If you had a hospital birth, were the nightgowns nursing-friendly? - Page 5

[LeslieB]

I gave birth in a military hospital and yes, they had nursing gowns. I was the ONLY one in the ward wearing one, though. They were pretty ugly. I didn't care, though.

[Mama Poot]

My first child was born in the hospital and they did NOT have nursing-friendly gowns, at least I didn't get one. I'm not one bit surprised, that place was Hell on earth. However they did have fantastic lactation consultants who helped me greatly after I got home. :

[mika85]

mine had the shoulder snaps, which i don't think would necessarily be considered "nursing-friendly" since your whole boob has to hang out. however, i didn't care at the time and most of the people in the room were the medical personnel or relatives that had just watched a baby emerge from my vajayjay.

all that mattered to me, in retrospect, was that the nurses were very much nursing-friendly and were more than helpful in getting me started with breastfeeding.

i would still like to have a homebirth next time around, tho.

[prothyraia]

They had gowns that attempted to be nursing friendly. They had a neckline with a deep V and laces. It failed though, because it wasn't QUITE deep enough, and I'm large breasted, and the laces just kept getting in the way...

So I spent most of my hospital stay topless

[Janice in Canada]

I didn't read this thread at all - but I just saw this information that I sent out a couple of months ago, and it may be of interest to this thread.

Janice




If the hospital gown fits ...

... it's a good thing, say Trillium Health Centre patients of an updated design on the century-old Johnny gown





http://www.thestar.com/Health/article/212668



Sylvia Biskupek, 32, gave birth to her second child, Kristian, last Saturday at Trillium and tested the new hospital wear. She says she immediately she felt more comfortable and confident when she had visitors. Biskupek also found breastfeeding more convenient and less stressful because she just had to open Velcro at the shoulder to expose her breast, instead of removing the entire top of the gown.

(see link for full item, but that’s the complete reference to breastfeeding)



Janice

[bluegrassgirl]

Nope, the gown I wore in the hospital was a standard open back style. Toward the end of my labor, though, I had the nurse help me turn it around, so the open part was in front, so it would be easier to nurse Emma. Like all you said, at that point, I could care less if anyone saw my naked body.

When I had Angela at the birth center, I brought a nursing camisole to wear and wore that through all of my labor.

Jessie
(single mommy to Emma, 3 years and Angela, 2 years)

[neverdoingitagain]

My gown tied on the back, regular gown. Made for a very frustrating nursing experience, until I put my own pj's on.
Someone mentioned nursing in the hospital bed? I never found that comfortable, I couldn't get the back support I needed. I wish there was a comfy couch in my room!

[pfamilygal]

Ours have nursing openings in the front and close in the back. I wish the openings had velcro or a tie though, because the tend to let the bra show.

[hubris]

Huh, two hospital births in two different hospitals, and I have no idea if their gowns had good breast access or not. I brought my own clothing both times and didn't ever see a hospital gown.

I kindof wish more hospitals would encourage new mothers to wear their own clothing. It helps you to feel more like yourself and less of a *patient*, you're guaranteed to have whatever sort of clothing you want...plus the hospitals could save a fair bit of money on gowns and laundry.

[brackin]

Natural hospital birther here, and I wanted to chime in that YES, my hospitals (not progressive at all in other ways) did have nursing-friendly gowns.

[ohiomommy1122]

they have them at the hospital I went to but I never got one either times I was there for my children they only have so many so when they are out they use regular gowns I wish I had one but it wasnt a big deal I just half undress when I nursed I like the skin to skin contact w/ baby better anyway

[JamieCatheryn]

Mine was sort of supposed to be, but it only had a tiny slit on one side under a pocket so I just undid the snaps at the shoulder. It was very annoying, snaps everywhere. I guess so they could get at your body in an emergency fast? Anyway, they made an attempt but the slit sucked.

[orangefoot]

I laboured in the clothes I arrived at hospita in and birthed in them too so I fed dd in my own clothes. No-one asked me to wear a gown. I left the hospital in the same clothes I had arrived in.

[BJewels79]

Nope, no special nursing gowns at my hospital the first time or at the new womens pavilion the second time. The first time I just left my gown untied as I didn't even own a nursing gown. Second go around I made sure to bring my own gown!

[katheek77]

Not nursing friendly, but I just pulled the whole damn top off down to my waist.

[ChinaDoll]

No. DD was born in Thailand, and they gave me a gown that tied in back. I simply wore it backwards and untied as needed

[firstkid4me]

They didn't have special nursing maternity gowns at the hospital I went to with Emily. If I wanted to nurse, I had to untie in the back and take it off my shoulders, exposing my entire chest.

[Shahbazin]

The Kaiser I went to just had the IV/shoulder snap gowns, but I wore those anyhow ( I was pretty messy after birth, lots of bleeding & sweating heavily)- ended up bare to the waist most of the time, trying to get skin to skin to keep DD awake to nurse.

[hunnybumm]

DS#1 was born at the local hospital. They just had the normal tie in the back gowns. But I was still in the no modestly mind set and didn't mind too much. My door was closed most of the time anyways.

DS#2 was born in a freestanding birth center and their gowns were nursing friendly. I really liked the ones they had. It was very comfy and breathed and I slept really well in it. It also helped that they didn't have gowns and I was naked. lol

[guest9921]

I kept the gown on from waist down, but hardly...
It was my room, they needed to respect my privacy and knock - also, I was too involved with getting skin to skin with my newborn to care much.
DP also kept his shirt off for a period of time, to cuddle with both of us.

Otherwise, no, they were not nursing friendly.