Gown

Abstract

A medical gown 10 for wearing by a user, wherein the gown comprises an adjustment means 100 for allowing a neckline 102 of the gown to be adjusted, and located at a front side of the gown. Means 100 may be a drawstring, or hook-and-loop or button fastener. The gown also includes a coupling portion 200, being another fastener, and a fastener 260 (fig. 2B) which allows separation of panels of the gown for access to the abdomen for examination and the like. A further fastener 450 (fig. 4B) similarly allows separation of panels at the back of the gown.

Description

Field The present disclosure relates to a gown, such as potentially a medical gown or maternity gown, for use by expectant mothers or those that have recently given birth, and potentially other users who may be requiring breast related surgical procedures. Background There currently existing medical gowns for use by users / patients / expectant mothers staying in hospital for related medical procedures. These gowns typically employ a single sheet of material, which extends around the wearer, such that the material defines two ends / edges which terminate at a rear side of the gown, at the centre of the width of the gown. These two edges then run down along the length of the gown, and can be fastened together at the rear side of the gown, usually by one or two fastening portions located near this rear set of edges, for allowing these two edges to be held together at the rear, such to locate the gown around the user. An example of such a gown is shown in Figure 5A. Particularly for expectant mothers however, or those that have recently given birth, these existing gown designs can make it extremely challenging to provide breast access (e.g. for breast feeding, or other instances where skin-to-skin contact is required between the mother and the baby), since the gown is held together at the rear, which means that accessing the breast typically requires disengaging / undoing a top of the two rear-located fasteners from the gown, to then allow the top half of the gown to be lowered down off from the patient to allow access to the breast. This is both cumbersome, and also does not preserve the modesty of the patient, in so far as this exposing of the breast may also expose the entire upper half of the patient. These existing gown designs also have related disadvantages in other instances where breast access is required, such as in a mastectomy, or in an axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), in so far as these gowns therefore do not allow ready access to the breast / armpits area of the wearer, without otherwise exposing other large areas of the wearer at the same time. The above gown designs also have disadvantages in terms of providing access to the abdominal area of the wearer, again without otherwise exposing other large areas of the wearer at the same time. This may be particularly problematic in the case of an expectant mother, where physician access may be required to this abdominal area, for example to monitor the vital signs of the baby whilst it is still inside the womb. There is the need therefore for a gown which obviates at least some of the above issues, in terms of providing a gown which can overcome these access issues, whilst at the same time preserving the modesty of the wearer of the gown as best possible. Various approaches are described herein which seek to help address or mitigate some of the issues discussed above, by providing a gown which is tailored / shaped to solve some of these identified issues. Summary According to a first aspect of certain embodiments there is provided a gown for wearing by a user, wherein the gown comprises an adjustment portion for allowing a neckline of the gown to be adjusted, and wherein the adjustment portion is located at a front side of the gown. According to a second aspect of certain embodiments there is provided a method for adjusting a gown which is worn by a user of the gown, the method comprising: adjusting a neckline of the gown, by using an adjustment portion from the gown which is located at a front side of the gown. It will be appreciated that features and aspects of the invention described above in relation to the various aspects of the invention are equally applicable to, and may be combined with, embodiments of the invention according to other aspects of the invention as appropriate, and not just in the specific combinations described herein. Brief Description of the Drawings Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1A represents a front view of a gown, and which shows an adjustment portion from the gown for allowing a neckline of the gown to be adjusted, in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure; Figure 1B represents a rear view of the gown from Figure 1A, in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure; Figure 2A represents a front view of the gown from Figure 1A, in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure; Figure 2B represents a front view of the gown from Figure 2A, and where the adjustment portion has been adjusted / loosened for facilitating access to a breast area of the user / wearer of the gown, in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure; Figure 2C represents a front view of the gown from Figure 2B, wherein a fastening portion from the gown is disengaged to allow a shoulder portion of the gown to be moved away from, and off, the shoulder of the user / wearer of the gown for allowing the shoulder to be exposed, in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure; Figure 3A represents a front view of the gown from Figure 1A, where a first coupling portion from the gown is in a first, engaged, position such that that the abdominal area of the user is covered by a first material portion and second material portion from the gown, in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure; Figure 3B represents a front view of the gown from Figure 3A, wherein the first coupling portion is in a second, disengaged, position, for allowing the first portion of the gown to be separated from the second portion of the gown for allowing the abdominal area of the user to be exposed between the first and second portions of the gown, in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure; and Figure 3C represents a front view of the gown from Figure 3B, further wherein the abdominal area of the user is exposed between the first and second portions of the gown, in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure; Figure 4A represents a rear view of the gown from Figure 1B, and where the first coupling portion from the gown is in the first, engaged, position, in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure; Figure 4B represents a rear view of the gown from Figure 4A, and where the first coupling portion from the gown is in the second, disengaged, position, in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure; Figure 4C represents a rear view of the gown from Figure 4B, further wherein a rear coupling portion, located at a rear side of the gown, is moved to a disengaged position in which the gown can be moved to a position such that the back of the user / wearer is exposed, whilst the gown is being worn by the user / wearer, in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure; Figure 5A shows a perspective view of a prior art gown in application by a mother; and Figure 5B shows a perspective view of the gown from Figures 1A-4C, in use, by a [different] mother, in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure. Detailed Description Aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments are discussed I described herein. Some aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments may be implemented conventionally and these are not discussed I described in detail in the interests of brevity. It will thus be appreciated that aspects and features of apparatus and methods discussed herein which are not described in detail may be implemented in accordance with any conventional techniques for implementing such aspects and features. The present disclosure relates to a gown for wearing by a user, wherein the gown comprises an adjustment portion for allowing a neckline of the gown to be adjusted, and wherein the adjustment portion is located at a front side of the gown. As used herein, the front side of the gown may be interpreted as the side that is located at the front, chest, side of the user. By locating the adjustment portion at the front side of the gown, this advantageously allows the user to easily access the adjustment portion themselves, without needing to reach around to the rear of the gown, such to allow adjustment of the neckline of the gown for facilitating of access to the user’s breast area once this neckline is loosened. An example of a gown 10 according to the present disclosure is shown in the Figures. As can be seen from Figure 1A, there may be provided the adjustment portion 100, which may be located at the neckline 102 of the gown 10 to facilitate easier access by the user. In accordance with some particular embodiments, the adjustment portion 100 may comprise a drawstring portion 101, as shown in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1A for example. The drawstring portion 101 allows for particularly simple and easy adjustment. That being said, it will be appreciated that any other mechanism(s) for the adjustment portion 100 might be employable here, such as an adjustment portion 100 comprising a hook and loop arrangement, and / or an adjustment portion 100 comprising a button. In accordance with some embodiments, such as that shown in Figure 1A, the gown 10 may be provided with a first coupling portion 120 for selectively allowing access to the abdominal area A of the user, whilst the gown 10 is being worn by the user. This advantageously allows the user’s abdominal area A to be easily accessed, for example in the context of medical procedures where this access might be necessary, such as in the case of an ultrasound, or in the case of a situation where it is necessary to monitor the vital signs of a baby whilst it is still inside the womb of an expectant mother who is wearing the gown 10. Where such a first coupling portion 120 is employed, it may be appreciated in some more limited embodiments that the first coupling portion 120 may be located at the front side F of the gown 10. This front side F positioning may then facilitate access to the first coupling portion 120 by the user of the gown 10, without them needing to reach around to the rear side R of the gown to access the first coupling portion 120. In this respect as well, it may be further realised that this front side F positioning for the first coupling portion 120 may facilitate access by the user, even in instances when the user is otherwise lying down (for example on a bed, as shown in Figure 5B for example). Equally, this front side F positioning of the first coupling portion 120 may further be beneficial in allowing access to the abdominal area A of the user, in a way which means that the back of the user can be kept covered by the gown 10. This contrasts, for example, in the case of the gown illustrated in Figure 5A, where any access to the abdominal area A of the user requires the user to either additionally expose their back (by unfastening the gown 10 from its rear side R), or requires additionally exposing the hypogastric / pubic region of the user (through lifting the gown from its bottom side / edge to expose the abdominal area A of the user) - both of which are undesirable, and not modesty preserving. Staying with potential locations for the first coupling portion 120, it may be seen that in some embodiments, such as those shown in the Figures, that the first coupling portion 120, in the width direction W of the gown, may be laterally offset from the centre of the width Wc of the gown. Through the provision of this lateral offset, as opposed to locating the first coupling portion 120 along the centre of the width Wc of the gown, this may assist in keeping the hypogastric / pubic region of the user covered, when the first coupling portion 120 is engaged for preventing access to the abdominal area of the user. The provision of this lateral offset also facilitates the first coupling portion 120 from being more easily accessed by a user having reduced mobility (such as a user in the form of an expectant mother, for example), in so far as the first coupling portion 120 might then be undone from a side of the gown 10 and with one hand. Where the first coupling portion 120, in the width direction W of the gown, is laterally offset from the centre of the width Wc of the gown, it may be appreciated that the first coupling portion 120 may be either laterally offset to the left and / or the right of the centre of the width Wc of the gown, as required. In the embodiments shown in the Figures (as is evident from Figure 2A for example), the first coupling portion 120 is shown as being laterally offset to the left of the centre of the width Wc of the gown. Appreciably though, the gown 10 could be reconfigured such that the first coupling portion 120 is laterally offset to the right of the centre of the width Wc of the gown, as required. Turning to the material portions used to construct the gown 10 as herein described, it may be seen that in accordance with some embodiments, such as the gowns shown in the Figures, the gown 10 may comprise a first material portion 300 and a second material portion 320. An application of these two material portions 300;320 may be to facilitate the gown 10 employing a first configuration C1 (for example as shown in Figure 3A) whereby the first coupling portion 120 is in a first, engaged, position Pe such that that the abdominal area A of the user is covered by the first material portion 300 and the second material portion 320. In this way, the gown 10 may then further comprise a second configuration C2 (for example as shown in Figure 3C) whereby the first coupling portion 120 is in a second, disengaged, position PD, for allowing the first portion 300 of the gown 10 to be separated from the second portion 320 of the gown 10, and for allowing the abdominal area A of the user to be exposed between the first and second portions 300;320 of the gown 10. Where such first and second material portions 300;320 are employed as part of the gown 10, it is envisaged in some instances that the gown 10 may be structured such that, in the first configuration C1 of the gown 10, one of the first material portion 300 and the second material portion 320 may at least partially cover the other of the first material portion 300 and the second material portion 320. It may be realised that this overlap of the two material portions 300;320, as can be seen with reference to Figure 3A for example, may serve to assist in preserving the modesty of the user, through keeping the user (and in particular their abdominal area A and / or hypogastric / pubic region), covered under these two portions of material whilst the gown 10 is in the first configuration C1. Though regardless of whether the gown 10 employs the first and second material portions 300;320 or not, it may be realised that in accordance with some, modesty preserving, embodiments (such as those shown in the Figures), that the gown 10 may be configured such that, whilst the gown 10 is being worn by the user, and when the first coupling portion 120 is in the first, engaged, position PE, the gown 10 may be configured to cover the buttocks of the user. This is illustrated, for example, in accordance with the embodiment shown in Figure 4A. Concerning the first coupling portion 120, it will be appreciated that this may be located at an edge of the first material portion 300, and / or an edge of the second material portion 320, as required, for making the first coupling portion 120 easier to access by the user. With respect to the positioning of the first adjustment portion 100, in some embodiments such as those shown in the Figures (for example in Figure 2A in particular), it may be the case that the first adjustment portion 100, in the width W direction of the gown 10, may be laterally offset from the first coupling portion 120 of the gown 10 whilst the gown 10 is in the first configuration C1. Having the adjustment portion 100 and the first coupling portion 120 laterally offset from one has been found to facilitate the covering of the breath area of the user whilst the gown in the first configuration C1, as can be seen with reference to Figure 2A for example. The provision of this lateral offset has also been found to facilitate the creation of a pouch (or recessed area) P spanning a portion of the width W of the gown 10, for use in holding a baby, as shown for example in Figures 1A and 5B, and as will be described. Related to this pouch I recessed area functionality, and phrasing this differently, it may be seen that the gown 10 in some more limited embodiments may be configured to define an access opening 200 for allowing hand access to the chest area of the user via this access portion, whilst the gown is being worn by the user. An example of this access opening 200 may be seen from Figures 2A and 2B, for example where the access opening 200 is located on the front side F of the gown 10, in a position which is between the adjustment portion 100 and the first coupling portion 120. In accordance with such embodiments where there is provided the access opening 200, and / or the pouch (recessed area) P for use in holding / supporting a baby in use, the gown 10 may in some instances comprise an edge 220, which extends downwardly from the neckline 102 of the gown 10, and which is located on a front side F of the gown 10. In this way, the edge 220 may be configured to traverse at least a portion of the width W of the gown 10, as the edge 220 extends down away from the neckline 102 of the gown 10 (for example as shown in Figure 2A). Through the provisioning of this edge 220, this edge 220 may facilitate breast access to the user, and may also serve to help define the access opening 200 and / or form the pouch I recessed area P, as previously described (for use in holding a baby - as shown in Figure 5B for example). With respect to the gowns herein described, the gown 10 may be provided with at least one shoulder portion 250 and corresponding fastening portion 260, as shown in Figures 2B and 2C, for covering each shoulder S of the user in use. The respective fastening portion 260 relating to each shoulder portion 250 may be moveable between a first, engaged, position Si for allowing the shoulder portion 250 of the gown 10 to cover the shoulder of the user whilst the gown is being worn by the user (shown for example, in Figure 2B), and a second, disengaged, position S2 in which the shoulder portion 250 of the gown 10 can be moved away from the shoulder S of the user whilst the gown 10 is being worn by the user (shown for example, in Figure 2C). This advantageously allows the shoulder (or each shoulder, if two shoulder portions are provided) of the user to be exposed without exposing the whole of the user’s upper body, which may be particularly advantageous in instances where breast access is required - for example in breast feeding and / or instances where skin-to-skin contact is required, or as part of a medical procedure where breast or armpit access is required, such as a mastectomy procedure or an axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Although not expressly required, for providing yet further versatility for the gown 10, the gown 10 may in some instances comprise a rear coupling portion 450, as shown for example in Figures 4A to 4C. Where this rear coupling portion 450 is provided, it is located at a rear side R of the gown 10, wherein the rear coupling portion 450 is moveable between a first, engaged, position Ri in which the gown covers the back B of the user whilst the gown 10 is being worn by the user (shown for example, in Figures 4A and 4B), and a second, disengaged, position R2 in which the gown 10 can be moved to a position such that the back B of the user is exposed, whilst the gown is being worn by the user (shown for example, in Figure 4C). In this way, gown 10 may conveniently allow back B access to the user, for example in a medical procedure where spine access is required (such as during a spinal anaesthesia procedure, for example) in a way which means that the front side F of the user may still be covered by the gown 10. In so far as back B access to the user may more likely be required in the upper back area (rather than the lower back area), and to also help ensure that the buttocks area of the user remains covered, the rear coupling portion 450 may be located at the neckline 102 of the gown 10, as shown in Figures 4A and 4B. Locating the rear coupling portion 450 at the neckline 102 of the gown 10 also allows the rear coupling portion to be more easily accessed by the user themselves, compared with if the rear coupling portion 450 is located lower down the rear side R of the gown 10. From the foregoing remarks, it may be seen that the gown 10 herein described may have particular application for expectant mothers - who themselves will have a baby bump in their abdominal area during the later stages of their pregnancy. So to help cater for this baby bump, the region of gown that is configured to cover the abdominal area A of the user whilst the gown is being worn by the user (for example, first material portion 300 shown in Figures 3A to 3C) may comprise excess material. In this way, the excess material may be configured to accommodate the increase in size in the abdominal area A caused by the baby bump. Noting the foregoing, the gown 10 herein described may have application as a maternity gown, such to cater for a user who is an expectant mother or those that have recently given birth. In this respect, the gown 10 may then allow particularly easy access to the breast area (e.g. for breast feeding purposes) as shown in Figure 5B for example; and / or may allow easy access to the abdominal area A (e.g. for ultrasound procedures); and / or may also define the pouch (or recessed area) P for use in holding / supporting a baby in use. All of which are particularly useful properties in the gown 10 which make it suited for use by mothers or expectant mothers. That being said, it may be realised that the gown 10 herein described may equally have broader application as a medical gown, for example for use by a patient (not necessarily an expectant mother) who requires a medical procedure requiring access to their abdominal area A, breast area, or shoulder(s) S. Such a patient might be a cancer patient requiring a mastectomy, or a patient requiring axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). In this way, the features of the gown herein described may conveniently allow access to certain parts of the user, in a way which preserves their modesty elsewhere. Depending on the construction of the gown, the gown in some embodiments may be a disposable gown. For example, the gown may be made of a single-use material and may not be intended to be re-worn multiple times. For example, the gown may be used during a medical procedure and subsequently disposed of. Equally, in some embodiments the gown 10 may be configured to be reusable and / or machine washable. Mindful of the above remarks, it may be seen that the present disclosure may additionally provide for a method for adjusting a gown 10 which is worn by a user of the gown 10. Specifically, the method comprises adjusting a neckline 102 of the gown 10, by using an adjustment portion 100 from the gown 10 which is located at a front side F of the gown 10. As previously noted, the front side F of the gown 10 may be interpreted as the side that is located at the front, chest, side of the user. This method of adjustment advantageously allows the user to easily adjust the gown themselves, without necessarily having to reach around to the rear of the gown 10, which in instances where the user is an expectant mother, may otherwise be challenging to do. Equally, where the user is a patient which has just undergone a mastectomy, any such reaching around to the rear side R of the gown 10 may potentially cause any stiches from the mastectomy procedure to tear. In some instances, adjusting the neckline 102 of the gown 10 may further comprise loosening the neckline 102 of the gown 10, using the adjustment portion 100, to facilitate access to a breast area of the user. This method of adjustment advantageously allows ease of access to the user’s breast area, while also preserving their modesty. Hence is beneficial for breast feeding, or other instances where skin-to-skin contact between a mother and their baby is required, or as part of medical procedures where breast access is required, for example. It may be seen that the method may further comprise moving a fastening portion 260 from the gown 10, where such a fastening portion 260 is provided. Specifically, the fastening portion 260 of the gown 10 may be moved from an engaged position Si where a shoulder portion 250 of the gown covers a shoulder S of the user, to a disengaged position S2 where the shoulder portion 250 of the gown 10 is then moveable away from the shoulder S for allowing the shoulder S of the user to be exposed. This method of adjustment advantageously allows the shoulder of the user to be exposed without exposing the whole of the user’s upper body. According to this embodiment, the method may further comprise, after the fastening portion 260 is moved to the disengaged position S2, lowering the shoulder portion 250 of the gown 10 down away from the head of the user, and off the shoulder S of the user, to expose a breast of the user - as conveniently shown with reference to Figures 2A - 2C for example. In combination with any of the above embodiments, the method may additionally comprise disengaging a first coupling portion 120 from the gown 10 from a first configuration Pe of the gown, where the abdominal area A of the user is covered, to a second configuration Pd of the gown 10 in which the abdominal area A of the user can be exposed between first and second portions 300;320 of the gown 10. This method of adjustment advantageously allows the user’s abdominal area A to be easily accessed, which is useful for various medical procedures such as ultrasounds (for example), without exposing other areas of the patient and thereby preserving their modesty. According to this embodiment, the method may further comprise, after the first coupling portion 120 from the gown 10 has been disengaged, separating the first and second portions 300;320 of the gown to expose the abdominal area A of the user. As described above, this method of adjustment may help preserve the modesty of the user, through exposing the abdominal area A of the user, whilst keeping other areas of the user, such as their buttocks; back; shoulders; and / or hypogastric / pubic region, covered by the gown 10-as shown in Figure 3C for example. Appreciating the foregoing, there has accordingly been described a gown for wearing by a user, wherein the gown comprises an adjustment portion for allowing a neckline of the gown to be adjusted, and wherein the adjustment portion is located at a front side of the gown. There has also been described a method for adjusting a gown which is worn by a user of the gown, the method comprising: adjusting a neckline of the gown, by using an adjustment portion from the gown which is located at a front side of the gown. There has also been described a gown (10) for wearing by a user, wherein the gown (10) comprises an adjustment portion (100) for allowing a neckline (102) of the gown (10) to be adjusted, and wherein the adjustment portion (10) is located at a front side (F) of the gown (10). Such a gown (10) may be particularly convenient for expectant mother users, whereby having the adjustable neckline may provide for easier access to the breast area of the mother, such as for breast feeding purposes, whilst maintaining coverage of other parts of the mother’s body. Such a gown (10) may also have application for other medical procedures where breast access is required In order to address various issues and advance the art, this disclosure shows by way of illustration various embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) may be practiced. The advantages and features of the disclosure are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and / or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding and to teach the claimed invention(s). It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. other than those specifically described herein, and it will thus be appreciated that features of the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent claims in combinations other than those explicitly set out in the claims. For instance, any of the dependent claims relating to independent claim 1 (or other independent claims) may correspondingly be employed as corresponding features in any of the related independent claims listed in the claims, as required. Appreciably as well, the disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future. For example, although reference has been made to a gown in the independent claims which comprises the adjustment portion for allowing the neckline of the gown to be adjusted, it will be appreciated in some instances, the gown need not necessarily be provided with this adjustment portion for allowing the neckline of the gown to be adjusted. Thus in some embodiments of the present disclosure, it is envisaged that the gown herein described might nonetheless address some of the above user / wearer / patient access issues described above, without this adjustable neckline. For example, in some embodiments, there may well be provided the gown with any combination of some of the other features herein described with reference to the gown, such as for example the fastening portion for allowing the shoulder portion of the gown to be moved down off from the shoulder of the user, whilst the gown is being worn by the user, for allowing the shoulder of the user to be exposed. Alternatively / additionally, in some embodiments, a gown may be employed with the first coupling portion for facilitating access to the abdominal area of the user, whilst the gown is being worn by the user. This might then be employed regardless of whether the gown also employs an adjustable neckline, or perhaps might be employed with a neckline that is adjustable - but it otherwise adjusted from the rear side of the gown, rather than the front side of the gown. In summary therefore, it may be seen that the present disclosure covers a gown that may employ any combination / permutation of features as described herein, and not necessarily a gown as purely set out by the ordering of the claimed features below. For completeness as well, it may be appreciated the gown 10 herein described may be provided with other features that may be of use to the user, such as at least one pocket 130 -as shown in the Figures, where the at least one pocket comprises two pockets, such that there is located one pocket 130A on a left side of the gown, and a second pocket 130B on a right side of the gown 10. Where such a pocket(s) 130;130A;130B is provided, it may be that one pocket 130 is configured to be at least partially covered by another portion of the gown 10 when the gown 10 in the first configuration C1 (for example as shown in Figure 2A) and / or when the first coupling portion 300 is in the first, engaged, position Pe (again as shown in Figure 2A). In this way, the contents of the pocket may be better secured from inadvertent escape from the pocket 130 in use.

Claims

1. A gown for wearing by a user, wherein the gown comprises an adjustment portion for allowing a neckline of the gown to be adjusted, and wherein the adjustment portion is located at a front side of the gown.

2. A gown according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment portion is located at the neckline of the gown.

3. A gown according to any preceding claim, wherein the adjustment portion comprises a drawstring portion.

4. A gown according to any preceding claim, wherein the gown further comprises a first coupling portion for selectively allowing access to the abdominal area of the user, whilst the gown is being worn by the user.

5. A gown according to claim 4, wherein the first coupling portion is located at the front side of the gown.

6. A gown according to any of claims 4-5, wherein the first coupling portion, in the width direction of the gown, is laterally offset from the centre of the width of the gown.

7. A gown according to any of claims 4-6, wherein the gown further comprises a first material portion and a second material portion;wherein the gown comprises a first configuration in which the first coupling portion is in a first, engaged, position such that that the abdominal area of the user is covered by the first material portion and the second material portion; andwherein the gown comprises a second configuration in which the first coupling portion is in a second, disengaged, position, for allowing the first portion of the gown to be separated from the second portion of the gown for allowing the abdominal area of the user to be exposed between the first and second portions of the gown.

8. A gown according to claim 7, wherein the first configuration of the gown, one of the first material portion and the second material portion at least partially covers the other of the first material portion and the second material portion.

9. A gown according to any of claims 7-8, wherein the gown is configured such that, whilst the gown is being worn by the user, and when the first coupling portion is in the first, engaged, position, the gown is configured to cover the buttocks of the user.

10. A gown according to any of claims 7-9, wherein the first coupling portion is located at an edge of the first material portion and / or an edge of the second material portion.

11. A gown according to any of claims 7-10, wherein the first coupling portion, in the width direction of the gown, is laterally offset from the adjustment portion of the gown whilst the gown is in the first configuration.

12. A gown according to any preceding claim, wherein the gown is configured to define an access opening, on the front side of the gown, for allowing hand access to the chest area of the user via this access portion, whilst the gown is being worn by the user.

13. A gown according to any preceding claim, wherein the gown comprises an edge, which extends downwardly from the neckline of the gown, and which is located on a front side of the gown;wherein the edge is configured to traverse at least a portion of the width of the gown, as the edge extends down away from the neckline of the gown.

14. A gown according to claim 13, when further dependent on claim 12, wherein the edge at least partially defines the access opening.

15. A gown according to claim 12 or claim 14, when further dependent on claim 4 at least, wherein the access portion is located between the adjustment portion and the first coupling portion of the gown.

16. A gown according to any preceding claim, wherein the gown comprises a shoulder portion, and a fastening portion, wherein the fastening portion is moveable between:a first, engaged, position for allowing the shoulder portion of the gown to cover a shoulder of the user whilst the gown is being worn by the user; anda second, disengaged, position in which the shoulder portion of the gown can be moved down off from the shoulder of the user, whilst the gown is being worn by the user, for allowing the shoulder of the user to be exposed.

17. A gown according to any preceding claim, wherein the gown comprises a rear coupling portion, located at a rear side of the gown, wherein the rear coupling portion is moveable between:a first, engaged, position in which the gown covers the back of the user whilst the gown is being worn by the user; anda second, disengaged, position in which the gown can be moved to a position such that the back of the user is exposed, whilst the gown is being worn by the user.

18. A gown according to claim 17, wherein the rear coupling portion is located at the neckline of the gown.

19. A gown according to any preceding claim, wherein a region of gown which is configured to cover the abdominal area of the user, whilst the gown is being worn by the user, comprises excess material.

20. A gown according to any preceding claim, wherein the gown is a maternity gown.

21. A gown according to any preceding claim, wherein the gown is a medical gown.

22. A gown according to any preceding claim, wherein the gown is a disposable gown.

23. A gown according to any preceding claim, wherein the user is an expectant mother.

24. A method for adjusting a gown which is worn by a user of the gown, the method comprising:adjusting a neckline of the gown, by using an adjustment portion from the gown which is located at a front side of the gown.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein adjusting a neckline of the gown further comprises loosening the neckline of the gown, using the adjustment portion, to facilitate access to a breast area of the user.

26. A method according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the method further comprises moving a fastening portion from the gown:from an engaged position where a shoulder portion of the gown covers a shoulder of the user;to a disengaged position where the shoulder portion of the gown is then moveable away from the shoulder for allowing the shoulder of the user to be exposed.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the method further comprises, after the fastening portion is moved to the disengaged position:lowering the shoulder portion of the gown down away from the head of the user, and off the shoulder of the user, to expose a breast of the user.

28. A method according to any of claims 24-27, wherein the method further comprises: disengaging a first coupling portion from the gown from a first configuration of the gown, where the abdominal area of the user is covered, to a second configuration of the gown in which the abdominal area of the user can be exposed between first and second portions of the gown.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the method further comprises, after the first coupling portion from the gown has been disengaged:separating the first and second portions of the gown to expose the abdominal area of the user.

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