For some women, wearing a comfortable old T-shirt or nightgown provides a sense of familiarity. This can be reassuring during labor and delivery. But be warned, childbirth can be messy. One advantage to wearing hospital-issued gowns is that you won't care if they're ruined during delivery. A bathrobe, a nightgown or two, slippers, and socks. Hospitals and birth centers provide gowns and socks for you to use, but some women also bring their own.