When laboring and giving birth at home or a birth center, you don’t have to worry about putting on a hospital gown. You can wear anything, including loose-fitting shorts, a nightgown, robe, pajamas, sweat pants, a sarong and sports bra, or a birthing wrap. Being naked is an option, too. It’s up to you. If your water breaks, you may end up in undies with a sanitary pad or a pull-up adult diaper.
Hot and Cold
Think about having items that will keep you cooled down. Labor is hot work, and moms don’t usually pile clothing on. At most, a pair of pajamas, a robe, and some slippers will keep most moms comfortable. In the summer, less is better. Make sure you have a portable electric fan you can haul around. A hand fan comes in handy as well.
If you feel chilly, shaky, or start shivering, it usually means a woman is going through transition. In those instances, mom can crawl under the covers or have a warm blanket wrapped around her.
Birth Photos
These days, everyone takes photos with a smartphone. Let people know if you are comfortable with having photos taken when you are nude or half nude. If you are not comfortable being naked, there are a lot of options for keeping you less exposed. If you are hiring a photographer, think about what clothing you would like to wear.
Practical Clothing
There are many choices for practical clothing for use during labor.
- Wear a sports bra or bralette. White or nude colors can be see-through, especially when wet. Wear a dark or black bra.
- Nursing bras make a lot of sense to wear at a birth.
- A bikini or halter top is great for using in the water. The advantage of a bikini top over a sports bra is that they are much easier to take off – just untie. A wet, tight sports bra takes some effort to pull off.
- Wear a birthing skirt, which can be purchased from Etsy. You can wear them in and out of the water. Perfect.
- Another option for a skirt is a wrap cover-up. The Rip-Skirt attaches with velcro and can be worn during the birth and after. You can also wear it in the water.
- Nursing tank tops are cute and can be worn with any loose-fitting bottom or skirt.
- Select clothing that has easy access to your body. A dress will need to be pulled up to listen to baby. T-shirts are nice until you have to lift them up to nurse. Choose something that opens in the front, like a robe.
- Robes come in all colors and designs. Pick out a lightweight mid-length robe. Select a heavier weight robe for winter.
- Flowing blouses are lovely. Wear dark underwear, a skirt, shorts, or other bottoms underneath.
- As your birth progresses, you will wear less.
Birthing Wraps and Gowns
Maternity birthing fashion has exploded in the last decade. You can find wraps, robes, and gowns in a variety of colors and designs. There are several birthing gowns to choose from, which are meant to replace the drab hospital gowns women are forced to wear. You certainly can use these gowns or wraps for a home or birth center birth. If you are interested, find a maternity gown with a wrap front. They are comfortable for mom and provide easy access in front for the midwife to check baby’s heartbeat.
You can find birthing attire on Etsy, Amazon, or a specialty gown clothing store. Look around. Here is one style that works well.
Baby Be Mine 3 in 1: This gown has snaps in the back, snaps on both shoulders, has flaps that open for breastfeeding, and opens in the front for easy access. With so much access, it is easy to take off – before or after birth.
From a midwifery perspective, this gown has it all for the modest woman. Clothing that is accessible and easily removed is high on our good clothing list. Wear a black bra underneath it. You will eventually take the gown off – and the bra.
