What should I wear during birth is a surprisingly common question I get from moms who hire me to document their baby’s birth. They know they want photos and most want to be able to share them with family and friends. Some women are concerned with modesty when imagining sharing their birth images and others are just concerned with looking good in the photos. There is really no right or wrong when it comes to choosing what to wear during birth, but over the years I have come up with a few recommendations.
Wear What Makes You Comfortable
My number one tip for anything birth related is to do whatever makes you most comfortable. If you are going to be most comfortable in a hospital gown so you don’t have to worry about getting your own clothes dirty, then wear the gown!
Many expectant moms, however, want to wear something other than a traditional hospital gown for the birth of their baby. Our local hospital, St. Joseph’s, allows you to wear whatever you are most comfortable in. They will have gowns available, but there is no rule about women needing to wear them.
Whatever you choose, make sure it is comfortable. You are probably not going to want to mess with buttons during your labor.
Black Sports Bra or Tank Top
A simple black sports bra or tank top is a great choice for birth. Most women are comfortable with pictures of them in this for birth. Black is a great color because you don’t have to worry about it being sheer or see-through if it gets wet.
I do recommend that you have one that fastens in the back. I have seen many moms attempt to remove a bra over their head during labor or after birth for skin-to-skin and it can be difficult.
A Loose-Fitting Knit Skirt is a Great Choice to Wear During Labor
Wyatt’s birth story
I have had several moms choose to give birth in a loose, knit skirt such as this flowy yoga skirt. When active labor is well underway, they can wear nothing underneath. This gives the doctor or midwife access to the important area while the mom can walk around comfortably and not feel too exposed.
For moms who are excited to share their birth images but want to leave something to the imagination, this can be a great option.
What Should Dad Wear During Birth?
You might be wondering if it matters at all what dad wears during birth. First of all, we want him to be comfortable (birth is a marathon, not a black-tie event).
Number two, I recommend something muted, without a bright or distracting pattern. You will treasure these photos for years to come, so a beer t-shirt might not be the best choice for this day.
I recommend you have a clean t-shirt or sweatshirt in your bag for dad anyway, so you may as well pick something that will look good in photos.
I hope these tips will help you prepare for the birth of your baby. If you have any other suggestions, please be sure to leave them in the comments!