2nd Timers: Going Commando in L&D?

neferhathor · October 2010

Can you wear panties when you're in labor? I feel kinda stupid asking this, but I'm thinking how uncomfortable I'll feel if they make me go commando the whole time (my mom just told me they didn't let her wear underwear at all). Can you wear them at least while walking around the halls? What was your experience with this?

welcel · October 2010

I don't know if they ban panties, but I can tell you that you won't want them on with the amount of time people spend down there. Oh, and once your water breaks, you won't want them on. Modesty goes out the window when you are in labor. So, I'd just go commando. (I was never allowed to walk around due to meconium in my water...so not sure about that.)

franceshouseman · October 2010

You're going to have bloody show at some point, leaking fluid if your water breaks and be checked a lot. There's no way you can wear underwear. I wouldn't want to anyway.

bumpuser1691848 · October 2010

When I went in, they told me to strip down to just my bra and put on the gown. There's people down there all the time checking you, it'd be too much of a hassle to wear panties. I'm one of those that are super shy and I didn't want to be commando, but once I was actually in labor, I couldn't have cared less.

JoannaJes · October 2010

I really believe that you will have other things on your mind besides your modesty at that point. Bring some underwear if you like, but I'm going to guess that when you are in labor at the hospital, you really won't care. I consider myself a modest person, and right after labor I had nurses help me to use the restroom, and I was completely naked. And I didn't care at all.

AppleMomma · October 2010

I was ordered to drop the panties and put on the hospital gown right away. They do have bed sheets to help you feel more comfortable. But no panties until post delivery. I suppose you can ask, I just didn't care.

houndbaby · October 2010

As soon as I put the hospital gown on they told me the bra and the panties had to go. You can wear a robe when walking around which will keep anyone from seeing anything since the back of the gowns don't close well

scoutkate · October 2010

I was told to take them off once I got to triage. Which was a good thing, because soon after that I started leaking blood and other fun fluids like crazy. There was no question of putting them on again at that point.

moosemax · October 2010

To be honest....I know that I did, and I don't ever remember it bothering me one bit. I agree with the other posters...there are a lot of people checking things and it would have been a huge pain.

I went with the hospital gown for L&D and I had 2 of them. One on forward and one on backward so nothing "hung" out but still had easier access to things like heart/contraction monitors.

grnshdw · October 2010

You are not yourself during L&D so most likely you won't care if you are commando- honestly those women see it all all the time, they will see all of your goodies. You may not even walk the halls- I had no desire to walk any halls or leave the room.

Squishycheeks1 · October 2010

I'm a really modest person, I was pretty conscious of being naked during labor, but I honestly think that trying to keep your undies on during labor would be more of a hassle than anything.

My water didn't break in one big gush but leaked over time and with all the other blood and discharge, a pair of underwear would feel really gross!

I would just ask your DH or whoever is with you to help make sure you're covered up when you're walking in the hallway if you're worried about it.

Temp984666312503071 · October 2010

Sorry - no underwear. You won't want it anyway. It would be annoying to have to take them off everytime you were checked. Plus, you will be bleeding and leaking.

neferhathor · October 2010

So the general consensus is that I won't be wearing panties and I won't really care! Okey dokey then. Thanks a bunch for the info ladies! At least now I will know what to expect.

Hippaw · October 2010

I asked my doc the same question, He suggested to go commando but wear an old robe on top so I won't feel so bare.

clayswife · October 2010

the hospital has really fabulous mesh undies lol... I would have gone commando if my water wasn't leaking everywhere...

APRILMW · October 2010

Lurking

Trust me...once you are in labor....you won't care!

Hyfagal · October 2010

I understand they'd get in the way in the bed but what about when you're walking around? Does all that crap just run down your leg?

APRILMW · October 2010

Hyfagal:
I understand they'd get in the way in the bed but what about when you're walking around? Does all that crap just run down your leg?

Once my water broke I had an epi so they just had to change a pad that was under me in bed every little bit....

t.bird · October 2010

Hyfagal:
I understand they'd get in the way in the bed but what about when you're walking around? Does all that crap just run down your leg?

when i was walking my water hadn't broken yet so i had no leakage...

but i think if you were leaking they'd give you some mesh & a huge ass pad for your pleasure!

but ya- no panties for you!

madhatter2003 · October 2010

Hyfagal:
I understand they'd get in the way in the bed but what about when you're walking around? Does all that crap just run down your leg?

They had the meshies and the monster pads to wear after my water broke while I was walking around. It helped, some. But it's still a messy process Stick out tongue

knbarr · October 2010

When we had our birthing class the nurse said when you come in you put on this robe. Take off your bra and underwear. She said you didnt get in this situation with your undies on your not getting out of it with them on.

They broke my water after i was in triage for a while. I never walked around but i dont think that i would of wanted to i did have some fluids leaking.

hewinked · October 2010

Just like others said, you'll be commando. You get checked a lot. It's definitely weird, but you certainly lose all sense of modesty during the process. I'm a really modest person, but you soon learn to just be naked and have your legs open while in L&D, haha. You really don't think about it with everything else going on.

luckyfrgg · October 2010

I suspect you won't give a flying f... what they want you to wear.

In my experience, they told me to take everything off and put the gown on, and I was totally fine with that. It actually took me a couple minutes to remember whether they let me wear underwear or not because I SO didn't care at that point. But I don't think so. I can ask DH to confirm....

elizabeth6258 · October 2010

I dont know if they wont let you but there really is no point as they will be in that region often so you would just have to remove them every time. I would say skip them.

scoutkate · October 2010

Hyfagal:
I understand they'd get in the way in the bed but what about when you're walking around? Does all that crap just run down your leg?

It's all kind of a blur to me now but I'm pretty sure I was pushed in a wheelchair from triage to L&D, and I was on the bed from that point on. My gown was soaked, though--I had to change it at least once that I remember.

JoannaJes · October 2010

knbarr:

When we had our birthing class the nurse said when you come in you put on this robe. Take off your bra and underwear. She said you didnt get in this situation with your undies on your not getting out of it with them on.

They broke my water after i was in triage for a while. I never walked around but i dont think that i would of wanted to i did have some fluids leaking.

Ha ha, I love this.

juliane2004 · October 2010

To be completely honest, I don't even remember if I was wearing underware or not. Seriously, I just don't remember. And it's weird because I'm one who would insist I wear underware.

bmqcmg · October 2010

I spent the night in the hospital last Thursday and they were going to induce Friday morning, I was told no bra or underwear because they don't want to worry about taking anything off of me if I needed a c-section, but that's just my hospitals policy.

Ivana_Stolichnaya · October 2010

I'm sorry, I know there is 'no such thing as a dumb question' but this is pushing it.

nopegoat · October 2010

kimandhuck:
When I went in, they told me to strip down to just my bra and put on the gown. There's people down there all the time checking you, it'd be too much of a hassle to wear panties. I'm one of those that are super shy and I didn't want to be commando, but once I was actually in labor, I couldn't have cared less.

This exactly!!!

[Deleted User] · October 2010

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libby283 · October 2010

Hyfagal:
I understand they'd get in the way in the bed but what about when you're walking around? Does all that crap just run down your leg?

Well in a nutshell...yes. My water broke very early on in labor with my daughter. I could have went shopping except for the constant trickle of yuck running down my legs. It was miserable. Walking through the hospital I had leaking water. As soon as I delivered the placenta I got a quick shower, clean dry pjs and curled up in the bed with my baby. This was perfect.

saturdaynightdoubletree · October 2010

As soon as you check into L&D it's everything off and in a bag... and ugly gown on. You will have so much going on you won't even notice. I thought I would be super uncomfortable pushing with DH watching, 2 nurses, and a doctor... at the time, in that moment, nothing of the sorts even crossed my mind.