I just bought an inexpensive short cotton knit nightie, from JC Penney, I think. It was pretty wrecked after the birth, of course, but it cost like $12 on sale, so I didn't really care if it never got clean. Then I wore nursing tanks and those stretchy lounge bras with yoga pants.

Anonymous wrote:OP, you are constantly covered with fluids from the time you go in, especially after the birth -- colustrum, milk, blood, etc. You are also constantly disrobing especially from the waist up. I get where you are coming from, but really, unless you are prepared to bring 20 different outfits, I would not do this.

+1 I was covered in so many fluids that I was pretty grateful that I didn't bring anything from home to ruin.

I brought my own clothes to the hospital. I lived in the gown because it was amazing how even my "comfy" clothes were not comfortable at ALL. I liked having a naked chest to do skin-skin with my baby, so no t-shirts or bras for me.

I also was sweating an insane amount the first few days. So yeah, being able to put on a new gown twice a day was really nice.

Just another perspective.

I totally get this idea, because when I was younger I used to have panic attacks while getting a pelvic exam if I didn't feel covered up enough. I wanted a cloth sheet not just the paper thing that doesn't cover your whole butt. So if it makes you comfortable and you can relax in labor, go for it....as long as the nurses are on board of course.

Fast forward for me 20 years later and in Transition with my first labor. I was completely nude after coming out of the tub and I couldn't have cared less. The nurses were scrambling to put the gown on me. By my third labor my DH told them "She has lost her modesty, time to get the delivery equipment out and page the Midwife."

With the very competitive glut of birthing options, women can finally wear what they want.

It's about time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you are constantly covered with fluids from the time you go in, especially after the birth -- colustrum, milk, blood, etc. You are also constantly disrobing especially from the waist up. I get where you are coming from, but really, unless you are prepared to bring 20 different outfits, I would not do this.

Completely agree with this. I went to the hospital with 3 nice outfits of mine. But ended up wearing what they gave me to start with and realized how comfortable it was and getting a clean one was just about tossing the dirty one in a bin and reaching a clean one on the shelf. But bring some comfortable flip flops or birkenstocks of yours.

I'm the PP who posted the link to the birthing outfit. I've had two lengthy vaginal deliveries w broken waters and didn't have to change my gown during labor due to "fluids everywhere" (I did bring 2 - just in case). I did chuck them after giving birth bc I never intended to hold on to my birthing attire and I did put on a hospital gown for the messy afterbirth, but I appreciated the comfort and convenience of being able to labor and give birth in the outfit I brought. Just another perspective. Ymmv.

Just when I think people cannot be any more consumerist or wasteful...

Ha. Giving birth is one of the few times when I think people should be encouraged to throw their clothes away.

Clothes are washable and i had no issue getting my clothes dirty - as in, it didn't happen, the fluids went onto the chux pads, they didn't spray into the air.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you are constantly covered with fluids from the time you go in, especially after the birth -- colustrum, milk, blood, etc. You are also constantly disrobing especially from the waist up. I get where you are coming from, but really, unless you are prepared to bring 20 different outfits, I would not do this.

Completely agree with this. I went to the hospital with 3 nice outfits of mine. But ended up wearing what they gave me to start with and realized how comfortable it was and getting a clean one was just about tossing the dirty one in a bin and reaching a clean one on the shelf. But bring some comfortable flip flops or birkenstocks of yours.

I'm the PP who posted the link to the birthing outfit. I've had two lengthy vaginal deliveries w broken waters and didn't have to change my gown during labor due to "fluids everywhere" (I did bring 2 - just in case). I did chuck them after giving birth bc I never intended to hold on to my birthing attire and I did put on a hospital gown for the messy afterbirth, but I appreciated the comfort and convenience of being able to labor and give birth in the outfit I brought. Just another perspective. Ymmv.

Just when I think people cannot be any more consumerist or wasteful...

It's too bad I dont know you or I could've donated it to you.

Anonymous wrote:OP, you are constantly covered with fluids from the time you go in, especially after the birth -- colustrum, milk, blood, etc. You are also constantly disrobing especially from the waist up. I get where you are coming from, but really, unless you are prepared to bring 20 different outfits, I would not do this.

I've given birth twice. Worn my own clothes twice. I was not constantly covered in fluids and was not constantly disrobing. YMMV.

Anonymous wrote:In labor you probably won't care what you're wearing, but having your own PJs for post partum is a great idea. Save the money you would waste on "pretty pushers" and buy a few pairs of dark colored nursing pajamas or maternity nightgowns.

+1 Completely agree with the birth is messy part, but it is nice to have something cute and comfortably to slip into when you're done, have showered etc.

In labor you probably won't care what you're wearing, but having your own PJs for post partum is a great idea. Save the money you would waste on "pretty pushers" and buy a few pairs of dark colored nursing pajamas or maternity nightgowns.

Anonymous wrote:I wore my own tops and basically no pants the whole time. A fold over skirt would have been great though.

I still have the tops I wore, no milk or blood ever got on them, it's a birth not a slasher movie.

Yes, and birth tends to be sloppy. I had premature labor so didn't have a hospital bag and ended up getting blood and baby goop all over the one bra I was wearing. I wish I had had my own clothes for after we were in our room, but birth isn't tidy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you are constantly covered with fluids from the time you go in, especially after the birth -- colustrum, milk, blood, etc. You are also constantly disrobing especially from the waist up. I get where you are coming from, but really, unless you are prepared to bring 20 different outfits, I would not do this.

Completely agree with this. I went to the hospital with 3 nice outfits of mine. But ended up wearing what they gave me to start with and realized how comfortable it was and getting a clean one was just about tossing the dirty one in a bin and reaching a clean one on the shelf. But bring some comfortable flip flops or birkenstocks of yours.

I'm the PP who posted the link to the birthing outfit. I've had two lengthy vaginal deliveries w broken waters and didn't have to change my gown during labor due to "fluids everywhere" (I did bring 2 - just in case). I did chuck them after giving birth bc I never intended to hold on to my birthing attire and I did put on a hospital gown for the messy afterbirth, but I appreciated the comfort and convenience of being able to labor and give birth in the outfit I brought. Just another perspective. Ymmv.

Just when I think people cannot be any more consumerist or wasteful...

Former L&D nurse here. Have had several patients with the pretty pushers gowns. Work great

Here are my general rules if you don't want to use hospital gowns

1. While in labor, please wear something with easy access. Nothing that we have to pull down over your bottom. Also wear a shirt that allows for immediate skin to skin contact, not one that someone has to help you out of so your chest is bare.

2. Post partum...I encourage women to wear their own clothes. The most important thing to rembember is your bleeding will need to be checked and you may be quite uncomfortable so nothing tight!! And make sure you have something that is breastfeeding friendly if that is your plan. Much easier to slip a boob out then take off your entire shirt!

I wore my own tops and basically no pants the whole time. A fold over skirt would have been great though.

I still have the tops I wore, no milk or blood ever got on them, it's a birth not a slasher movie.