Question about labor clothes

MamaWombat · January 2014

At 34 weeks, I'm starting to think I need to figure this out pretty soon. I know I don't want to wear hospital gowns - the idea seems horribly uncomfortable if I'm going to be moving around much and/or getting in the shower - but I also don't want to (and can't afford to) spend much money on clothes that are going to get all bloody. What would you all recommend?

Joansmith1128 · January 2014

I got a $20 nightgown at target. No hospital gowns for me either!

barista411 · January 2014

IMHO I wouldn't bother with clothes. If you plan to labor in the shower you will most likely be naked a majority of the time. I labored in the shower with both of mine and the nurses just threw a bathrobe over me when I got out to push. You can always do a bikini top like PP said if you are concerned with modesty.

alliejoe · January 2014

I'm busty, especially when pregnant, so I knew I'd never be comfortable without some support on top. My labor started with my water breaking and my mw strongly suggested I not wear anything from the waist down b/c I was GBS+ and there was muconium in the fluid. Better to lett the fluid out than hold it against by body with a pad or whatever. I ended up in the shower shortly after that and ended up just wearing my bra the while time. Fwiw, my bra was fine in terms of reusability.

mb314 · January 2014

Pack a variety of things because you don't know what you'll feel like doing. I labored in the shower at home and then in the tub at the hospital, and I was nude for all of it and I didn't care one bit. If you plan on laboring in the shower at home but then going to the hospital later, make sure you have something that is super easy to get on and weather appropriate for the car ride to the hospital. It was in the 80s when I gave birth, so I just threw on a maternity coveral/strapless dress - no bra, no undies - any more than that would have been awful to deal with. Maybe have a nice robe available to throw on? It may get yucky, but you can wash it. I got poo on my robe, and I washed it out no problem and still use it.

KrisM86 · January 2014

I spent most of both my labors in yoga pants and a sports bra. I had old, black yoga pants and an old sports bra so I didn't really care if they got ruined. They ended up fine after a wash.

sschwege · January 2014

I think the idea of a cheap nightgown is a good one.

I didn't mind the hospital gown, at least at my hospital it's a full cotton gown, then after you have the baby they have one for nursing. It's nice to be able to just grab another if it gets wet or gross.

I knew I was going to be laboring in the tub so I did bring a maternity tankini top, but never used it. With my first I labored in the gown until I got into the tub, then I was naked even after I got out to push. With my second I arrived ready to push, so I just took off all my clothes, my mom tried to help me put the gown on, but I was too hot and annoyed to even attempt wearing clothes, so once again I was naked. I think pp had a good suggestion just bring a few different options and see what you feel like when the day comes. I will say I really like to have a robe for after the baby is born, it's nice for when visitors come or if you are out in the hallways.

ktbug3000 · January 2014

I had on an old tank top and regular bra and some old soft exercise shorts. I am not comfortable being naked in front of others so I put my pants back on after every check. I can't remember if they were still on when my water broke but maybe so because I don't recall ever seeing them again after that day! Haha. I am like all the other posters though, did not even entertain the idea of wearing a hospital gown. I bought a cheap little dress for the occasion but didn't end up putting it on.

NoeliaV · January 2014

I brought a sleep nursing bra to labor in, but ended up wearing only the hospital gown for L&D.

Postpartum, I wore the hospital's mesh undies, my own PJ pants and a nursing tank. PP wasn't that messy for me, and I still wear those jammies on occasion.

aylafsu88 · January 2014

I bought a couple of nightgowns that zipped up the front to wear. The zipper would be easy to open and for nurses/OB to have access to me if needed. However, when I was in labor I only wore a nursing bra. I labored at home and went from the tub to the toilet most of the time. Being in the water and at home I did not wear anything. When I got to the hospital I was in transition and I wore nothing but the bra while I labored and pushed LO out. For me I lost all my modesty when laboring.

MamaWombat · January 2014

Thanks, ladies! These are great ideas!

abirdd9 · January 2014

Hospital gowns = ick! Itchy and huge and uncomfortable.

I wore a $20 night gown from Target. I surprisingly stayed clothed the entire time.

HNRomance · January 2014

i was wondering the same thing so thanks for all the ideas. I would just throw in my two cents and say the color black is hard to stain and my friend recommended bringing several pairs of my own underwear since she had issues with the hospital underwear.

Crinita · January 2014

I wore a nursing tank/short dress style nightgown in a dark burgundy color--- worked out perfectly. I can still wear it.

shiway · January 2014

Don't know if anyone said this but just because you labor ad birth in your clothes doesn't make them ruined. Things wash. I had no problem getting my clothes clean.

luvmybundle · January 2014

i'm going to be honest and say that i will probably be naked! i might wear something like a sports bra on top but i want to do skin to skin immediately after birth so i'll probably just stay naked. i'm a nurse and i know that nobody cares about seeing my body. plus i'm imagining i'm going to be hot and in pain and being fully clothed will only make me more aggravated. but i will pack some dark colored comfy clothes just in case things change.

klafle3 · January 2014

luvmybundle said:
i'm going to be honest and say that i will probably be naked! i might wear something like a sports bra on top but i want to do skin to skin immediately after birth so i'll probably just stay naked. i'm a nurse and i know that nobody cares about seeing my body. plus i'm imagining i'm going to be hot and in pain and being fully clothed will only make me more aggravated. but i will pack some dark colored comfy clothes just in case things change.

I didn't really plan it that way, but I was completely naked from the moment I stepped into the L&D room, and I'll likely do it again. I labored in the tub and didn't want anything touching me. When you're in the moment you really don't care!

JosephsSweetie · January 2014

2 loose sports bras, that's it. Being larger on top, I wanted support. I ended up using both bras, one for when I was laboring in the tub, and the second dry one for when I had to get out.

marriedinaugust · January 2014

No matter what anyone said I knew I wasn't going to be comfortable laboring naked. I bought a cheap short black spaghetti string cotton nightgown from target and labored in that and it was perfect for breast feeding later. After everything it washed up fine and I plan on using it for baby #2.

SidraJedi · January 2014

I couldn't stand clothes as soon as labor really started to get going. I wanted all that stuff off of me! I was a little ashamed of my nakedness but mostly I had to feel physically comfortable and the clothes were so annoying.

Dreamingmommy4 · January 2014

I started out in a hospital gown at first, it was fine for the beginning of labor. I brought my own bathrobe and socks and wore that when I was walking the halls. I had brought a bandeau top and bathing suit bottoms to labor in, but once active labor started and I spent time in the labor tub I didn't want to wear clothes again. So the nurses just draped me in a pre-warmed (awesome!) blanket and I labored and delivered naked. Much more comfortable that way. (Remember, the hospital staff has seen everything before so don't feel embarrassed. And once your in labor you aren't going to care. Just make sure you are comfortable with your support people seeing you naked, because they are going to see everything!) Even after delivery in recovery, I got really frustrated wearing the hospital gowns because LO kept spitting up on them or I leaked BM everywhere. So I wore the mesh panties and nothing else, much easier. (After birth you don't want to wear your own clothes, trust me. With all the yuck leaking out of you.)

*blue*flower* · January 2014

Just FYI, due to a precipitous labor I didn't make it to a hospital and delivered wearing a normal top/bra thatI was quite fond of. They both got bloody. I didn't wash them until about 3 days later when we were home, I figured they'd be a lost cause. But a little OxyClean and Cheer detergent and they are good as new! So don't be too worried about whatever you choose not coming clean.

kryslovesdave · January 2014

I'm planning on taking my own clothes, morethan likely a night gown but for the hospital stay I want to recommend getting dark pajama pants from Gilly Hicks whether in store or online. Those are THE only pants that fit me sooo comfortably and that are loose around my belly so they'll be even more comfortable for post labor. They're made of cotton and the material is super soft. That's really all I look forward to at the end of the day lately!! lol

stella_blu · January 2014

I wore a hospital gown with their mesh undies and pad and a soft nursing bra. The gown came off during transition and I was happy to have the bra. I tend to get really hot during
Labor. With my first I was totally naked for a while and my dad walked in the room not knowing lol. The blood and amniotic fluid that got on the nursing bra washed out easily. It was just a cheapie from target but so soft and comfy. I think I will also get a light weight night shirt this time around for after labor. Or early stages.

DebateThis · January 2014

My water broke and leaked for ~15 hrs before I went to L&D and by that point I was tired of changing my clothes and soaking them in amniotic fluid every 15 minutes and needing new stuff so the hospital gown was a nice change. It didn't bother me a bit until real labor kicked in. I'd been stalled at 6-7cm for 3 weeks at that point so I don't know whether to call it transition or not, but about 30 minutes before LO was born I was suddenly SO hot and couldn't handle anything touching me at all - a towel I'd been wrapped in when I got out of the tub almost felt physically painful touching me so I was naked as a jaybird to push. I wore my own nursing tanks and yoga pants once I got to my recovery room and it felt great to shower and wear my own stuff.

Ladyburd · February 2014

FTM at 37 weeks. I'm bringing one of my beach wraps. It's light weight and I can tie in the front at my chest. I usually wear it around the house after a shower. It's also long enough to cover my body (about knee length) and if necessary I can throw some shorts under if I need to walk the halls.

Want a personalized experience?

Question about labor clothes

Re: Question about labor clothes

Choose Another Board

Search Boards