Do I have to wear the hospital gown for delivery?

[Anonymous]

I thought about this issue a lot before my first daughter was born -- like OP, wanted to be in my own clothes to avoid "sick" hospital feeling and be myself -- I can tell you, I did NOT notice or care what I was wearing when giving birth or in labor. On a related note, I'm usually fairly modest but everything was sticking out and I didn't care a bit (nor did anyone else, I imagine). Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I wore my own sweats and t-shirt in early labor, and it was no problem. The gown was folded on a side table in case I wanted it. Eventually took off the sweats. DH tells me that a few minutes into pushing, I started yelling Why the F&*! is it so hot in here? and ordered him to take off my t-shirt for me and open all the windows. I have no recollection of any of it.
Was very happy to have the hospital gown for after delivery, when things were messier.

[Anonymous]

OP,

I wore a comfy sleep bra (bravado makes a great one and it's available at target, i think) and a pair of sweatshorts until my water broke. i used the hospital gown as a robe. They handed it to me but nobody told me I "needed" to wear it. If you have an epidural (I did not) they may have more cause to tell you what to do and wear for access, perhaps, but I'm not sure.

I do have to say that by the time I was pushing, I stripped EVERYTHING off. I was on some kind of natural childbirth high. It was like the drunk person who decides it is a good idea to take off all her clothes and streak down the street or something. I just didn't care and was having fun and was too "in the moment" to give a care that I was totally naked, with the weirdest body I've ever had in my life, on all fours with a nurse looking encouragingly into my hooha. I had the sportsbra on until the very end, when the nurse asked me if she could take it off so they could put baby right on my bare skin. She helped me out with it. If your nurse is not so nice, your DH can play this role.

I bought one of those skirts you see people have for delivery, but since my water broke I basically didn't end up wearing anything on the bottom since it was like 4 hours of being niagara falls lesser sister tributary or something. But as another poster said, bring it. While it's possible to overpack for the hospital, it's not like your nighty or robe is really going to take up tHAT much space! Oh and one final thought:

bring your boppy with you to the hospital! I didn't have mine and it drove me nuts - had to send DH home for it.

[Anonymous]

People over-think everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People over-think everything.

Amen.

[Anonymous]

OP, I am just curious why you dont want to wear the gown. I hadn't given the gown any thought till it was time to leave the hospital and I took one with me. They are more comfortable than a nightgown (too long and I didn't have a short one) or pjs and a tank. Wear it. I swear they're not so bad.

[Anonymous]

People over-think everything.

Amen.

And then they buy $50 "birth skirts" too!

[Anonymous]

OP here again. It’s funny, until the last few posters I was amazed at all the helpful, thoughtful responses, and as I said before, I appreciate all of the women who gave me good feedback.

To you snarky women- why bother responding? You like being rude and insulting people? Why be so judgmental? Nobody’s telling you that you have to think about wearing a hospital gown, obviously many other women do think about it, and I don’t think we’re over thinking things, but isn’t it our prerogative?

I mentioned already that I didn’t want to feel sick. I guess in a way you ladies are lucky you don’t have to think about hospital gowns the way I do. My mother died of cancer. She spent way too much time in hospitals, having multiple surgeries, constantly wearing hospital gowns. So I associate hospital gowns with being sick and dying.

I hope when the time comes I don’t think twice about what I have on, I agree I probably won’t, but I’ve never given birth before and it’s good to know I can wear an old t-shirt or sleeping bra if I want to. Thanks again for the helpful comments.

[Anonymous]

OP, I am sorry about the loss of your mom. Makes total sense to me that you wouldn't want to wear a hospital gown. I didn't either. My first birth in the hospital, I was so hot that I took everything off and was just naked. I was in the tube most of the time. Anytime someone tried to put clothes on me, whether it was a gown or the stuff I had brought from home to wear, I didn't want it near me. The second birth was at home. I wore a black nursing tank top the whole time, and after she was born I unsnapped it and she ate. That time clothes didn't agitate me as much as the first time. I wore underwear and pants through my entire labor until I got into the tub about a half hour before my baby was born. I must say that there was something about wearing my normal clothes that made labor seem much more normal and just part of my day rather than something I needed special clothes for.

I wish you the best of luck with your labor and birth whatever you end up wearing. I think you'll know at the time what feels right for you and I'm glad you know now that if the gown isn't what you want on, you can use something else, or nothing at all

[Anonymous]

One of the PPs here. I am allergic to a lot of different laundry soaps and didn't want to risk the full body hives in the days post partum. It is quite unpleasant. I brought my own pillow, too and slept in pants and socks to minimize contact.

I didn't bother explaining all of this while in labor. I just told them I preferred my own clothes. They may have thought I was a diva, but I don't really give a fuck.

[Anonymous]

As another woman who spent a lot of her youth watching her mother die of cancer in a hospital, I'm also sympathetic to the OP. I honestly hadn't thought about this too much until in my birth class, one of the dads-to-be (who happened to be a doctor himself) admitted that he thought differently about patients when they were in their regular clothes vs. their hospital gowns. Since I'm going for a birth with low medical interventions, I would rather not be thought of as a "patient" and more as a person going through a natural process.

That said, I realize that I have absolutely no idea how I'm going to feel about it when I'm in labor so I figure I'll bring some nasty clothes I don't care about, and then I can figure out when I'm in labor what I want to do.

[Anonymous]

PP here whose water broke and made a mess. I had a ton of bleeding, but i still didn't feel like it was the worst thing in the world that could ahve happened. I brought dark colored clothes and when I got home I threw them in a cold wash. It wasn't that hard -- I was doing a ton of laundry with a new baby anyway!!! All in all, i was glad I did have my own clothes. and to the pP saying that people overthink "everything" grow up! You're not helpful at all. I'd rather overthink than be thoughtless, which is what your comment is.

[Anonymous]

I have pictures of me with a H gown sort of draped around me. I look totally naked to tell the truth, like I'm not wearing anything and the baby is just up there on my chest. Hmm. Never thought about it before. How did it come off me like that?

[Anonymous]

i wore hospital gown and had no issue with it for delivery ( I understand some do). I was at Sibley and I dont' thiink they would have forced it but with epidural, etc, I can't imagine not wearing it. Seems like just another hassle to worry about changing as your water breaks. I changed into my own clothes immediately after
I have friends who just did a sports bra and crappy skirt which I am sure works just as well

[Anonymous]

OP, seriously, when the contractions start, you're not going be thinking about "being sick."