I had a couple questions as to what you are bringing to wear... Are you ladies just planning on wearing the provided gown? Or are you bringing your own clothes? We plan on laboring at home as long as possible and then making our way to the hospital. What do you plan on wearing to the hospital??? Thank you for your ideas/help...
Re: Natural Birth at a hospital...
I wore their gowns. I had clothes with me, but I was just more comfortable in the gowns.
I showed up at 4:30 in the morning wearing the pajamas I had gone to bed in, and as soon as I got up to L&D I changed into a gown.
I stripped down naked pretty much as soon as I got in the room (I was ready to push upon arrival at the hospital!). We didn't even have a bag with us as my labor progressed very quickly. I ended up wearing the hospital gown the whole time I was there, but I have regrets about that. Mostly vain regrets (I don't like how i look in my pictures) and also it was kind of difficult keeping the holes in the gown closed while visitors were in the room.
This pregnancy I'm going to bring a few nursing gowns (nothing too expensive - you bleed a lot and it's sometimes hard to contain) as well as some comfy but cute stretchy clothes to wear while I'm at the hospital.
I just wore my own clothes for both of my labors. With DS1, I was unexpectedly admitted in early labor. I just wore a big t-shirt and a sports bra, and eventually lost my pants and underwear (and the t-shirt when I got in the tub later on). With DS2, I showed up pushing, and wore a tank top and bra - I had lost my pants at home, but DH made me put some back on for the car ride to the hospital, ha ha haaaa.
I wasn't given a hard time about not wearing the gown either time.
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)
One of my clients recently wore this: https://www.amazon.com/Dream-Tais-Labor-Delivery-Gown/dp/B003ZKOCHY
It was super cute and comfy and got lots of raves from the nurses, who had easy access to everything.
NorCalMOMS bio* NorCalBOTB* babywearingBIO
Harmony Doula
Thank you ladies so much! All very helpful... :-) great to know... ;-)
I planned on wearing my own clothes to labor, but that rather quickly went out the window as they put me on an IV almost as soon as I got to the hospital, and the logistics of getting a top on and off while on the IV was just too much for me to deal with. Also, I had to wear fetal monitors, and that didn't help. I wore the gown on top, and when I felt good enough (and especially when I had the cordless monitor) I put on my own fuzzy robe and flannel pajama bottoms.
I packed way too much, there were clothes that I did not wear at all. I would suggest bringing something to wear home (yoga or sweat pants and a comfy shirt), a favorite robe, SLIPPERS and two outfits to take the baby home in (in case the baby is born already too big for Newborn, bring one newborn outfit and one 0-3 month outfit). Remember, if you're in there long enough to need more clothes (and you're within any reasonable distance of the hospital) you can get your DH/SO or family members to bring you more clothes.
The hospital gowns were just way more convenient for removal, etc.