The Best Labor and Delivery Gowns, According to New Moms

We tend to dress up for special occasions and holidays since these big days deserve a celebratory wardrobe choice. But what about when you give birth? It’s one of the most notable days of your life, and if you’re delivering at a hospital, you might think you’ll have to wear a run-of-the-mill, hospital-provided labor and delivery gown. But think again: “Rules surrounding clothes women wear while birthing are finally loosening up, which is great,” says Angela Mancini, a certified birth doula (DONA) and counselor at La Luna Counseling and Wellness.

Don’t get us wrong: When you’re in the midst of contractions, nausea and extreme overall discomfort, you’re certainly not thinking about dressing to impress. That being said, you will care about comfort—and if donning your own labor and delivery gown instead of the one the hospital provides makes you feel your best and ready to rock childbirth, then go for it! Keep reading to check out some of our favorite picks—plus, some advice to streamline your search.

How We Chose the Best Labor and Delivery Gowns

Labor and delivery is a crucial phase of your pregnancy journey, and it’s important to feel as comfortable as possible during this milestone. If you’d rather bring your labor and delivery gown to the hospital, you’ll want to ensure it’s a good fit for your personal needs. To help you find your perfect match, we did the bulk of the research for you, so you don’t have to spend hours scrolling. Here are the steps we took to create this article:

• We interviewed a labor and delivery nurse and a doula for their advice on important elements to consider when shopping for and using a hospital gown for labor.
• We surveyed almost 350 members of The Bump community about the labor gowns they used. We then asked these moms to rate brands and specific styles based on their firsthand experience.
• We researched what was being said about labor and delivery gowns in The Bump community forums to learn what parents liked (and didn’t like) about certain brands and styles.
• To understand how these birth gowns have worked for moms, we conducted exhaustive market research, scouring external forums and message boards and reading user reviews to find out what mothers across the country looked for in labor gowns. We considered several aspects when sourcing labor and delivery gowns to include in our roundup, like material, size range, washability and value.

Editorial integrity is at the heart of everything we publish. Read about how The Bump develops and reviews all articles, including product reviews.

Best Labor and Delivery Gowns

*Note: Some names have been changed due to privacy requests.

What is a Labor and Delivery Gown?

A labor delivery gown is a garment that you can put on during triage (when the process of hospital admission begins) or in your delivery suite; this decision is largely down to your individual preferences and circumstances. Our survey showed that 56 percent of moms changed into labor gowns in their delivery suites, while 15 percent did so during triage and 29 percent did so in the hospital ward. Regardless of where and when you put on your birthing gown, it can be worn throughout all stages of labor and delivery. You might also choose to keep it on once baby is born and you’re moved to the postpartum unit for the remainder of your hospital stay.

If you don’t bring your pregnancy hospital gown, here’s what you can expect. They’re open in the back, to provide access for an epidural (or spinal block in the event of a C-section) and are short-sleeved to make IV-port placement easy and accessible. Paulina Sun, a labor and delivery nurse at Morristown Medical Center, says the hospital gown for labor is the same for all admitted patients, including expectant mothers in the maternity ward. That being said, “moms in mother-baby/postpartum [units] are offered nursing-friendly hospital gowns to accommodate breastfeeding if that’s a desired part of their plan,” Sun explains.

Can You Wear Your Own Delivery Gown During Childbirth?

In short, yes. Not only can you wear your own gown, but Mancini says she’s seen labor and delivery teams get excited when her clients have whipped theirs out. “I have had many staff members compliment my clients over the years, and I can say the same even about my own births, when I wore one.” The hospital will certainly provide you with a labor and delivery gown, so there’s no need to bring your own. But some parents-to-be aren’t fans of the non-breathable, worn-out fabrics and unfavorable fits (they’re generally one-size-fits-all, and given that every mother has a unique body size and shape, the fit can vary dramatically).

Wearing your own outfit—one you’ve picked out, cleaned and packed yourself—can make you feel more at home. And, as Mancini points out, wearing something other than what the hospital provides all its patients can shift your mindset around childbirth. “Some OBs treat pregnancy like an illness or condition when really it’s a natural, beautiful event, and having your own gown makes you feel a little more in control of your situation,” she says. If wearing your own labor and delivery gown can help you feel more empowered and relaxed, lean into that!

At the end of the day, everyone helping you bring your little one into the world wants you to feel comfortable, safe and set up for success in the delivery room. So as long as your labor and delivery gown allows your medical and support team to monitor your contractions and baby’s fetal heart rate and carry out any necessary admission processes (IV hookups) and checks (general vitals, cervical checks, blood draws, etc.) without obstructions, you should be in good shape.

The only exception, Sun warns, is if you have a C-section—whether it’s scheduled or emergency. “Moms who have cesareans need to wear gowns provided by the hospital,” she says. “This is to avoid the clean, sterile operating room from becoming exposed to ‘unclean’ objects from the outside.”

What to Look for in a Labor and Delivery Gown

The most important aspect of a labor and delivery gown is functionality. Your medical providers and support teams should be able to tend to you for regular monitoring and medical interventions (should they be needed). Gowns that present easy access to your stomach, back, arms and vagina—via breezy bottoms or snapped or Velcro openings—make the frequent checks a lot easier. Other features to look for include:

• Comfortable fabrics. Our survey shows that comfort was the number one factor moms-to-be looked for in a birthing gown; 82 percent of respondents told us so. While hospital gowns usually aren’t “buttery soft” because they need to be durable enough to last through countless washes—the same isn’t true of labor and delivery gowns you can purchase. As per our survey, 63 percent of moms said they opted for softness and 48 percent wanted breathable fabric. If you’re also looking for these qualities, cotton or jersey are good fabric choices. This way, you know that they’ll feel nice on your body, whether you’re contracting in bed, rocking from side to side on a birthing ball or straddling a peanut ball.
• Easy openings. Classic hospital gowns have a full coverage front and open in the back for unimpeded epidural placement. There are also snaps that line the shoulders and sleeves that can be opened for IV access or in the event your doctor wants to check your breathing and heartbeat with their stethoscope. If you’re shopping for your own labor and delivery gown, you can find options that also open in the front for fetal monitoring, skin-to-skin contact and your first few nursing sessions—if that’s your preferred feeding journey. According to our survey, 41 percent of moms opted for birthing gowns that ensured coverage, while 44 percent considered styles that open at the chest and 26 percent wanted a design that opened at the belly.
• Fashion-forward silhouettes, colorways or prints. There are so many hospital gown alternatives on the market today, some from well-known maternity brands and some as bespoke solutions from former labor and delivery nurses who know what moms need and want from a labor delivery gown. You can find selections that match the hospital gown’s silhouette but feature a more stylish color palette or good-vibes-only-type patterns or prints. Or you can try a wrap or kimono-style gown that more closely resembles a dress. When you’re finally on the other side of things and have your new baby in your arms, you won’t regret having an ensemble that stands out in your first photos as a family.
• Price. This is the kind of product where it’s probably wise to err on the side of less expensive options. In fact, 41 percent of survey respondents said price is among their top considerations when buying a birthing gown. Mancini advises her clients, “You don’t want to spend too much money on something that will inevitably be covered in blood and fluids!”

About the writer:

Christin Perry is a freelance writer and editor who specializes in pregnancy, parenting and health and wellness topics. As a mother of four (ages 5, 10, 12 and 14), she’s gone through the paces and has used what seems like every product under the sun—and she’s used that experience to write dozens of product roundups for The Bump. Christin considers herself lucky to have worked for a long list of other large clients, including Forbes Advisor, Verywell Family, Parents, Parade, The Knot, Apartment Therapy and Dwell, to name a few.

Plus, more from The Bump:

Hospital Bag Checklist: What to Pack for Delivery

11 Best Maternity Robes for Pregnancy, Delivery and Nursing

What Is a Birth Plan and Why Is It Important?