Delivery Couture? Now We've Seen Everything

Most of us give little thought to what we’ll be wearing in the deliveryroom until our rear ends are hanging out of the faded, poorly fittedhospital gown and it’s just a little too late to go shopping. In thelast few years, modern interpretations of the "johnny shirt" have hitthe market like Dear Johnnies, Girlie Gowns, B.Y.O.G. (which our Ciaran wore when she recently gave birth to son Leo), and Binsi. Like traditional hospital gowns, they provide access to nurses and doctors for IVs, epidurals, etc.

We thought we’d seen everything but then we learned of Dar-A-Luz maternity gowns (left)from Daniela Corte, a Boston-based designer and mom. Daniela decided tomake a statement in the delivery room, whipping together a tied-backjersey dress before heading to the hospital to give birth to her firstchild. The Dar-A-Luz maternity gown(which translates as "to give birth" in Spanish) retails for $98 onDaniela’s website, and is actually quite chic; however, giving birthchild is messy — would you really want to do it in a$98 dress?

Jennifer Lopez reportedly wore one of Dear Johnnies’ cotton gowns when she delivered twins Maximilian David and Emme Maribel in February as did Tori Spelling for the birth of her son Liam Aaron. Jessica Alba reportedly ordered a B.Y.O.G. for the birth of her daughter Honor Marie.

I don’t treasure the idea of spending so muchfor something I’ll wear just once, but hospital gowns are just notsuitable for pregnant women – I had to wear two to cover my front andback and I had to basically undress in order to nurse. Plus there’ssomething nice about feeling a little prettier when you get those firstmama and baby photos.

Check out our previous reviews of:

• Dear Johnnies – the original non-hospital labor/delivery gown
• Girlie Gowns- slightly more fashionable fabrics
• B.Y.O.G. (Bring Your Own Gown) – looks like an empire waist dress you’ll want to keep wearing at home
• Binsi Birth and Labor Apparel – unique in that they offer separates

What do you think of high-fashion delivery gowns? Worth the money, or a waste?

Comments

I received a BYOG top as a gift with my last son and really loved it. I probably wouldn’t purchase it for myself, but it was so nice to lounge in my hospital bed afterward in something that was actually mine. Plus it looks fabulous in pictures! I didn’t deliver in it though, I went with the tank top and no bottoms look for that, haha.

- Ella on August 11th, 2008

Thats very cute but i would be afraid of all the blood that you’d get on it! But maybe it cleans easly!

- Leslie on August 11th, 2008

Totally worth it!

- brannon on August 11th, 2008

I think it’s worth it

- Stéph on August 11th, 2008

I ordered a BYOG gown for my baby that is due in October, after reading a review on here a while back. I’ve tried it on a few times and it is pretty cute. I am planning on wearing it during the actual labor and delivery. With my first I wore a regular hospital gown and I think I look pretty crappy in all of the pictures. I’m interested to see if the new gown will help at all Oh, and I have already enlisted my mom’s help in washing it after the birth. I just plan on throwing it in a plastic grocery bag and sending it home with her and she is going to wash it for me and bring it back in case I want to wear it for my time in the hospital…yeah I’ve got a pretty great mom

- Amy on August 11th, 2008

i think it’s a waste of time personally. it’s just one more “necessity” that women are now convinced that they need for pregnancy. this isn’t the prom or your wedding. no one cares what you are wearing in your birthing pictures. besides the majority of hospitals in the US will not let even wear your bra during labor, much less a gown you have brought from home.

- erinbeth on August 11th, 2008

I would like something other than an old ratty hospital gown, but with this I would be very uncomfortable with a knot tied against my back.

- Willow on August 11th, 2008

wow. to each his/her own, i guess. i definitely wouldn’t want to take home the gown i delivered my boys in. i looked like i worked in a meat packing plant after both deliveries.

i did, however, splurge on a beautiful nursing gown and robe for after i and the baby were cleaned up so that i looked good in the pictures with me, the baby and the 50 people who ended up stopping by throughout the day. i heard that was a waste too, but i just pulled up my gown every time i sat down in bed and it remained stain free!

- marla on August 11th, 2008

what a stupid idea, i already have about 6 empire waisted dresses from this pregnancy (I’m due now) and I could easily just wear one of these!

- kellywinona on August 11th, 2008

Marla, I so agree with you!

I had kinda messy births with both of my daughters. I delivered in the hospital gown, but thought that I looked radiant in all my pictures. How could I not, I was brining a life into this world!

After I took a shower (which was while the baby was in the nursery getting cleaned up), I put on a brand new gown and just hiked it up while in the bed.

But, to each their own.

- Dana on August 11th, 2008

I gave birth to my daughter, Iris, two months ago. My entire family was there. My parents, sister and her husband and all of my husbands family. They all happened to get pictures of me during my labor. The experience was memorable but the photos…not so much. I looked horrible in the hospital gown I wore. All though we probaby don’t like it, us mothers know that it is a very big photo opt. for others. When I have more children, I think it would be worth it to be wearing a stylish maternity gown.

- Krystal on August 11th, 2008

Hospital gowns do not make a fashion statement, but this sure does. I’ve been some photos of women wearing tank tops — not the gown. I had c-sections (both emergency) so I don’t know how this dress would do with a c-section.

- carla at somethingaboutbaby.com on August 11th, 2008

We ordered a BYOG for my sister in law. My Grandmother, who’s been a seamstress for 55 years looked at it, and made 7 that looked exactly like it, but in prettier fabrics.

Of course, most people probably couldn’t do that….not counting the actual BYOG we bought, we spent 70 on fabrics, ribbon and closures. So that wasn’t a bad deal, and my sister in law truly loved them.

- Mae on August 12th, 2008

I can’t decide. I hate hospital gowns with a passion, having been in the hospital a few times. I usually do wear two gowns, one in front, one in the back, with a pair of PJ shorts (Jockey knit ones are the best) underneath. But that won’t work or giving birth. I like the idea of the Dear Johnnies–the ones that look like dresses are a bit much. However, as a feminist, the idea that there’s pressure on women to look good, even while giving birth, irks me. lso, they’re not cheap. If I had been given one, or it were $25, I’d probably buy one of the Dear Johnnies. But I’ve got better things to do with my money. I think I’ll bring a nice nightgown or robe to the hospital for after the birth.

- Pencils on August 12th, 2008

Well, since we’re not allowed to take pictures in the delivery room I really don’t care what I wear (I have more important things on my mind while going through my natural labors than what my dress looks like, lol).
And for after the birth and pictures in my room (as well as the three day hospital stay) I (as well as everyone else) bring our own nightgowns and sweats.

- Sanja on August 12th, 2008

“However, as a feminist, the idea that there’s pressure on women to look good, even while giving birth, irks me.”

How is there pressure. No one is saying a woman should wear that. It’s merely for those people who choose to wear it. And it’s not necessarily about just looking good, but feeling good. Hospital gowns are generally not comfortable, and so impersonal. It bothers me that people are stripped of their identities when they go into a hospital, and I say anything that helps them to get that back is a good thing.

“no one cares what you are wearing in your birthing pictures”

Sometimes the woman herself cares, and if she does then that’s reason enough to wear something that makes her feel better. Just because a woman becomes a mother does not mean she should have to sacrifice herself on the altar of motherhood, and I think that’s what women are expected to do when they’re shamed for wanting to look good while or after their baby is born. Becoming a mother does not mean a person should be shamed into giving up on being a person and caring about things like their own comfort or their own appearance. We’re multi-functional human beings and perfectly capable of caring about our babies and about ourselves at the same time.

- Annabella on August 12th, 2008

i am all for looking/feeling your best while at the hospital for a birth, but instead of spending all that money on something you wont wear that much (wouldnt you rather spend it on the new baby?), try to make your own if you are good with a sewing machine. that way you are just spending money on a fun fabric that you love. either that or hint to a friend or loved one who can sew to make you one. i am even thinking something that looks as simply sewn as the Dear Johnnies would be inexpensive for a professional to make for you. much less than $70.

- gia on August 13th, 2008

As a mom of three i wish i would of known about these cute gowns. I could have used them for all three deliveries. I am a labor and delivery nurse and have seen a handful of different gowns come through our hospital. most of them work well. i really like babybump gowns.com they are stylish and functional.

- maranda on August 21st, 2009