Home Birth Moms - What to Wear?

silkyhorse · June 2010

Just wondering what the home birth moms wore during labor. I'm assuming at some point during labor, I'm no longer going to want to wear underwear? I usually wear tank tops to sleep in, but if I'm not going to have underwear on, I think I'll want something a little longer that covers my butt My thought is to buy a nightshirt that is sleeveless, lightweight, stretchy, and about mid-thigh length.

Any input is appreciated!!!

bandwife · June 2010

I will preface this with I was unprepared (in the supplies sense) for our home birth as my water broke 10 days before my EDD.

Early in labor I was just in a casual skirt and top. Later I switched to a tank (no bra) and wrapped a sheet around my waist. Next time I will have a bunch of long cotton nighties (something like a maxi dress) on hand. That is what I felt most comfortable in.

Good luck!

jteneback · June 2010

In The Business of Being Born one of the moms wore a sarong type skirt which came off at some point. It looked comfortable, but still provided access if she needed to be checked.

MamaFawn · June 2010

I had clothes all picked out for my first birth. I waterbirthed and started out in a leisure bra, but found it uncomfortable to be wearing it wet. If I had a more comfortable bikini top, that might have worked better but mine was halter top and really not very comfortable for a long period of time. I ended up naked the rest of the time, oblivious to modesty but in total comfort.

LindseyJW · June 2010

i was nature girl for most of my labor. i couldn't stand to have any fabric touching me and i alternated from sweats to freezing (it was december). i didn't plan on having anything in particular to wear, but whatever i had on came off quickly - i do remember that!

when walking around the house, i wore a lightweight (summer) robe. i spent a lot of time in the shower and tub, and wore nothing there.

this birth will be in september, and it will likely still be warm here, so i don't expect that i'll be wearing much. though i'm not modest and fine with being nude!

mh2t · June 2010

Once labor got uncomfortable, I put on a bikini top and got into my birth pool. I had a terry-cloth "towel" tube dress to wear when I got out, so I wore that for awhile. Later I changed into a short lightweight robe from Target, which I wore the rest of the time. In my Bradley class they talked about how I would be tearing my clothes off at some point. Never happened. I guess I"m a pretty modest person. The robe was great, though, and I lived in it around the house for months afterward. Made nursing easy.

mr&mrswelch · June 2010

Birthing From Within recommends a old long t-shirt.

ErinRC · June 2010

I went into active labor right after getting ready for bed. I was wearing an old tank top that I only sleep in, cotton shorts and underwear. Obviously the bottom half came off when I got into the birthing pool. I just left the tank top on and gave birth in that. I wasn't really thinking about it at the time. I never really made any plans about what to wear before hand. Just don't wear anything you really like and would feel bad about getting ruined (my tank was fine though).

jenair · June 2010

walking around the neighborhood i wore one of those skirts that can be part skirt / part tube dress / part bathing suit cover up. i actually wore that sucker for close to 3 days.

but then labor labor - no way did i have any clothing on.

MrsTiara · June 2010

Nothing. I was naked last time for my birth center birth. You get to a point where you just don't care anyway. I'm modest, usually, but I felt the best bare.

silkyhorse · June 2010

Thanks for all the info, ladies! I had heard that a lot of women are most comfortable naked, but want something comfortable either up until I go naked or in case I don't want to be naked!

AllieJean · June 2010

I started out in a stretchy skirt and tank top, but later when I got into the birthing tub I just wore my swim suit top the rest of the time. You will be in your own house to just wear whatever makes you comfortable

brittm87 · June 2010

I wore a knee length night gown. and my nursing bra.. no undies because it was a pain to put them on and off when she checked me. so i just left them off!

marriedinaugust · June 2010

I gave birth at a hospital but didn't want to wear the hospital gown so I wore this. I never got to the point where I wanted to be naked. I was only in labor at the hospital for 6 hours.

flyer23 · June 2010

I wore a tank top and sweatpants. The sweatpants (and underwear underneath) didn't come off until my water broke, right as I started pushing. Then I took those off and got in the tub for delivery in just my tank top.

Germanwife2b · June 2010

My water broke right when I got up at 5am and i immediately went into active labor. I was wearing a t-shirt and shorts at the time. I was quickly naked after that and I remember my birth assitant kept trying to dress me (espcially the underwear part with a pad because I was leaking) and i kept taking it off. i couldn't figure out why they wanted me so clothed :-) I am a little modest but I really could have cared less about the clothing at the time. I think I actually pushed with my t-shirt on backwards but my delivery pictures show me totally nude. So at some point I ripped the shirt back off!

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