Get Naked
Hospital gown? Your own clothes? One of those nursing gowns on Amazon?
Or just simply naked.
Curious what other people wear when they have a baby? That varies widely. You definitely don’t have to wear a hospital gown if that sounds restrictive or too much like a ‘sick patient’ for a very healthy event.
No matter what you wear, it’s likely that you’ll end up slowly removing layers of clothing as you move through labor.
Stripping off your clothes in front of doctors and nurses probably sounds weird. And honestly, in any other setting, it is. But when you’re literally digging as deep as you can to find those last bursts of energy to push your baby out, if your instinct is to strip it all off- DO IT! Toss it on the floor.
If you’re someone who doesn’t like to show a lot of skin and you just got an immediate “Oh, no thank you” feeling in your gut, keeping a nursing bra, sports bra, or tank top on can help relieve that feeling of exposure. We know that for some, being in a vulnerable state like this does not feel safe. Perhaps you're a human with trauma or modesty is important to you. Either way, you get to control the sheet and gown on your body, and your doula will help you with as much coverage as you might prefer.
If you do end up naked, no one is going to bat an eye. Nudity is something that providers usually assume will be a part of the birth process. And, your provider wants you to feel safe; so if covering your body is important to you, please share it with your team so they can ensure your needs are being met.
If you are still wearing a delivery gown or a top of some kind, the nurses will likely help you remove it or pull it out of the way so that your sweet baby can be placed on your chest for those precious first skin-to-skin moments. This is also helpful if you decide to breast/chest feed, as those first few latches are going to be easier without a bunch of extra fabric in the way.
So, whether you start out in your own clothing or opt for a delivery gown from the beginning, if you feel the need to shed those layers at any point, feel confident that being naked during labor and delivery is completely normal.