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  | kriss   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 10 September 2007
 Location: Homesick Kiwi's in Perth
 Points: 1421
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Topic: Labour clothing Posted: 30 July 2008 at 12:25pm
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   With baby # 1 on the way, i was wondering what women wear to give birth? What were you comfortable in? I am thinking of birthing at Birthcare, do you wear a robe when in a clinic/hospital?
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  | caitlynsmygirl   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Points: 8777
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 30 July 2008 at 12:30pm | 
 
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   From what ive seen and heard (and from own personal experience) 
you wont want to wear anything once your pushing etc, except something very light, anything else gets too close to the skin , uncomfortable etc
 
 and once your in labour you wont mind too much what you wear to the hospital , i just wore track pants and a shirt and was stripping them off down the hall
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  | Andie   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: New Zealand
 Points: 3614
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 30 July 2008 at 12:39pm | 
 
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   I just wore my regular maternity clothes to hospital (have some more or some jammie jims packed to get changed into after the delivery), and a bikini to labour in, as I spent most of it in the bath.  Once I was out of the bath, I didn't care what I was in or where it was.  
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     Andie 
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  | mandz   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 11 June 2007
 Location: Auckland
 Points: 230
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 30 July 2008 at 12:39pm | 
 
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   I bought a huge t-shirt to wear when I was in labour and shouldn't have bothered!  But I did give birth in Auckland hospital, so just used one of their gowns.  Glad I did cause eeewwww!   | 
 
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       Zack Robert Henton - 29th December 2009
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  | lilfatty   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 22 August 2007
 Location: Waitakere
 Points: 9799
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 30 July 2008 at 12:52pm | 
 
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   I just wore my nightie ... although I ended up having an emergency c .. so had to put on a hospital gown.
 Oh and I was already in my nightie as I went into labour just as I was getting ready for bed (I was admitted into hospital that evening as my waters had broken nearly 12 hours earlier and I required antibiotics)
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     Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months)
I did it .. 41 kgs gone!  From flab to fab in under a year  LFs weight blog | 
 
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  | My3Sons   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Points: 3744
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 30 July 2008 at 12:56pm | 
 
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   I would have a few things packed, you wont know til the time though what you are comfortable in, I started out in my clothes, then changed into a hospital gown, and then by the end you dont care anymore and would probably run up and down the hallway naked if it meant getting the baby out lol!! Also if you wanted to use the pool you would need to think about something to wear in there as well  | 
 
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  | ElfsMum   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 04 June 2007
 Location: Christchurch
 Points: 11702
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 30 July 2008 at 12:59pm | 
 
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   lol i was in a gown (pretty hospital one with chch womens written all over it in case I wanted to steal it) :) and was like of course I will care what I am wearing,..but oh no I didn't ..Kiwi's comment was spot on:)! 
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     Mum to two amazing boys!
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  | ElfsMum   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 04 June 2007
 Location: Christchurch
 Points: 11702
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 30 July 2008 at 1:00pm | 
 
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   and I ended up with emergency c-section too so being in a gown was handy
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     Mum to two amazing boys!
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  | My3Sons   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Points: 3744
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 30 July 2008 at 1:01pm | 
 
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   lol KA, arent they gowns soooo styley!! | 
 
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  | bookwyrm   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 12 February 2007
 Location: Hamilton
 Points: 1346
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 30 July 2008 at 1:05pm | 
 
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   I had far too much clothing packed.  I ended up wearing a supplied hospital gown (thank god to, the mess labour makes)... afterwards I had a bought a comfy pair of jammies that I wouldn't mind if they got yucky.  Once recovering, Mum bought in my favourite dressing gown... bliss.
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  | myfullhouse   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 29 July 2007
 Location: West Auckland
 Points: 2944
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 30 July 2008 at 1:08pm | 
 
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   I wore the hospital gown. I was in the bath at home when my MW arrived to examine me and from there we went straight to the hospital. I wore my dressing gown to the hospital, if I remember correctly I had nothing on underneath it    | 
 
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  | MrsMojo   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 18 March 2008
 Location: Wellington
 Points: 8202
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 30 July 2008 at 1:11pm | 
 
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   I initially laboured at home in the bath so wore nothing.  When I got out of the bath I shoved on a bra, a loose tshirt and a maternity skirt and when I got to the hospital I took the skirt off because it got soaked when my waters broke so I ended up giving birth in a bra and t-shirt (and had to change the tshirt pretty much straight away because it got covered in my hindwaters, meconium and blood ) After my shower I changed straight into bright red pjs. | 
 
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  | bookwyrm   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 12 February 2007
 Location: Hamilton
 Points: 1346
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 30 July 2008 at 1:16pm | 
 
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   Definately wear something afterwards (even after the shower) that you dont mind getting blood on (thats what Mums are for, to take it away for you).  Just pack a couple of plastic bags.  I was amazed at the amount of blood loss I had, though I did burst an artery.  The one thing I didn't pack enough of was extra comfy PJs and gowns.  I didn't wear my normal clothes, I made sure I had one set for my trip home... but I had a bag full of crap I didnt use.
 Shampoo and conditioner was bliss.  But extra PJs and gowns :)
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  | cuppatea   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 05 February 2007
 Points: 7798
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 30 July 2008 at 1:17pm | 
 
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   Hospital gown, not only do you not have to worry about how much mess it gets in but also they are actually quite comfy cos they are light and roomy.
PJ's for afterwards, I bought fleece ones cos of being winter and then wished I just had cotton ones cos both the hospital and birthing centre are kept at a toasty 1000 degrees.
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  | cuppatea   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 05 February 2007
 Points: 7798
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 30 July 2008 at 1:18pm | 
 
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   Oh and plenty of maternity bras, I was still at hospital when my milk came in and OMG did I get into a huge mess.
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  | Genie   Senior Member
 
   
 
 Joined: 01 May 2008
 Location: Nelson
 Points: 688
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 30 July 2008 at 1:19pm | 
 
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   While totally unstyley, the hospital gown saves your own stuff getting messed up.
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  | monster   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 02 November 2006
 Points: 1462
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 30 July 2008 at 1:32pm | 
 
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   I arrived at hospital in trackpants and t-shirt, but quickly hopped in the shower (DH remembered his togs so was in there with me).  
 I brought a sarong along to wear in the pool, but eventually stripped off.   Little did I know the sarong wasn't colourfast, it dyed the water pinky-purple and I had to take it off so the midwife could see what was going on through the water.
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  | peachy   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: Auckland
 Points: 3923
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 30 July 2008 at 1:38pm | 
 
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   I laboured at home in a sarong and singlet top and wore that to the hospital.  I changed into a hospital gown when we got there, had that on for 5 mins and couldn't stand it so striped right off!
 The remainder of my labour/birth I was totally naked    I couldn't stand anything touching me!  I ended up having an emergency c section so was put back in a gown to go down to theatre.
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  | LittleBug   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 29 July 2007
 Location: Dunedin
 Points: 4277
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 30 July 2008 at 1:47pm | 
 
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   I wore maternity clothes to the hospital, but once I was there I changed into a big old nighty. I wasn't wearing it when I gave birth though, and I'm not really sure at what stage it got ditched. Maybe after the shower I don't remember taking?? LOL. I was in the nick at the "big moment" and in my early photos I'm in a hospital gown. But I don't remember really!!
 Afterwards when I finally got to walk around and shower and stuff, I changed into a comfy black nightie, and felt amazing to have showered and be out of the hospital gown.
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     Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years).
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  | jack_&_charli   Senior Member
 
   
   
 Joined: 01 January 1900
 Location: christchurch
 Points: 7155
 |  Post Options  Thanks(0)  Quote  Reply  Posted: 30 July 2008 at 2:20pm | 
 
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   with charli (my only labour) i wore my pj's to the hospital because it was midnight and after i'd been there for an hour or so i was so hot i changed into my nightie which was a chemise style one IYKWIM?  that was sooo comfy because it wasn't clingy and the important bits of me were exposed without having to be completely naked     then i was taken for an emergency c/s but there wasn't time to get changed, so i still wore my nightie......i couldn't shower the first day but the nurse gave me a sponge bath and changed me into a hospital gown
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