Best birthing gowns for comfort and ease during labour – tried and loved by mums

The best birthing gowns for the delivery room

by Maria Martin |
Updated on

Whether your due date is fast approaching or you're organising your hospital bag, you may want to consider wearing a birthing gown during labour. After all, the experience of birth can feel daunting, so making sure you're comfortable is important to try and make the experience a little bit easier.

Unbeatable Black Friday savings on stylish and comfortable birthing gowns!

If you're getting ready for the big day and want to stock up on baby essentials for less, Black Friday is the time to buy. While Black Friday is on 29th November 2024, the deals continue throughout the weekend and into Cyber Monday on 2nd December. There's plenty of time to save, but we often see the best deals sell out, so if you see a birthday gown you want, it's best to grab it while you can! We've checked all the deals to find the best prices for you so here are Mother&Baby's favourite birthing gowns that are reduced for Black Friday 2024.

Shop Black Friday deals on birthing gowns at: Seraphine | Amazon | John Lewis

Save 30%: Seraphine Whitney Maternity Birthing Gown in Organic Cotton - Was £39, now £27.30

Save 30%: Seraphine Bronagh Maternity & Nursing Nightshirt - Was £45, now £31.50

Save 20%: Seraphine Jersey Maternity Sleep Set - Was £99, now £79.20

Save 30%: Seraphine Weston Maternity Midi Birthing Gown in Organic Cotton- Was £45, now £31.50

Save £20: Seraphine Paige 4-Piece Maternity & Nursing Hospital Bag and Sleep Kit - Was £99, now £69.30

From labour dresses to birthing shirts which can be unbuttoned, you'll want something that will give the midwives and doctors easy access when they're checking how dilated you are, as well as something you can open when it's time for skin-to-skin contact or breastfeeding the baby.

The best birthing gowns at a glance:

It will likely be the last piece of maternity clothing you'll wear before the baby comes along, so you may want to choose something that will last into the first weeks of newborn life, too.

SAVE 30%

Best birthing gown overall

Maternity Hospital Bag Birthing Gown©Seraphine
Price: £27.30 (was £39)

www.seraphine.com

With plenty of hidden features for labour, this gown Maternity Hospital Bag Birthing Gown from Seraphine is one of our favourite go-to options. There are side openings for any monitoring straps your birthing team may use, and there's also a popper at the back, which can be undone if you're having an epidural.

It's made from organic cotton, so it's soft against your skin and also breathable. If you're strolling the corridors during contractions, you can pop your phone or snacks in the pockets, too!

Pros

  • 100% organic cotton
  • Discreet side openings for fetal monitoring straps
  • Popper back access for epidural

Cons

  • Only sizes available are XS and S
Material:Organic cotton
Sizes:XSmall, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large
  • Front poppers
  • Side pockets

SAVE 27%

Best birthing gown for breastfeeding

MijaCulture Labour Maternity and Nursing Nightdress©Amazon
Price: £25.15 (was £34.91)

Available in numerous patterns, this MijaCulture Labour Maternity and Nursing Nightdress is perfect for labour and beyond. Made from skin-friendly materials, it helps to wick away moisture and sweat, keeping you cool.

One reviewer found that it was really useful for immediate skin-to-skin and breastfeeding, as the deep neckline allows you to wrap the gown around the baby to cover both of you as you breastfeed.

Pros

  • Will enable skin-to-skin contact
  • Designed with extra room around the tummy

Cons

  • Only sizes available are 8 - 18
Material:Cotton and elastane
Sizes:8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18
  • Side poppers near the chest area
  • Short sleeves
  • Extra tummy room

SAVE 15%

Best stylish birthing gown

birthing gownsilkandmore
Price: £36.91 (was £43.56)

www.etsy.com

The White Natural Birth Hospital Gown is made from comfortable cotton and comes in an array of beautiful colours and knee lengths. Reviewers found it helped them to 'feel glamorous in an unglamorous situation.'

It's lightweight and flowy, which also makes it ideal to wear in those early post-partum weeks. There's also an option to add buttons to the back if you're considering an epidural.

Pros

  • Made from white floral 100% mulmul cotton
  • Many colours to choose from: White, black, grey, silver, dark pink, light blue, mint, aqua, red and more

Cons

  • Measured by height
Material: 100% mulmul cotton
Sizes:5"-5"3, 5"4-5"7, 5"8-5"6
  • Multiple colourway options
  • Belt-ties
  • Ankle and knee-length designs

Best birthing gown for versatility

HAPPY MAMA Women's Maternity Nursing NightshirtAmazon
Price: £23.63

Shoulder snaps are the key feature on this Happy Mama Women's Maternity Nursing Nightshirt which makes it brilliant for feeds as well as that first time you get to hold your baby. One mum mentioned it was perfect for skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding.

She also found it comfortable to wear after a C-section. It's also a great thing to wear during medical examinations and check-ups, as it's lightweight and comfortable.

Pros

  • Made in soft cotton with a relaxed boxy cut
  • The simple button-down design is ideal for immediate skin to skin contact with your newborn

Cons

  • Sizes available are 10-12 and 16-18
Material:Viscose and elastane
Sizes:8-10, 10-12, 14-16, 16-18, 18-20
  • Colled collar
  • Vast range of colours
  • Shoulder snaps

Best birthing gown with robe

HAPPY MAMA Maternity Hospital Bag SetAmazon
Price: £29.63

Featuring both a nightie and robe, the HAPPY MAMA Maternity Hospital Bag Set also comes with a convenient shoulder bag. The tote can be used to store snacks and drinks, and even hospital notes, so they're quick and easy to get to.

The nightie is short-sleeved, meaning they can use the robe to cover up if they get a bit chilly. Plus, there are so many combinations to choose from to suit all tastes. One mum mentioned that it was stretchy and loose fitting, too, and the buttons made it easier for medical access.

Pros

  • The nightie and robe set comes with a handy bag
  • You can wear the nightshirt and robe at home as well as at a hospital / labour

Cons

  • One revoew said the material is quite heavy
Material:Elastane and viscose
Sizes: 8-10, 10-12, 14-16, 16-18, 18-20
  • Buttoned front
  • Knee-length
  • Bag included

Best birthing gown for its velcro closures

Universal Labor & Delivery GownUniversal Labor & Delivery Gown
Price: £77.20
Alternative retailers
Macy's$19.99View offer
Target$41.99View offer

The Kindred Bravely Universal Labor and Delivery Gown is your ultimate companion for childbirth, blending practicality with style! Gone are the days of scratchy hospital gowns—this buttery-soft masterpiece ensures you feel cosy and confident as you welcome your little one into the world. Thoughtfully designed with easy-access snaps, it transitions effortlessly from labor to postpartum, making nursing and medical checks a breeze. Its flattering empire waist and chic colours bring a touch of glamor to the delivery room, proving that comfort and cuteness can go hand-in-hand. Who says you can’t slay while bringing life into the world?

Pros

  • Choose between two sizes: S-M-L fits baby bumps up to 45 inches and XL-XXL fits baby bumps 46-51 inches
  • Soft fabric that feels just like your favorite worn-in T-shirt.

Cons

  • One review said the Velcro stuck to other clothes in the wash damaging some of their work dresses

Do you have to wear a hospital gown?

Wondering what to wear during labour? When you're at the hospital, you can be offered a hospital birthing gown, but you don't have to accept it if you don't want to. Many people opt to wear it because they don't realise you can bring your own clothes, whilst for others, it's one less decision to make or thing to pack (plus you don't have to take it home or clean it either).

If you're having a C-section (planned or unplanned), you will have to wear a gown, but you can always bring your own clothes to sit around in before you go down to the theatre.

Things to consider when buying a birthing gown

Accessibility - This should go arm in arm with comfort when selecting a birthing gown. Contenders should include features such as buttons, poppers, Velcro, or zips so that medical staff can easily access the areas they need to when checking your dilation, putting in an epidural and feeling your bump. Once the baby arrives, you'll want to be ready for skin-on-skin bonding time or breastfeeding, so having these features will mean that you won't have to get changed or move too much.

Material - Just like maternity pyjamas, you will want to wear something snug. Jersey and cotton are two materials worth selecting for a labour dress. The former is super-stretchy, whilst the latter is nice and soft. Silk also works well as it is lightweight, but it won't absorb excess sweat.

Size - This is down to personal preference, but ideally, your gown should be loose-fitting, as tight clothing may be uncomfortable on your bump and restrictive, especially when you're trying to do skin-on-skin contact with your newborn.

Longevity - Aim to buy an option that can be used post-pregnancy as the loose fit and easy access will save plenty of time on those night feeds when you're half asleep and trying to breastfeed the baby. Even if you're not breastfeeding, a high-quality cotton number will keep you comfortable long after giving birth.

When does Black Friday end?

Black Friday traditionally comes to an end on Monday 2nd December, otherwise known as Cyber Monday. We do see some deals extend beyond this, but many retailers, including Amazon, end their deals on Monday so it's best to buy before then if you see something you like!

Maria Martin is Digital Group Editor for Yours.co.uk and Motherandbaby.com. She is a mum-of-two with a passion for helping women from all walks of life – from supporting breastfeeding mothers with expert advice to encouraging conversations about mental health. In her professional role, she has over 10 years' experience in the digital world, including editing articles, focussing on SEO, social media engagement, picture researching and video editing.  .

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