Labor Gowns

mizzkbrat · June 2016

Help a FTM out. I saw an ad for labor gowns on my FB and it got me thinking of buying one. Did anybody buy one for their labor? Did you hear any setbacks from the hospital that they wouldn't allow you to wear it? What do I need to look for in a labor down?

vcabbyw · June 2016

I find it sad when I hear people mention hospital policy and what they won't allow you to do.

But I guess I'm a naughty hospital patient. I'll be wearing whatever I want, signing whatever waivers I need to and declining whatever I want.

But regardless of all that... I just wore a black nightgown from target to labor in. I was unmedicated for a long time. Then naked. Then when I got a spinal, I changed into the hospital gown since it's open in the back.

I wouldn't buy anything special.. Birth is
messy. Bring a sports bra, and chose dark colors.

Plus, seriously you will not care what you
look like when it come down to the serious business.

Schell2013 · June 2016

My hospital didn't allow lot of things and I still did what I wanted anyways. Maybe I'm a bad ass! We're in North America, they can't MAKE you do a damn thing. If you want to wear a gown you fly at it girl! That being said birth is messy, I used all the hospital linens as much as possible cause I didn't want to worry about any laundry when I got home.

scostel2 · June 2016

I just bought this one:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/188900995/navy-polka-dot-maternity-hospital?ref=hp_rv

I purchased the same one in a a different pattern for my friend who had a baby back in March and she loved it. She didn't wear it for most of her labor, but wore it during most of her hospital stay after. It has snaps everywhere so it's good for skin to skin, breast feeding, etc. It can be left open in the back too. My friend says the hospital would have let her wear it to labor in, but she didn't want to get it super messy and not be able to use it for the rest of her stay. She liked it better than a robe for afterwards because it was easy for the nurses to examine her and to nurse in without being too open or having to worry about popping a boob accidentally around people you don't want to.

LGW2015 · June 2016

@scostel2 that's really cute and seems super convenient! Now I'm debating getting one for after delivery. Just wondering if it's worth getting if i'm only in the hospital for a couple days (if all goes well).

scostel2 · June 2016

@LGW2015 it said online a lot of people wear it as a nightgown later! My friend didn't nurse much after she got home so she didn't need the convenience of the snaps much after, but I plan to still use mine sometimes after I get home if it's comfy enough!

queen_frostine · June 2016

And yay for that one being available in plus sizes! My worry is that the actual hospital gowns won't be big enough for me - especially since I believe labor gowns are different from the standard since they open in the front, too, and they can't just give me a big man's size.

Mintz1982 · June 2016

I wore what they gave me giving birth is a messy thing. I'd rather them wash the mess than take it home with me but I could see wearing it after I was in my comfy jammies shortly after birth both times.

ignoscemihi · June 2016

I'm pretty sure I was naked through my delivery, but it was short (6 hours from water breaking to baby in arms). I just bought a cheapo bathrobe that I had planned to wear during early labor (but I skipped early labor) and wore that the rest of my stay in the hospital. You just want something loose with an open front for breastfeeding if you're planning to nurse. And something you don't mind throwing away if need be.

kelliott09 · June 2016

I bled all over the hospital gown, even after delivery. I can't imagine spending money on a gown when you can just ruin their's.

mizzkbrat · June 2016

That makes sense. I was thinking more of looking cute after labor when there are visitors, but being comfy and having easy access for nursing and everything the hospital needs access for. I wasn't thinking of being messy during labor.

The only time I've been in a hospital is when my mom was admitted during her chemo and I just remembered everytime she leaned forward or got out of her bed, her booty was exposed. So I figured a labor town would keep me properly covered and also provide easy access for when needed.

Thanks for the reminder that birth is messy! Haha

SuperNerd42 · June 2016

I brought a cozy robe to wear after delivery. Hospitals are cold! It was perfect- I could snuggle DD, be totally comfortable, and still look (half way) put together for visitors.

The actual birthing though- hospital gown at first, then naked. Between water breaking/dripping, the bath tub, and other random grossness I think I went through three or four gowns before I gave up lol

Mintz1982 · June 2016

I take cappy skippers and socks and I put them in a bag trash them right at hospital on my way out hospitals are the cleanest and the dirtiest places. I took a white bathrobe and washed and bleached it when I got home. I have a fear of bacteria sure hospital floors are clean but I gave birth and stayed in same room the lady did not come to clean the floor for 6 hours after I gave birth in that time all I was thinking was nurses going from room to room good no what's on the other floors. My Dr came from his house rode his bike 3 blocks and I'm in slippers.

mrskratt · June 2016

I personally wouldn't buy anything for labor, but maybe after.
I bought a reallllllly cute robe from Pink Blush Maternity.

ibabyloveb87 · June 2016

@mrskratt I keep looking at their robes. Haven't decided which one I want yet!!

LauraPCOS · June 2016

I feel like I'm a complete noob, but people buy robes for the hospital? I just thought they gave you a gown when you got there, and that was it.

krzyriver · June 2016

@RainMira9e I'm plus-size and was in L&D a few weeks ago. The gown they gave me fit, but was super uncomfortable! And the opening in the front would open if I moved wrong. I don't know if they had bigger ones that I could've requested, but I plan to buy something to wear after labor.

ignoscemihi · June 2016

@LauraPCOS a robe is definitely optional, but it might be warmer than the thin hospital gowns - and cover more. I spent most of the 24 hours in the hospital post-delivery in bed, and it was just my husband, new baby and me the whole time, but if you have visitors, you may want something more substantial than the hospital gown. It's really just about what you feel comfortable with.

LauraPCOS · June 2016

And when you say "robe" are we talking about a normal house type robe, like a coat that you tie around your waste? Or like a night gown (extra long shirt) thingie?

ignoscemihi · June 2016

I had a regular robe, but either works as long as it's easy to open at the top (for skin-to-skin and breastfeeding).

blaf322 · June 2016

Never thought about s special gown to wear while in the hospital... Thanks for posting

UponAStar16 · June 2016

@LauraPCOS I've gotten advice to bring or get a comfy robe for my time in the hospital after delivery, and I've seen some nice sets with a nursing (straps with the clasps) nightgown and matching robe that I'll prob get if I ever find any that are not as expensive...it depends what you feel like wearing but if you plan to breastfeed you would want something that makes it easy to pull out a boob or two, so a regular nightgown might be harder. Either way I think at least a regular robe would be good to have to wear over whatever else

kmvisioli · June 2016

Yeah, I thought about getting one the first time around and chose to spend the money on a soft comfy robe instead (I went with a fairly thin cotton/jersey type one from the Target pajama section). Definitely glad I made that choice! I wound up basically naked during delivery, and was definitely not thinking about changing or how I looked at that point, but the robe was perfect for over my nightgown/nursing clothes and for a quick easy cover when visitors came.

ammiddleton3 · June 2016

I plan on ordering one or two robes likes this. https://www.etsy.com/listing/287353375/maternity-set-of-mommy-and-newborn-robe?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=floral delivery robe&ref=sr_gallery_36
I know some people think they are silly but I'm wanting every aspect of this delivery to be different than my first. If I don't wear it during labor I can wear it after. And use it at home too.

NicholeL16 · June 2016

I'm ordering something from etsy. Not because I want to look fancy but because they put me in a gown/top at my first visit and it was too small. I split it right down the back. I had a huge pregnancy melt down and cried through the entire first appointment. I don't want to be dealing with that in the middle of labor. I'm planning on delivering in the tub anyway so I'm ordering a stretchy/sports bra like top for that.

NoraAurora · June 2016

Total waste of money.

mothernorth · June 2016

I don't know about "labor gowns", but I've been looking into a nursing gown for easier access while feeding so I'm not having to keep tack of buttoning and unbuttoning the hospital gown straight or keeping it properly tied and a regular old robe. Hospital gowns have been just fine for me before, but a robe would add some much needed extra warmth so I don't need 20 extra blankets... I'm very cold natured.

kelliott09 · June 2016

I'm guessing hospital gowns vary from hospital to hospital. I've never had, or seen, one that opened in the front or that felt too small or constricting. The only gowns I've seen are the same whether you're laboring or not, they are open with ties in the back and have snaps down both sleeves to allow access to the front for whatever, including breastfeeding. I'm also certain they have more than one size because a nurse brought me one during my last delivery and said, oops, wrong size. So I guess if you're at a hospital with weird constricting gowns, this might make sense. Also, I remember I did take a robe with my first, at my moms suggestion. I didn't think I would need one but my baby ended up staying in the NICU for a while and it was nice not to have to walk around the hospital with my backside exposed.

TurtleMomma · June 2016

I might get a gown simply because I will have a birth photographer and I'm not sure how naked I'll want to be (but I'm totes open to going au naturale). If I did, it would totally be a throw away cheap thing.

queen_frostine · June 2016

I just ordered two of these: https://www.walmart.com/ip/47490091 They come in size 3x so they can be nice and comfy, they come in black (all these nightgowns in pastels... that would totally show bloodstains). I plan to wear them after the actual birth, especially since they don't open in the back to allow for the epidural. Yes, I go the cheapo Walmart route rather than the fancy Etsy route

ashleymn-2 · June 2016

RainMira9e said:

And yay for that one being available in plus sizes! My worry is that the actual hospital gowns won't be big enough for me - especially since I believe labor gowns are different from the standard since they open in the front, too, and they can't just give me a big man's size.

I worked in both LTC and hospital settings where we dress our residents/patients in hospital gown and almost ALL of them were entirely too big. I actually felt bad dressing some of my females because I swear to god it was almost all mens or something. They were swimming in those gowns and I felt the need to constantly make sure it wasn't riding up and choking them. I can't speak to labor gowns because I haven't had a chance to work in L&D/neonatal yet (even though it's all i want lmao) but oh my gosh I will bring my own gown because I don't want to have to worry about the sizes either.

coffee89 · June 2016

Last time I was in their gown because I didn't care. Then we ended up in a c-sec with no visitors and me way drugged up so I stayed in their gown. They opened in the back and they gave me a second to wear backwards to cover everything when I was out of bed.

This time I know I'll have at least my parents visit (they will bring my toddler) so I have a light cotton maternity robe and I'll throw that over a cami with a maxi skirt or something. For actual labor, I don't give a crap what I'm wearing. There is going to be blood, sweat and tears and all I want is to push a baby out.

mizzkbrat · June 2016

So yesterday I was sent to the hospital for observation due to a car accident I was in. They made me get into a robe and solidified my thought of getting a cute robe or something to wear for my hospital stay. I don't care what I wear during labor, but my ass being fully exposed as I was getting in and out of bed, nope. Can't do it. Plus it as so big, I felt I was drowning in it.

scostel2 · June 2016

@mizzkbrat hope you're doing okay!

ibabyloveb87 · June 2016

@mizzkbrat Hope you checked out just fine!

emmaaa · June 2016

@mizzkbrat I hope everything checked out okay!

mizzkbrat · June 2016

@scostel2 @ibabyloveb87 @emmaaa

yes thank you. Baby and I are doing fine thankfully. It was a scary few hours but as soon as I heard that heartbeat, I was so relived.

mrszoess · June 2016

zulilly has robes on sale today

UponAStar16 · June 2016

@mizzkbrat so scary, glad you and LO are ok!

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Labor Gowns

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