What do you wear to a birth?

loveslabor · 10-22-2005, 04:25 PM

I guess the title says it all....

delilahdr · 10-22-2005, 04:42 PM

I have the world's MOST comfortable pair of black capri pants. They are stretch french terry inside, like 95% cotton, 5% lycra... from LL Bean. Zip/button on the side, are as comfortable as sweats but could come close to being "business casual", if worn with a crisp oxford shirt or twinset. However, I wear them with a polo shirt and comfortable mules, usually. I need to look professional enough/not sloppy to feel confident in dealing with medical professionals (who are usually in scrubs- so it isn't like I need to be in a suit to feel comfortable), yet be as comfortable as if I am in PJ's, in case I am there for 30 hours straight- I need to be totally focused on the mom and dad- and not my clothes!! Being able to forget what I am wearing is vital. It also has to be easily washable since birth can get MESSY!

By the way- I love your logo!

loveslabor · 10-22-2005, 07:18 PM

Hey thanks! Tiffany that runs this site made it for me. She does great work, don't you think?

DL · 10-22-2005, 07:28 PM

So far, I've only attended hospital births. For those, I wear scrub pants and a plain, solid colored, nice t-shirt and white sneakers with good support. The reason I chose this 'get-up' is that I want to look professional to both medical staff and clients, and look like I belong there as a professional. I want to look different from just anyone else (i.e. family and friends), but also not come across as trying to look like a nurse, CNM, or Dr. My scrubs pants are very comfortable and easy to clean (feels like PJ pants) and my t-shirt has my name and credentials embroidered on the left upper chest. I also have my CAPPA name badge with credentials.

If I were to attend a home birth, I would not wear the scrub pants. Home birth mommas are obviously looking for an environment very different from a hospital. I'm not sure what type of pants I'd wear yet, but I do know they'd have to be comfortable and easy to clean!

1stimestar · 10-22-2005, 08:07 PM

I wear scrub pants and doula tshirt or some nice yoga pants and tshirt. Lol seems like we've all found similar suits that do the job well.

Kalamazoo Doula · 10-22-2005, 11:16 PM

I wear khaki colored scrub pants and a bright red scub top with my name and birth doula embroidered on it. I chose this attire, because while I was working on my certification births, I just wore comfortable street clothes (I had to, because I was pregnant myself

). The problem I ran into was that I was just viewed as a 'friend' and not as a professional. I bought one pair of scrubs to kind of perform a experiment. I was shocked on how different I was treated by the staff at the hospital! I was not sure if this was because I was attending at another hospital, or because of the scubs. I think it was because I was wearing the 'common cloth' of the nurses, so I was seen as a professional. I think this made it easier and less tense for my clients. When I get the chance to attend a home birth, either as a doula or when I start my midwifery apprenticeship, I'll have to come up with another ensemble!

raspberrymoondoula · 10-23-2005, 11:01 AM

i like broom skirts cuz they're dressy but easy to move around in!

kelley piasecki · 10-23-2005, 05:31 PM

I'm curious.....what are broom skirts?

Babies_Bellies_Boobies · 10-23-2005, 05:57 PM

i'd describe it as a "gypsy skirt/hippie like skirt... they're COMFY!

i only have 2, and i've had them for sop long that they're falling apart...

this is one

1stimestar · 10-23-2005, 08:42 PM

I would caution against wearing scrubs UNLESS, like Erin, you have doula embroiderd on it, especially in large hospitals. Nurses go through security training. One of the first things people who are up to something no good do is try to look like they belong by wearing scrubs. So if a nurse sees someone wearing scrubs that she does not recognize, it sends up red flags. Yes, they can stop and question you but who wants to cause the concern, and being considered a red flag for any reason is never a good thing lol. I have lots of scrubs from a former job but only wear the pants now.

DL · 10-23-2005, 09:00 PM

I just wear the scrub pants. My t-shirt has my name, credentials, and Labor Doula embroidered on it. I also wear my CAPPA badge that has my name, credentials, and Certified Labor Doula printed on it. I purposely dress differently than the nurses, but yet do look like I belong there and am not just a friend, family, nor just anyone off the street.

IMO, what one chooses to wear is a personal choice, but I do agree with Georganne that, in hospitals, doulas should be wearing something that clearly identifies one as a doula for security reasons. I think this also adds to a doula's professional appearance. Just adding in my set of

.

Stacie · 10-24-2005, 01:00 AM

I'm a newbie and glad to have found this site

.

I wear various things -- usually khaki pants and a cotton knit shirt. I don't like the scrub idea personally because I am pretty self-conscious and I don't want staff wonding, "Who does she think she is?" That's my insecurity issue

. Plus, in my mind there is nothing wrong with being associated as a mother's friend versus her prfessionally hired labor support person. I do wear my DONA badge, and I introduce myself as necessary, but I like to blend into the background, and I would not feel comfortable blending in scrbs (although I know they look comfy!). At one birth I actually wore shorts and flip flops, but it was fast and I went from being at home with my client ( in more comfy clothes) and I never got a chance to change into more professional attire once we arrived at the hospital. That was okay -- her dh was in shorts and flip flops, too

.

demetria · 10-24-2005, 09:11 AM

I wear yoga pants, a comfortable top, and danskos.
I feel that danskos make all the difference, and keep me from feeling fatigued.
I also must wear my hair up, it is waist length.
I never wear scrubs because I knwo the hospitals I work in wouldn't really like it and I at homebirth I wear what I always wear.
Demetria

Matrescence · 10-25-2005, 03:01 PM

I wear knit pants from Land's End and a long sleeve t-shirt in the winter, a doula t-shirt and those same pants in the summer

Luv2bemommy · 02-11-2006, 07:54 PM

I have seen some doula sites where they wear their own clothes and I've also seen some that have special doula shirts made.. Wondering what to do..