Hospital birth

[mara16jade]

Curious...what do you wear and how exposed are you when giving birth?

I have this fear of being naked from the waste down and just having my nether regions on display for all in the room. Do they drape a small blanket or anything over your knees or are you just flat out exposed?

Not sure if it makes a difference, but I'm in the USA.

 

[tristansmum]

It's totally up to you. Obviously when you are pushing the Midwife/Doctor will be looking down there but you can still keep covered a bit. Personally I didn't care once in labour (was a big worry for me before). When pushing I just had a bra on and beginning naked was the last thing on my mind. I was trying to get through the pain and contractions and push my baby out.
But let your Doctor know your concerns and they should assist you keep as dignified abs covered as possible

 

[mara16jade]

^^ Thank you!!

 

[J04NN4]

When I was labouring I had a hospital gown on but when it came to pushing I got totally nekkid I honestly could not have cared less and I was so hot.

I know everybody tells you you won't care come the time and you probably don't believe it, I didn't, but it's true!

 

[dan-o]

I was most comfortable naked from about 8cm first time (I was roasting!) laboured on all 4's delivered on my back due to baby's position

Unintentionally still had my tshirt and bra on second time (planned to take it off before delivery but he came out rather quick!) laboured standing, delivered on all 4's

X

 

[Storm1jet2]

I had a nightshirt on, all quite discreet, I have no idea how far up it was during delivery, I couldn't have cared less! Lol

 

[chicky160]

It'll be the last thing on your mind at the time so don't worry, i think the thought of no underwear bothered me for the first couple of hours of contractions, after that they could've wheeled me into the corridor for everyone to have a good look and I really wouldn't have been bothered! as a first time mummy it's so true what everyone says about leaving all your dignity at the door, there will be too much going on to even think about what people can see and honestly you'll forget once that beautiful baba is in your arms.

 

[mara16jade]

Thanks everyone! LOL I'm so shy when it comes to being naked that this seriously bothers me. When I had to get a pap from a male doctor I about had a panic attack, and then when he asked his nurse to come in and she started peering over to take a peak I about yelled, "what are you looking at!?!".

Can they deliver in the dark with night vision goggles?

I'll get over it, I was just curious and wanted to know what to expect.

 

[luna_19]

I arrived at the hospital and was already at 10 cm so they just took off my PJ pants and I was just wearing a t shirt that I sleep in. You seriously don't care at that point! They did keep the lights low so that was nice

 

[Bevziibubble]

It's completely up to you how exposed you want to be. I'm sure the midwives will understand if you want a blanket up to your knees and they'll work with you. I went in fully dressed and then dressed into a night dress but ended up giving birth naked for some reason that I can't remember at all! When you are in labour your inhibitions usually go straight out of the window!

 

[luz]

i was wearing my hospital gown, once it came time to push and my legs were up in the stirrups.... all dignity goes out the window. There were a few nurses and the doctor down there watching what was going on. i don't really like people looking at me, but in that moment i didn't really care. all i wanted was baby out!

 

[Kitteh_Kat]

Up until the pushing stage I wore a hospital gown and kept the blankets over my legs. Whenever the doctor wanted to do a check they would just move everything aside and then cover me back up afterwards. During the pushing I kept the hospital gown on, but moved it up so I could bring my legs up for the nurse and my husband to grab. I was dreading that part, but by that point I didn't care, I just wanted her out! Modesty is kind of the last thing on your mind at that point.

The nurse did keep everyone except my husband out until Evelyn was close to crowning, and then the OB and the rest of the delivery team came in for those final pushes. So it wasn't that bad!

 

[Misscalais]

1st birth I was fully naked, quite frankly I didn't care who seen I was exhausted. I was in the shower for most of the time so it was easier.
2nd time also naked for most of the time but put a gown on cause it was quite cold ( middle of winter )
This time ill probably labour in the showe again but in my swimmers or something I'm not really sure yet lol. They be looking straight into your hoo har anyway so it's really not something to worry about too much

 

[Ashla]

I wore a hospital gown, bra and undies for the whole labour and the midwife had to actually ask me to take my undies off when it was time to push! I only pushed for 15 minutes so I was basically clothed for my entire labour.

Mind you, I imagined. Being naked and have no qualms about being naked this time round. It was just the way it worked out.

If you are wearing a hospital gown, you could have that cover your legs down to your mid thighs and that way only people who are directly in front of you will be able to see your lady bits...

 

[mara16jade]

^^That sounds perfect! lol

 

[LoveCakes]

Haha I have finally found a positive from fertility treatment, I have had many internal scans, 2 investigations under general anaesthetic where they poked about my lady parts while I was unconscious, extra smears and had a mirena inserted where the dr looked right up to my cervix while my feet were in stirrups.

If I had any shame before it has gone now and I imagine like labour every second of it and every blush were worth it!

From the sounds of it you can wear whatever you like, no-one is going to dare tell yu otherwise when you're in labour. Good luck.x

 

[wishuwerehere]

I felt really odd when in labour and hated the feeling of any clothes touching me...I rocked up to the hospital in a dressing gown which I ditched as soon as I got in a room and spent the rest of my labour butt naked, much to the consternation of a health care assistant who kept telling me to put a nightie on.
In the middle of labour it was 100% the last thing on my mind. Don't worry about it!

 

[Celesse]

With DS I had a night shirt on. They tried to keep a sheet covering the business end but I got very annoyed with it, threw in on the floor and told them to stop being stupid. Everyone had a good view of everything. You turn into a different person in labour. Dignity has different standards on the labour ward.

With DD I had a hospital gown on, an epidural and a c-section. Once you have an epidural in you return to your normal pre-labour foof hiding self.

 

[adrie]

I am a very modest girl. But what I always notice and realize when in a state of undress around medical professionals is the fact that my nudity is not the focus, if that makes sense. In other words, I know they are not looking at me because I am nude, but because of a procedure, or most recently, the birth of my daughter. I have even had male doctors preform my physicals. I wouldn't say that it's that I don't care, just that I'm not focused on it; it becomes less important. You are doing one of the most natural things the female body can do; there is truly nothing to be ashamed of.

I am sure that you can wear anything you want until it's time to push; though I just had the hospital gown on from start to finish (and I was induced). Good luck, and take care.