Top 5 Picks for Labor and Birth Gowns

Everyone has different opinions about pregnancy, baby, breastfeeding, and postpartum gear and accessories. You can spend hours online looking at reviews -- often conflicting -- for just one item! In an effort to help you cut back on some of your time researching gear, we created a "Top 5 Picks" series in which we do some of the legwork for you. Often, we pull our Top 5 Picks based on the "winners" of five of the most popular retailers and consumer review sites. For today's top pick, however, we had to look beyond -- not everyone recognizes the importance of a labor and birth gown! 

Today's post is all about gowns - for labor and birth, that is. Sometimes called labor and delivery gowns, these non-hospital-issued garments are for personalizing what you wear during labor, birth, and immediate postpartum. Increasingly, people opt to wear something different than the standard hospital-issued gown for a couple of reasons: hospital are uncomfortable, ill-fitting, exposing, and because when you wear your own clothes, you can feel an increased sense of control and comfort during your experience. Of course, you don't have to buy something specially made for labor and birth -- you can easily wear a nightgown, sundress, or skirt/top combo and achieve similar results. If you want something more intentionally designed for ease and accessibility in labor and birth, however, do check out the following labor and birth gown picks! 

Top 5 Picks: Labor and Birth Gowns

Gownies (Verywell Family's Pick)

Baby Be Mine Gownies

Description:

"If you are looking for an upgrade to the hospital issued gown, this gown by Baby Be Mine Maternity is our best overall pick. Unlike the ones with strings you get at the hospital that can be cumbersome, this one has snaps that fully close in the back so you can be discreet when you are walking the hallways. With typical gowns, you have to put one on in front and one in back to stay covered, but this solves that problem. Besides snaps in the back, it also has ​snaps up top so you can easily do skin to skin or breastfeed without stripping down.

They're also made of 100% cotton and machine washable so you can use for your next child. They come in an array of cheery patterns and colors, and come in various sizes to suit all your needs."

Review (from Amazon):

"This gown was absolutely perfect for labor and delivery!! The nurses loved that it was set up just like a normal hospital gown. I received so many compliments on it and it was so nice to wear something of my own. Also, I’m 5’ 4” and normally 150 but I was 180 at birth the small/medium fit perfect!"

Pretty Pushers (Parents.com Pick)

Original Labor and Delivery Gowns

Description:

"Worried that a store-bought labor gown will limit your mobility? Then pick up this 100% cotton option from Pretty Pushers, which features a tie-neck halter, low-cut back, adjustable closures, and a frontal opening. The affordable delivery gown comes in six different colors: black, ice blue, hot pink, cream, clover green, and olive. For an added cost, you can also choose dresses with ruffles."

Review (from Amazon):

"Great for allowing monitoring devices during labor. I recommend thinking about whether you'll use a robe and/or a bra of any kind, it can detract from the cute design."

Ekouaer (Amazon's Pick)

Women’s Nursing/Delivery/Labor/Hospital Nightdress Short Sleeve Maternity Nightgown with Button

Description:

"Stylish and practical, this EKOUAER Gown is specially designed for moms who do not like wearing patient clothes when at hospital. Snaps on both sides of the shoulder, this hospital gown allows easy access for breastfeeding. Snaps in the back allows easy put on and off, and the split front provides convenience for medical examinations and labor."

Review:

"I bought a few of these and wore one for delivery of my baby girl. Way more comfortable than the hospital gowns, and I continue wearing these gowns after we came home from the hospital! Super soft and easy to breastfeed in!"

Frida Mom (Target's Pick)

Frida Mom Delivery and Nursing Gown

Description:

"We’ve got you covered with this t-shirt-soft gown for when it all goes down. Designed for easy nursing and skin-to-skin access in the front, and full-coverage comfort in the back, you’ll look and feel better from first contractions to first photos. "

Review:

"I took this gown with me to the hospital recently when I had my son. I have to say it was very comfortable. I didn’t wear it during delivery but I remained hooked up to IVs for about 24 hours afterward and still needed the open back gown and it was very nice to be able to wear this gown instead of the very uncomfortable hospital gown. It feels like a giant soft t-shirt as opposed to the scratchy stiff fabric that hospital gowns are made of. I was glad to have it. [This review was collected as part of a promotion.]"

Motherhood Maternity (Amazon and Parents.com pick)

3 in 1 Labor, Delivery and Nursing Gown 

Description:

"Back and front snaps allow easy access for fetal monitors and an epidural. Snap the gown back up for coverage and comfort. Waist side slits allow for IV access, while shoulder snaps will give immediate skin-to-skin contact and simple nursing access. This gown is great for maternity wear as well as post-pregnancy and nursing."

Review (from Amazon)

"I knew I didn't want to be more uncomfortable than I needed to be in labor. I looked into nightgowns for labor and delivery and this was my saving grace. It is so comfortable that I didn't feel itchy or over heated or cold or more exposed than I needed to be. I haven't worn it since my labor and delivery because it kind of got messy but I will definitely be wearing it again for my next baby for sure or even getting a new one in a different color!"