If you are preparing for labor, you may be wondering what you should wear during and after labor. While hospitals provide gowns and socks for you to use during labor and afterward, some women prefer to wear their own. If you haven’t already bought a birthing gown, now is the perfect time to do that. In this article, I’ll go over the best birthing gowns to choose from, as well as tips for picking out something comfortable to wear. Hopefully, this article will answer all your questions about choosing birthing gowns.

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How To Choose the Perfect Clothing

When shopping for birthing gowns, you want something that provides comfort, easy to get in and out of, and access for movement. Here are some tips for choosing the perfect clothing for labor.

Something washable. Giving birth can be messy, so don’t wear something that can’t be washed or thrown away.

Something open. Easy access to your stomach and genital area will be required frequently. Between IVs, epidurals, fetal heart-rate monitors, cervical checks, and more, it’s easier if your gown allows easy access to these places.

Something easy to move in. You may decide to walk along the halls or move around during labor, so wear something that is easy to move around in. The outfit should be loose and comfortable. If you plan on taking a shower after delivery, make sure the clothes are easy to get in and out of.

Something that allows for skin-to-skin contact. Once your baby is born, you will probably want to cuddle with him or her. If you are planning on having skin-to-skin-contact with your baby, make sure your birthing gown allows that. This is also important if you plan on breastfeeding your baby.

Something without metal. While birthing gowns may not have metal on them, nursing bras can. If you need to have a cesarean delivery, metal can cause burns because of the electrocautery instrument (the device used to cut and cauterize). It is best if your outfit does not have any metal on it.

Pros and Cons Of Hospital Gowns

Before you are set on purchasing birthing gowns, consider if you would be interested in the pregnancy hospital gowns that the hospital offers. You won’t have to spend any extra money, and you don’t need to worry if they get messy. Here are the pros and cons of hospital robes.

Pros:

You don’t need to purchase any new clothes. After labor, your maternity robes may be too big, so perhaps you’d like using the free ones that the hospital offers.

You don’t have to worry if the maternity hospital gown gets messy. They get thrown away as soon as you are done needing them.

If you happen to get your hospital gown messy, the hospital will have more gowns to replace the one you are wearing.

The gown is designed specifically for patients to easily be monitored and or them to check your vitals. This means you can easily breastfeed in it.

Cons:

Unlike fancy robes with beautiful patterns on them, hospital gowns do not look as nice. If you will be taking a picture of you and your baby after delivery, you may want something that looks nice.

Hospital gowns are one size fits all, so it could be too big or small on you. This can make you feel uncomfortable.

In addition to them all being the same size, they are also made of material that isn’t very soft. Once again, you could feel uncomfortable wearing a hospital gown.

Since all patients in the hospital wear these robes, you may feel like you have a disease instead of bringing a baby into the world. Some women don’t feel as confident in themselves when they wear hospital gowns.

Best Birthing Gowns To Choose From

Baby Be Mine Maternity Labor Delivery Nursing Robe

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If you are looking for a birthing gown that is easy to get in and out of, look no further than this option. It has a belt that is easy to tie, and it is loose fitting. There are pockets on both sides of this labor gown. It is made from 95% Cotton and 5% Spandex. A nice feature is that this is machine washable, which allows you to wash it after delivery. The Baby Be Mine gown is designed by moms and for moms in the USA since 2005. The belt allows you to easily adjust how big you want this gown to be. This birthing gown can also be worn after labor for when you want to breastfeed your baby. Overall, this is a fantastic birthing gown to choose.

Bhome 3 in 1 Maternity Labor Delivery Gown

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This next labor gown features a split front panel, which allows you to freely move around for medical examinations and labor. It snaps on your shoulders and back. It is very easy to take on and off. This birthing gown is made of soft and elastic material for a more comfortable fit. The drawstring on the waist makes this maternity nightgown fit perfectly for your growing bump. This maternity labor gown can be used before and during labor, after delivery, and for breastfeeding.

Saifeier PJ Woman’s Hospital Gown

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This next birthing gown is made of 95% Cotton and 5% Spandex. The material is breathable and soft. It is perfect for pregnancy, labor, and breastfeeding. There are shoulder snaps on both sides, which allow for easy access for medical examination and first skin to skin contact with your new baby. The waist is adjustable with a drawstring. Keep in mind that if you have an epidural done, there are no straps in the back of this dress. Therefore, it may not work well for women expecting to have an epidural done. Other than that, this is a great delivery gown to try.

Everly Grey Women’s Birthing Gown

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This birthing outfit is made of 95% Rayon and 5% Spandex. It is machine washable, so you don’t have to worry if it happens to get messy. This four-piece birthing outfit includes two shirts, pants, and a matching gown for your baby. Keep in mind that this outfit is not recommended for labor since you shouldn’t be wearing pants during labor. However, this makes a comfy outfit to wear after labor.

The Bravely Labor and Delivery Gown

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This delivery gown is a PTPA Award Winner and is recommended by doctors and doulas. It does not have any hard-to-tie strings or buttons but instead features convenient Velcro in the front. This allows for instant skin to skin contact, fetal monitoring, epidural, and ultrasound access. This birthing gown offers total coverage and includes easy-open snaps on both shoulders for breastfeeding and skin-to-skin baby bonding time. It also has two large pockets to hold your smartphone or other necessities.

12 Ami Solid Basic Fold-Over Stretch Birthing Skirt

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Are birthing gowns just not your thing? Then consider wearing a birthing skirt. What’s nice about a birthing skirt is that you can wear any top that you would like. This birthing skirt is made in the USA. It is made from 95% Rayon and 5% Spandex. You can machine wash it on the gentle cycle and hang it to dry. Overall, this birthing skirt is a great option if you are looking for pregnancy outfits that are comfortable to wear.

Happy Mama Women’s Labor Delivery Hospital Gown

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Made from 95% Viscose and 5% Elastane, this comfortable labor and delivery gown is your cute alternative to the hospital gowns. The side openings on buttons are designed for easy and discreet breastfeeding. Its loose fit allows you to be comfortable before, during, and after labor. It snaps in the back to ensure total coverage.

Final Thoughts

Preparing for birth is such an exciting experience, as well as a confusing one. One important accessory you should pack with you is a birthing gown. Although the hospital will provide a hospital robe for you, birthing gowns are stylish and much more comfortable. In this article, I went over the best birthing gowns to choose from. When shopping for birthing gowns, make sure you purchase a gown that is comfortable to wear and easy to get on and off.

If you plan to have a C-section done, make sure your birthing gown does not have any metal clips on it. Metal should not be worn during a C-section because it can cause burns. Also, make sure the birthing gown you get is machine washable. Because your gown will probably become messy during labor, it may be a good idea to pack two or more birthing gowns. These birthing gowns can be used during pregnancy as well. And after birth, you should be able to reuse your birthing gown for nursing. I hope today’s article has helped you find the perfect birthing gowns for you.

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