What to wear during?
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=22313
Printed Date: 24 July 2025 at 3:24pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: What to wear during?
Posted By: Danaj
Subject: What to wear during?
Date Posted: 08 November 2008 at 12:42pm
|
Hi Guys,
What clothing should I be wearing when I go to the hospital? I've got the list of things to pack but what do you wear during labour? Are you in the nuddy or wearing a nighty? Do they give you a gown or what? Just wondering what the story is as it could take hours and i'm guessing they need easy access to check on progress. Not really keen on walking around in my birthday suit for the whole time lol! ------------- http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wyI1oWn/"> 
|
Replies:
Posted By: BugTeeny
Date Posted: 08 November 2008 at 12:46pm
lol Dana 
I wore trackies and a singlet up to the hospital. But as they needed to do an internal when I arrived the trackies came off and I was on the bed, under a sheet, hooked up to the monitor for half an hour or so. Then I was put into a gown for "ease of access" [;) But make sure you pack big nana knickers and your most comfy pyjamas and lovely warm socks to wear in recovery and subsequent days in hospital  ------------- 
|
Posted By: james
Date Posted: 08 November 2008 at 12:46pm
i wore my nighty and a hospital gown did find i didnt care what i wore was in to much ------------- <a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b4.lilypie.com/nLJ5p13.png" alt="Lilypie 4th Birthday Ticker" border="0" /></a> |
Posted By: Danaj
Date Posted: 08 November 2008 at 12:48pm
|
How long are you in hospital for a standard birth with no complications? ------------- http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wyI1oWn/">
|
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 08 November 2008 at 12:58pm
|
2-3 days
I wore trackies to the hospital and stayed in those for a while. I think I may have taken them off for an internal and then put them back on...cant remember. I wanted to put the hospital gown on but felt such an idiot as I took it to the bathroom and couldnt work out how it went on so I put my trackies back...must have been after trying the shower. Then I had some time in the bath and just got naked and after that I hopped on bed and was under a sheet. Think I stayed that way, but maybe I had a gown....cant really remember. I do remember that I really didnt care what I was wearing ,yet I was really concerned about it before hand. |
Danaj wrote:Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 08 November 2008 at 1:01pm
|
I wore into hospital a singlet and my sarong.
When I got to hospital I went starkers as I couldn't stand anything touching me anymore! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 08 November 2008 at 1:02pm
|
I was wearing my pjs.. doesn't matter if you are going to palmy hospital because they give you a gown to change into if you want to.
I stayed 3 days because of feeding probs but usual is 1-2 days, they come around and ask if you are ready to go home each day.. i refused to go after 2 days |
Posted By: Danaj
Date Posted: 08 November 2008 at 1:04pm
|
2-3 days??? Really that long??? Ugh, I hate being away from home!
I'm sure I wont care what i'm wearing once the pain hits, but my as*s looks like a pillowcase full of door knobs at the moment and i'm really not keen on parading it in front of a bunch of strangers. I'm not really a nudey kind of person and prefer to stay covered up if I can even for my own sanity lol. ------------- http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wyI1oWn/">
|
Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 08 November 2008 at 1:30pm
|
I went in jeans (the only pants that still fit!) and a top, but changed into a singlet to wear in the bath (which I was in for a couple of hours), then into a gown for the rest. I knew I wouldn't feel that comfortable parading around in the nuddy, but you might be surprised how your thoughts change! Once you get down to the 'business' end of things, you really won't care who sees what, but I also wanted to be covered up as much as possible! I came home within 15 hours of delivering Natalie - we could have stayed longer, but I wanted to be at home. -------------  
|
Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 08 November 2008 at 1:44pm
|
Im pretty sure the average is less than 24 hrs stay in hospital after birth. I dont know anyone who has stayed in more than 1 night with a normal, no complications birth. I stayed 3 nights but I had problems.
I wore a t-shirt, and the bottom half of me was covered by a sheet. I wasnt allowed to walk around, so didnt have that issue. Take maternity clothes to wear home. |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 08 November 2008 at 2:11pm
|
With Andrew I was already in hospital when I went to have him so I went down in my PJ's and stayed in them until about 8pm when I took my pants off (good thing I did as my waters broke at 8.45pm) just coz I felt like I needed to (and I did). Went into a hospital gown at 11pm and stayed in it till 2 days after Andrew was born. I wasn't allowed to leave the hospital until 3 days after I had him (had him on Friday morning and was out Mondy afternoon) due to pre eclampsia. We had to come back for a night on Tuesday as Andrew was yellow. Josh I went up there in clothes - jeans I think. Went into the suite and it was about 12pm when I hoped in the pool so the pants went for good then too. Had Josh at 7.08pm and I was in a gown (but have no idea when that got put on). I stayed 2 nights with Josh (had him Wednesday night out Friday morning), they did try to push me out Thursday morning (like 12 hours after I had him, and I told her to bugger off and read my notes as to why I am still in - pre ecpalmsia and BF issues again). ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: linda
Date Posted: 08 November 2008 at 2:36pm
|
Good advice about the maternity clothes to come home in...I couldn't believe how big I was after I gave birth. I did go home the same day though.
A tad off the subject but the other thing I wish I'd done was paint my toe nails. When I was pushing I kept looking at my toes and thinking how bad they looked! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
Alex 6 and Harry 8 |
Posted By: arohanui
Date Posted: 08 November 2008 at 3:27pm
|
I wore shorts and a big singlet thing to Birthcare when I was in labour, but it was kinda in the middle of the night (well, 5am). I stripped off as soon as I got there though cos my waters had broken and were still leaking little bits everywhere. I was so far into labour when I arrived at the hospital that I didn't care. I changed into a bikini top to labour in (a cheap black string triangle one from Glassons) and that was it - also cos I was in and out of the birthing pool. It was great actually! Still felt a bit covered on top and it looked 'decent' in photos from when the boy was just born and on my chest - and then we could just untie it and slip it off. I thought I'd be self conscious but I didn't care lol.
Oh and then when I had to transfer to the hospital from Birthcare they put a gown on me. I spent 4 nights in hospital. Well 1 in hospital after surgery (tearing) and then 3 at Birthcare. I loved staying at Birthcare - but I had my own room, probably wouldn't have loved it as much if I had to share and if the food wasn't as good as it was. Definitely maternity clothes to wear home. I lived in just breastfeeding singlets and maternity pants/jammies for ages after my boy was born. ETA: Actually I may have worn a pair of DH's board shorts when I was in the birthing pool? Until the pushing stage. I can't quite remember... ------------- Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... http://alterna-tickers.com" rel="nofollow"> 
|
Posted By: monikah
Date Posted: 08 November 2008 at 3:28pm
|
from the 4 or so ppl i know that have had birth in the last year 3 of them came home same day as they had no complications and were feeding fine strait away, however i know that some people feel more comfortable staying in for a little while especially if they are nervous about feeding or dont have too much support at home. i want to come home asap too, but i have a husband who will probably follow me round the house and drive me up the wall. i used to work in maternity and i think most ppl i remeber wearing long t shirts or gowns, something like a nighty mite be ok as well. you get too feel covered up but they can still acess everything IYKWIM. off the top of my head i think c sections were 2 - 3 days but if you were up and about and your bowels were moving you could leave earlier if you wanted ------------- 
|
Posted By: xox6Girls1Boyxox
Date Posted: 08 November 2008 at 4:00pm
|
If you want to keep your clothes clean then pop on a gown, For me personally depending on the time of year I'd just wear a T-shirt and a sarong with no undies. Depending on the time of delivery Im only there for about 3 hours then Im home. In our maternity I think it's standard procedure to have to stay in hosp for at least 3 hours after delivery to make sure things are fine with mum & bubs. Everyone to their own... ------------- http://www.bump-and-beyond.com/"> 
|
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 08 November 2008 at 4:18pm
Same with me, headed to hospital in trackies and singlet(with DF's top over the top". They put me in a lovely gown when I got to middlemore. It was actual way more comfy! And I actually couldnt ahve cared less if i was naked or not when i was in labour!! I thought I would but towards the end of my hellish labour I was so hot a annoyed my gown kept slipping off my shoulders anyways and I didnt care! Afterwards I stayed in the gown for 3 days cos Id had a C Section in the end, but then on day 3 I had a shower and put my PJ's on, much nicer! I was in hospital for 5 days cos I had a traumatic labour/emergency c section and health issues afterwards. ETA-Big ups to nana knickers!!!  ------------- |
Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 08 November 2008 at 6:26pm
|
By the time i got to hospital I didnt care what I was wearing,or rather who saw me in my birthday suit .
Clothes felt too suffocating , but i THINK (because I have the memory of a gold fish ) that i was wearing a hospital gown ...or at least a big tshirt? or maybe a bra?gosh ...I wonder if my mother remembers.... ------------- 
|
Posted By: susieq
Date Posted: 08 November 2008 at 7:27pm
| Yes you had a pair of red trousers and a grey skivvy at Bethany when you were in labour and cant remember what you wore when you got to NWh but I do know she had to borrow my knickers for in the car from NWH to Birthcare |
Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 08 November 2008 at 8:07pm
|
agree with the nana knickers too (black is good) - and get them bigger than you think you might need, as once you've got 2 huge maternity pads in there, there isn't much room left! Lol I bought cheapies from the warehouse and threw them out after. get quite a few of them also... -------------
|
Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 08 November 2008 at 8:16pm
|
I was wearing a skirt and a t shirt when I turned up at hospital. My waters broke on the way there so I whipped off the skirt and just wore my t shirt while I birthed Michaela. I'm not sure Michaela's birth would be considered 'standard' but I turned up at the delivery ward at 5:45pm, she was born at 8:04pm, we went up to the maternity ward at about 11pm and I left to go home at 10am (it would have been earlier but the ward nurse made me wait for visiting hours before DH could take us home). So we were at hospital for about 17 hrs all up. -------------  
|
Posted By: kakapo
Date Posted: 09 November 2008 at 1:25pm
|
Wow, interesting how many of you stayed at least partially covered for the whole birth. I wore preggy pants and a T-shirt to hospital and for the next four hours while waiting for my midwife to arrive, then changed into a nightie for my first VE. When we moved to the birthing room I took off my nightie when I got into the birthing pool and didn't wear anything from then on until I had a shower after being stitched up Come to think of it, the hospital midwife did give me a strange look and handed me a sheet when the surgeon arrived to stitch up my tear - I was just lying starkers on the bed having skin-to-skin time with DS, waiting for him to latch on. I'm sure the surgeon has seen it all before though, and really - what's the point in covering up your boobs when your feet are in stirrups and a man with a headlamp on is poking around down there Although it was a normal birth with no complications we stayed in the maternity ward for 6 days as had real difficulty getting DS to BF plus he had bad jaundice and lost a bit of weight. The ward was opposite another ward (with a courtyard in between) that seemed to be full of old men. I think I flashed them about 10 times during our stay as was having so much difficulty BFing (trying to attach tubes, nipple shields etc and latch bubs all at once) that I found it easier to BF topless - and kept forgetting people could see in the window ... oops. Weird, because as soon as we got home I was paranoid of visitors turning up while I was expressing etc. Perhaps my dignity and self-conciousness returned once I got home |
Posted By: TraceyA
Date Posted: 09 November 2008 at 1:43pm
ROFL!  well said! ------------- TTC #2 |
Posted By: Aithne
Date Posted: 09 November 2008 at 2:41pm
| Good topic, im sooo scared at the whole idea of the birth, ok not that actual pushing and giving birth, but how i will look, or what i can wear, im soooo self concious of everything, my arms and legs especially, so want to wear a long sleeved shirt if i can or atleast with the arms going to my elbow, and maybe a floor length skirt, i dont want anyone seeing anything except the person that will catch baby haha, i dont even want my mum seeing my legs haha. I sound rediculus but have been like this for years now haha. im just sooooooo nervous about what i can/will wear |
Posted By: BugTeeny
Date Posted: 09 November 2008 at 4:04pm
|
Everyone's different, but I'm pretty self conscious - but I really didn't care when it came time to really start going for it.
A marching band could've come through and I wouldn't have cared.. I was in hospital at 7am. Hannah was born at 1:34, I went home at 2pm the following day. I would've gone home first thing in the morning, but the paediatrician didn't get around to us until midday and my mw didn't come back until 1:30pm to discharge me. -------------
|
Posted By: khhast
Date Posted: 09 November 2008 at 6:22pm
| I went to hospital in some of the only clothes that were still comfortable that huge, but took them all off to get into the bath as soon as it was full. After getting out I wore a hospital gown, though I can't remember if I was still in it when I pushed DD out or if I was naked, I had her on my chest fairly soon after the birth. I didn't really care at that stage what I was wearing, and it stayed that way until my parents-in-law showed up an hour or two later, then I hastily grabbed a top and pulled a sheet up! |
Posted By: Richtea
Date Posted: 09 November 2008 at 7:08pm
|
I think this thread is great. Got loads of advice from it. Have been wondering what to wear and expect and now most of my questions are answered. Thanks ladies!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
|
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 09 November 2008 at 8:04pm
|
I gave birth in a hospital gown all four times, the one I had with lil miss was too small and didn't do up round the front so I was flashing everything but I was pretty unconcerned about that!
Maya was born at 8.11am and I left for Birthcare around 11am, the gremlins were born at 7.45pm/7.48pm and I left for Birthcare around 11pm and lil miss was born at 5.21pm and I was at Birthcare by 8. Had I not wanted to go to Birthcare I could have gone straight home each time. -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
|
Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 09 November 2008 at 9:28pm
haha, my friend was like that,very very self concious about her body (and shes got one of the best figures Ive seen ! ) her biggest fear was anyone seeing her breasts...but by the time she'd been in labour for 5 hours she was lifting her arms up for me to undress her , (i was her birth partner) she didn't care who saw what ....you'll see, when I was in labour Johnny Depp , Brad Pitt, and George Clooney could have ridden by on elephants, I wouldn't have given two hoots . -------------
|
Posted By: Mum2L
Date Posted: 09 November 2008 at 11:10pm
|
This is a really good thread
I have a question regarding c-sections - what is best to wear if you are having an elective c-section? And how naked are you when you are in the operating theatre? ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 10 November 2008 at 7:40am
|
TBH the thought didn't actually cross my mind to take my t-shirt off I was much too focussed on labouring than on what I was or was not wearing. I'd spent much of my early labour at home, naked in the bath with people coming in and out of the room so it certainly wasn't due to being self conscious. However I also didn't have feet in stirrups or a man with a headlamp during my labour - I feel I've missed out -------------
|
Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 10 November 2008 at 7:43am
|
Ooops, also forgot to add I went home in a pair of pre-maternity trackies (which I hadn't been able to fit in about 6 months) and a baggy breast feeding t-shirt. Because I only put weight on my belly, and that all came out with Michaela, I had no trouble fitting normal clothes but I certainly wouldn't take jeans or anything too restrictive to wear home. -------------
|
Posted By: Jay_R
Date Posted: 10 November 2008 at 8:40am
| Because I was induced I was at hospital from 7am, contractions started at about 10am and I was encouraged to walk round the hospital to get things going. DP and I actually went for a walk through the Domain and Wintergardens which was really nice. I wore a sarong tied like a knee length skirt and a preggy t-shirt during that time. Once it all started and I was in and out of the shower constantly I had the sarong out as a long one and wore it by itself (like a strapless dress). Once I started pushing I was nakie, and then when I stopped pushing and got hooked up to the syntocinon (sp) I was in a gown. When I ended up having the c-section I stayed in the gown. |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 10 November 2008 at 9:27am
I had an emergency c section and I was in my hospital gown with out my knickers on. So not naked at all, and the put sheets over you and a screen up in front so you cant see anything that they are doing. ------------- |
Posted By: MummyFreckle
Date Posted: 10 November 2008 at 9:49am
|
Its also important to note (not sure if this has been mentioned already) that if you are staying in hospital or Birthcare, its pretty warm, so singlets are ideal. I took my slippers to Birthcare, but it was too hot to wear them, so I got DH to bring my jandals in for me.
------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: LeahandJoel
Date Posted: 10 November 2008 at 2:22pm
|
With both I got into a gown pretty much as soon as I got to hosp, Leah was an emer cs so only had the gown on and stayed 6 days with her. Joel was forceps delivery and was home at 10am the following day (he was born at 11am), I threw up on the first gown with Joel and didn't get a chance to put another on, just had it draped over me until he was out then was bare on my upper half, while the OB did his bit stitching me up down below. Might add that there were 10 people in the room when Joel was born so no time to be shy there, and i'm a wear shorts at the beach tpye of person!! Didn't care who saw what by the time he was born. -------------  
 
|
Posted By: Aithne
Date Posted: 10 November 2008 at 5:21pm
Haha i soo hope im like that, dont want to be sitting there trying to cover myself up while im supposed to be pushing haha. |
Posted By: LG
Date Posted: 10 November 2008 at 6:03pm
|
Thanks, this thread is really helpful because its something i was thinking about too.
Do you have to ask for a hospital gown though or does the MW offer them to you when you get there? -------------  Angel Baby Aug '12, Feb '13 |
Posted By: LeahandJoel
Date Posted: 10 November 2008 at 6:37pm
|
My mw just said heres a gown, get changed and then i'll do an exam to see where we are at........so I did!!! -------------
|
Posted By: kakapo
Date Posted: 10 November 2008 at 7:25pm
|
lol Jo, you didn't miss out. Although I did have quite an interesting conversation with the surgeon while he was stitching me up - very bizzare really I think I gave him a heck of a fright, as he didn't tell me he was about to give me an anaesthetic injection and when he first touched me I wasn't prepared and my whole body jolted really badly (as in my feet nearly came out of the stirrups Sorry, very off topic. I'm sure the hospital would always provide gowns for anyone who wants them, whether you're having a C-section or not. |
Posted By: LeahandJoel
Date Posted: 10 November 2008 at 7:37pm
|
Its even more entertaining lying there in labour with your legs in stirrups and the fire alarm going off out in the hall -------------
|
Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 10 November 2008 at 9:16pm
ahhhh, dont worry , its nothing special , i've had that ....I wasnt in labour tho , HAHAHA ! -------------
|