Labour clothing
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
Forum Description: Want help? Need support? Want tips? Men and women share advice and tips in this supportive community
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19628
Printed Date: 12 September 2025 at 8:32pm
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Topic: Labour clothing
Posted By: kriss
Subject: Labour clothing
Date 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? ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
 Little Angel, April 10
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Replies:
Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date 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 |
Posted By: Andie
Date 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. ------------- Andie |
Posted By: mandz
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 12:39pm
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! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
Zack Robert Henton - 29th December 2009 |
Posted By: lilfatty
Date 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) ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year  http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: My3Sons
Date 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!! ------------- Mum to Mr 10, Mr 6 and Mr 4
 
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date 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:)! ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date 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 ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: My3Sons
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 1:01pm
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lol KA, arent they gowns soooo styley!! ------------- Mum to Mr 10, Mr 6 and Mr 4
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Posted By: bookwyrm
Date 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. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 1:08pm
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  ------------- Lindsey 
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date 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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Posted By: bookwyrm
Date 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 :) ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: cuppatea
Date 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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Posted By: cuppatea
Date 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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Posted By: Genie
Date 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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Posted By: monster
Date 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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Posted By: peachy
Date 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.------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: LittleBug
Date 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. ------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Posted By: jack_&_charli
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 2:20pm
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 ------------- http://www.alternatickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: aussiegirl
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 3:31pm
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Hospital gown, which was perfect as Hayley pooed on me straight away! and then there was the blood and mess, so if you can, wear a hospital gown. I did have a sarong and singlet on at first as I was at a birthing centre, but changed into the gown as soon as I was transferred to the hospital.
Good luck!  ------------- Mum to Hayley **30.6.08
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 3:35pm
| I was in my pjs through labour at home, arrived in the hospital in my pjs. Once my MW arrived I got changed into a hospital gown and had Daniel in that. It was great because they did the washing rather than me, and it's light, airey and comfy |
Posted By: Daizy
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 3:42pm
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I just wore my preggy trackpants during early labour but as I was trying to make it to the hospital I wet through 4 pairs of pants with my waters breaking Once I arrived at the hospital I stripped of my wet pants and birthed in just a slightly long/bagge t-shirt in the pool.
Luckily I got to go home straight after as I has no spare clothes, (except for jeans and a jersey, not exactly the comfiest) ------------- 
 
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Posted By: happymumma
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 4:21pm
| I think I was wearing a t shirt and bra but I agree with those who've said you don't really care what you're wearing in labour in the end. It was afterwards that a comfy pair of pj's or track pants and tshirt felt wonderful!! Just go with what you think you'll feel comfortable with. |
Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 4:36pm
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Hospital gown here, for labour and for the first 2 days afterward. Ended up bleeding through it a number of times post-birth, so am glad I wasn't wearing my own clothes. After day 3, I started wearing my back trackies in the day and hospital gowns at night. I took my bathrobe and was so excited to be able to do it up after Daniel arrived! ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: BessieBear
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 4:50pm
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to the birth centre i was wearing trackpants and a hoodie as it was 6 in the morn and very freezing. and then after my arrival VE i hopped in the bath and was just wearing a bikini top. was like that right up till i had him in my arms and my MW yanked it off and i was butt naked for the next 2 hours of skin to skin, stitches, dinner milo, shower, Which my mum helped me with. But honestly in the thinck of it all you really don't care. I had a old raggy nighty i was going to wear coz i wasn't gona let my mum and that see me naked etc but once it was all go i was nearly swearing at the poor woman. ------------- Sarah Mum to, Boy 07/2008, Girl 03/2010, Boy 05/2012, Angel  07/08/2014
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 5:33pm
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I wore a t-shirt with Maya, hospital gown with the gremlins coz I had to be all ready for an emergency c-sect should the need arise and with Chiara I wore a bra and had a hospital gown half around me but it didn't really fit so I was pretty much naked apart from the bra. I couldn't have cared less - altho it does mean that my birth support people probably saw more than they wanted to when I was up and down to the toilet! ------------- 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)
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 5:34pm
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Oh and I definitely agree about whatever you are wearing getting gunky - the bra I was wearing with Chiara had to go in the bin coz when I was given her for skin to skin she was covered in vernix and blood and amnio fluid and it got all over my bra. ------------- 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)
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Posted By: yummymummy
Date Posted: 30 July 2008 at 5:54pm
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I wore a preggy dress when I gave birth to Gina - my fav one Mum managed to get it all sparkiling clean again and I wore it heaps while I was pregnant with Emma
With Emma, I wore a hospital gown ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: jaycee
Date Posted: 05 August 2008 at 8:18am
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With DD1 I arrived in track pants and T-shirt and changed onto Sarong & mens XXXL t-shirt bought cheep at Farmers sale. Sarong was great for walking the halls to move things along.
For DD2 I arrived in maternity clothes - nice Mobea pants and Mobea top (what I had been in all day for DD1 play date) and only managed to get the pants and undies off!!!
DD2 was in a bit of a rush and didn't give her mummy time to change!! For afterwards get comfy but light PJs - as someone else said, it is as hot at hell for all the little babies. Oh, and LOTS of comfy undies with room for mega pads!! -------------   
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Posted By: Neeks
Date Posted: 05 August 2008 at 8:48am
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My waters broke at 1am in the morning, so I had plenty of time to prepare LOL
First time we went into the hospital (Auckland) was to be checked, so I just chucked on some trackie pants and a jumper. We were only there for about an hour before we came home.. so once we got home I decided to have a shower and freshen up a bit and I'm glad I did because my labour went on for 48 hours I just wore my preggy pants, and a nice top (to make me feel like a yummy mummy...
Once I actually got into a delivery suite, I opted to change into one of the sexy hospital gowns because I've seen the mess and I definitely don't want to be washing that ... in the end I needed an emergency c-section so I had to get changed into ANOTHER type of hospital gown
I HIGHLY recommend taking some comfy loose cotton jammies for afterwards.. mine were a god send and they weren't as revealing as the hospital gowns LOL -------------  
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Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 05 August 2008 at 10:30am
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i wore track pants and DF's top to hospital, but they put me in a hospital gown at middlemore.
But you honestly dont care what u are wearing whilst in labour lol i remember pulling my bra off and my boobs were hsnging out of the hospital gown, fully didnt care as i was hot and in pain. ------------- |