was in pajamas both times while laboring at home. nbsp;I then changed into a jogging suit to go to the hospital. nbsp;I changed into the hospital gown as soon as I arrived at the hospital both times and kept that on the entire time. I realize many women lose their inhibitions during labor, but I'm not one of them. nbsp;I was paranoid about being seen naked by anyone other than those who were absolutely necessary.nbsp; nbsp;I even kept my underwear on after changing into my gown during my first labor.nbsp;

I feel like this would be me, but who knows! The hospital that has the midwives is also one that all the med students learn at, so I would feel selfconscious but would probably ask that they not be there!

MrsBigTime

I was naked within moments of getting to the hospital (after the first check). I didn't intend to be, but in the heat of the moment, I didn't care. Even with two MWs sitting below my naked squatting bootie, I didn't care, ha!

Since my water broke while I was pushing, the clothes I went to the hospital in were still clean so I put my cami on after I delivered until I took a shower a few hours later. 

CoffeeBeanFiend91

I want to make my own version of a hospital gown. I don't mind being exposed to medical staff, especially since I'll be so focused on L&Ding.

briannabeebug

I plan on laboring in the summer and in the tub so I'm thinking a comfy bathing suit top and when I'm not in the tub/bouncing on the ball walking around a sarong wrap tyed into a halter top like thing--loose and comfy!

LaineyPaney

I wore a hospital gown.

abbyful

I started out in a hospital gown. By the end, I was completely naked. I don't remember taking off the gown, but somewhere along the line I did. Believe me, you won't care. (And then after we were moved to the recovery room, it seemed like everyone that worked in the hospital saw my boobs: the nurses, my OB, LO's pediatrician... I didn't care, modesty was gone and we were having a difficult time at first with BFing.)

georgi611

During labor I wore a hospital gown.  After labor (and some rest and an amazing shower!) I wore yoga pants and a nursing tank top!  Cozy!

margaritachikita

I bought a 5 dollar sundress and wore that while laboring at the hospital. It made me feel good to not be in a gown. In my mind gowns are for sick people and i wanted to feel strong. But once i got into the tub it was just a sports bra, no bottom. For pushing in a bed i was totally naked. i wish i had kept at least some kind of bra on because our doula took all these cool pictures that i cant really show anyone cuz my tots are hanging out. For LO2 my goal is to leave some sort of top on, just for the sake of pictures!