What do you wear?

[LHcj2008]

I feel like this is a very stupid question of all the things I could be asking, but one of the things I have kept wondering about a homebirth is what do I wear. Considering I plan to labor in a tub and use the shower if I want, eat if I can, walk around as much as possible etc., I imagine I should be wearing clothes (a giant T-shirt? A robe?) vs. being naked the whole time, but then I know it should be something easily removable for if/when I want to get in and out of water, and accessible for dialation checks and when the baby actually starts coming. Im trying to gather supplies early but I've definitely wondered about this. What have you all worn that has been the easiest/most comfortable?

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

on dry land a nightie or t-shirt in the bath or birthing pool nothing but my birthday suit.

[fruitfulmomma]

Usually a nursing gown, but I always get to the point where I don't care anymore and just stay naked, which generally means we are getting close.

[Mamato3wild ponnie]

I had on a pair of shorts and a cami up until i got into the water. Then at that point i didnt want anything on.

[thtr4me]

I have a maternity skirt that I bought with the intention to use if I wanted something to wear. I will also be looking into something for the top, but not sure what yet. Of course I could end up going naked, but I want something to have on hand in case I want it.

[camprunner]

I have always felt confined by clothes in labor so I've always just been stark naked. If we are blessed with a next time, I'm going to look into some attire that might feel better. I'm thinking that if I can find some casual dresses, I'll be most comfortable in that.

[cileag]

I wore a nice stretchy knee length skirt and a nursing tanke. I did change into a suit top for the pool the first time, but then ended up getting into the pool for the last time in the tanktop. I liked having something specific to wear--I picked out the outfit in advance and the skirt is a basic brown one that I still wear now and love knowing it's my "birth" day suit!

[rad]

I mostly go nude. But occasionally I'll want to be covered. I've done a robe for a few labors and a pareo for a couple. Just something I can grab easily when I get in and out of the tub/shower.

[Maine Mama Doula]

I wore a black nursing tank top in the pool so that I could show the pictures to everybody later

[*MamaJen*]

During early labor, I wore a pair of super comfy fleece pajama pants and a tee shirt (it was winter). Actually, I wore three separate pairs of pajama pants, since my water kept on breaking over them.
Right before I got in the pool, I put on a sports bra, a tank top and cotton underwear. Of course by the time I hit the pushing phase I was naked.

[homemademom]

Originally Posted by Maine Mama Doula

I wore a black nursing tank top in the pool so that I could show the pictures to everybody later

During one of my births I wore a tank top, during the other I wore a tankini swim top. I wore a robe and a sarong when I wanted to be warmer of more covered up.

[echospiritwarrior]

I've never worn anything in labor... in fact I can't recall wearing much of anything but a baby on my breast (and underwear) until I decide I need to leave the house for once!

[HeatherB]

I generally wear really comfy clothes - pajamas, yoga pants, night shirt, whatever, and all in cotton. In the pool, the first time I wore a sports bra (hard to get out of the way once baby is born, though), and the second time I chose to put on a swim tankini top which was easy to move aside to nurse.

This time, I'm going to hire a photographer for the first time. I want to be more covered up for pics that I might want to share (such as the family gathered around me and baby immediately after the birth), and so I just bought what amounts to a swim cover-up to wear in the water. It's almost exactly what I was envisioning - sleeves to the elbow, but v-necked for easy access and simply being skin-to-skin, lightweight (not like a t-shirt to be weighed down in the water), and not clingy. While perhaps a little odd, it'll make me comfortable for pics, so I'm really excited.

I also found a nightshirt I really liked (with a button-down placket for nursing access) to put on immediately after.

[lunarlady]

For baby 1 I wore nothing. But it was just DH, the MW, and me.

For baby 2 I wore a bikini top, but no bottoms. My MIL was taking photos, and I wanted to not be stark naked in them. I can't stand having my belly covered during labor, since they check HR and get that goo everywhere.

[star8kitten]

For my first birth I ended naked and did not care one flip about it which had to be due to the whole birth process because I am usually pretty modest. With my second I did get a tube top to wear because one thing that made me uncomfortable were my giant boobies flopping around! I knew that I did not want a bra so I got a tube top and it worked perfect to contain the girls.

I would get several options because you never know what you might want during labor. Good luck!

[Comtessa]

I was in labor for three days, so I ended up changing clothes a lot!!! Putting on fresh clothes made me feel like I was doing something to push along a VERY slow labor. I, too, wore a swim tank while I was laboring in the pool, but to walk around the neighborhood I just wrapped a big sarong around my waist and wore a long tank top. My favorite photos from my labor were of me in that outfit, dancing with DH. But like most women, I was naked by the time I hit transition.

[mommathea]

0

Edited by mommathea - 5/11/11 at 4:37pm

[HappyMommy2]

My labor turned out to be a very intense 5.5 hours, so I wore nothing but my birthday suit!

But - I had a long sarong handy. I knew I wouldn't want anything anywhere near my belly, and planned to tie the sarong above my boobies. It would have covered everything, but still left everything available as necessary.

[Twinklefae]

I birthed in hospital, but wore my skirt and top til they broke my water, then I lost my undies. I was too busy to strip. I don't know what would have happened after that, but I'm not worried about what to wear - I can't imagine I'll care to change my mind!

[babyjelly]

I wore a bikini top to be covered in photos and to contain my breasts. I wore a flowy maxi dress to walk around the neighborhood-the only thing that fit in my last month :P
Posted via Mobile Device