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.
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.
We have put together a list of our favourite birthing gowns, which are both practical and stylish; check them out below.
Best birthing gown overall
©Seraphinewww.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!
| Material: | Organic cotton |
| Sizes: | XSmall, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large |
- Front poppers
- Side pockets
Best birthing gown for breastfeeding
©AmazonAvailable 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.
| Material: | Cotton and elastane |
| Sizes: | 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 |
- Side poppers near the chest area
- Short sleeves
- Extra tummy room
Best stylish birthing gown
silkandmorewww.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.
| 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 comfort
www.lindex.com
Lindex has a great maternity range, and this nursing dress is no exception. Designed to fit you pre and post-baby, it's lovely to sleep in and is something that your little one will enjoy snuggling into during those night-time feeds and early morning cuddles.
Some mums-to-be found that the MOM Nightdress is slightly larger than the standard size. However, it means that the birthing gown is a lot comfier to wear and allows for more breathability.
| Material: | Cotton and elastane jersey |
| Sizes: | XS (6), S (8), M (10), L (12), XL (14), XXL (16) |
- Partial press-stud placket
- V-neck
- Short sleeves
Best birthing gown for versatility
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.
| 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
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.
| Material: | Elastane and viscose |
| Sizes: | 8-10, 10-12, 14-16, 16-18, 18-20 |
- Buttoned front
- Knee-length
- Bag included
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.
Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Mother&Baby at Bauer Media. She's a bookworm who enjoys cooking and spending time with her many pets.