Hospital gowns often cause confusion and anxiety, particularly regarding unwanted exposure during medical visits. The design, with its loose fit and ties, can feel counterintuitive when preparing for a clinical procedure. Understanding how to properly manipulate the gown is helpful for navigating various exams while maintaining comfort and privacy. This guide offers practical instructions specifically tailored for the OB/GYN setting, where access to the lower body is frequently needed for examinations.
Wearing the Gown for Maximum Coverage
The standard method for wearing a hospital gown involves securing the ties at the back of the body. This approach keeps the front fully closed, protecting the chest and abdomen while walking or sitting in the examination room. Typically, two sets of ties are fastened: one near the neck and a second around the small of the back or waist. This traditional orientation allows medical staff easy access to the back for procedures.
Many patients prefer a “modesty” method, particularly when anticipating movement around the clinic. In this alternative style, the gown is reversed, with the open side facing the front. The ties are secured across the chest and waist, creating a completely closed barrier across the back. While this provides greater security for general movement, it necessitates fully untying the garment when the physician needs to examine the front of the body.
For an OB/GYN visit, where the focus shifts to the lower body, the initial choice of how to tie the gown influences the transition to the exam. The open-back method keeps the upper body completely covered without requiring significant readjustment. Conversely, the open-front method requires more effort to reposition, potentially delaying the beginning of the exam.
Adapting the Gown for Examination and Access
The requirements for an OB/GYN exam, such as a routine pelvic check or transvaginal ultrasound, necessitate specific gown adjustments to expose the lower half while preserving upper-body privacy. Once the patient is positioned on the examination table, the gown is worn with the opening facing forward, regardless of how it was initially tied. This adjustment allows the fabric to be easily gathered and secured high around the waist or abdomen.
Pulling the lower portion of the gown up allows the garment to act like a shirt or short tunic, keeping the upper body fully covered. Medical staff typically place a sterile sheet or large cloth drape across the patient’s legs and lap below the waistline. This combination ensures that areas not being actively examined remain shielded from view, maintaining patient dignity during procedures.
Some facilities offer a second gown for enhanced coverage. This second gown should be worn like a robe over the first, with its opening facing the front. Layering the garments provides 360-degree coverage, which is helpful when walking between rooms or waiting for procedures.
During labor and delivery, the functionality of the gown changes significantly. While the upper portion covers the chest and shoulders, the lower half is usually removed entirely or pushed up past the hips to allow for monitoring and delivery. Hospital staff manage this process, ensuring the patient’s upper body is consistently shielded with the gown or blankets.
Practical Tips for Comfort and Modesty
Beyond the structured use of the gown, several steps can improve comfort and reduce anxiety during the hospital visit. Hospital rooms and examination areas can often be cool, and the thin fabric of the gown does little to prevent drafts. Patients should request an additional blanket or sheet to place over the gown while waiting for the physician.
Undergarments must be removed for almost all gynecological procedures. Patients should keep their underwear and pants on until the moment they are asked to change into the gown. Similarly, undergarments should be put back on immediately after the examination is complete, even before the physician leaves the room.
If facility policy allows, patients can bring a personal, comfortable item such as a soft robe to wear over the gown when walking. Bringing personal slippers or non-slip socks is also recommended, as the provided hospital socks can feel thin and sterile. Medical staff are professionals who conduct these examinations daily and are committed to maintaining patient dignity during the process.