do I really need maternity nighties to give birth in?

[ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts]

Have been thinking about what I need to put in my bag as I like to be organised, although it will just be a list and not in a bag for aaaggggeeeessss!!

Do I really need a proper maternity nighty? Have been looking around and they all seem to be quite expensive considering I'm going to be getting gunk of all desciptions all on it.

Saw a nightie in Peacocks today with a button down neck for £6 so thought I'd get that in a large size to accomodate my bump.

Will that be ok?

[Trinaluce]

It's entirely up to you! If you want to labour in a ski suit, go for it (although I wouldn't advise it!) - it's all down to what you'll be comfy in. If it's any help, Mothercare stuff's on sale now, you might grab a bargain.

The only thing I found useful was having the nursing nightie as I ended up staying in for 3 days (section) so it meant I could slob around and feeding was really easy (apart from sitting up to do it). If you reckon this nightie will let you do this, then great :)

[Catslikehats]

No you don't

A large old T- shirt (or the hospital gown they give you) is fine for giving birth.

For after it is handy to have something that you can unbutton/unclip if you plan on BF but equally I found cheap stretchy vests over a nursing bra were perfect when worn with normal PJ's.

[ginmakesitallok]

I had bought clothes to labour in - but with DD1 had a bath in hospital so ended up giving birth in a hospital gown and with DD2 I was lucky to get my trousers off so gave birth in the T shirt I was wearing. I just brought some button up jammies for after

[RitaMorgan]

What the fuck is a maternity nightie?

I laboured in a t-shirt/nothing, gave birth in a hospital gown and then had some of those primark button front nighties for the hospital stay - very useful for breastfeeding. You probably don't want to get a proper nursing bra til after your milk comes in because your bra size can change a lot.

[nannyl]

i have bought some primark nighties.
about £3 i think.... button at front, and if when covered in mankyness can go in the bin.

Im planning on a home birth, in my birth pool, naked!

[LoveBeingAbleToNamechange]

I gave birth wearing the top I arrived in

[Bumpsadaisie]

No! One of your DHs T shirts will do fine.

[Petalouda]

I wore one of DH's t shirts, and only because I had to be transferred and they wouldn't let me go naked! Just whipped it off when DS was born for skin to skin.

After, I wore nursing sleep bra & nursing vests. Didn't bother putting bottoms on for 24 hrs (had catheter after 3rd degree tear), so didn't make a mess of my own stuff!

Hospitals are so hot, clothes are only required for other peoples benefit!

[mousymouse]

no, I used the hospital nighties (they get incredibly messy) but gave birth starkers as I didn't like the feeling of anything on my skin.
had a button down nighty for afterwards for easier bf.

[threefeethighandrising]

My advice is take several nighties / PJs none of which you'd mind being photographed with your new baby with.

Don't do what I did and take only 3 nighties. Two were totally respectable but both got thrown away (birth is a messy process!). I ended up wearing a hideous blamanche coloured nightie which says "under this I'm naked" in all the photos taken for posterity of me and my lovely new baby

For labouring wear something comfortable. It really doesn't need to be a maternity nightie they're just trying to make money out of you! (and why do they all seem to have teddy bears etc on them? You're having a baby, not becoming one!) The one you mention sounds great

[IvyAndGold]

nah, you don't really need one, i wore a massive old smashing pumpkins tshirt! whatever will be comfy and won't be restrictive.

[VeryHungryKatypillar]

You said the magic word - Peacocks! I bought two dresses that are intended to go over bikinis at the beach/poolside - fairly thin cotton. Just bought a few sizes larger to accommodate bump. V v cheap (think they were £4 each) - wore them as nighties leading up to the birth and then gave birth in one. Now wearing at night as 'nursing' nighties. They've got no buttons but plenty of room to get boobs out.

If i were you, I'd by some really cheap nighties/dresses rather than maternity stuff...

[clutteredup]

I too wore DHs t shirt - confused cat - that's what I got DD2 is a confused cat !!!

[Pussinflatboots]

I bought big old primark nighties, but didn't have time or inclination to get changed. Was naked - much comfier! Take pjs for the ward - better for walking around in after to loo, kitchen, etc. I only had aforementioned nighties - not a good look with mat pads, catheter etc

[notcitrus]

My hospital was boiling especially on the postnatal ward - so even though I stayed in 4 nights in total, I stripped off my XL t-shirt and stretchy skirt when I got there, and as far as I recall put on the t-shirt again on day 3 just before my dad walked in, and then clean t-shirt the following day.

DP's oldest soft boxers were great for holding maternity pads in place and an excuse to get rid of them after!

[jimmijam]

i wore an old nightee knowing it woulld get all messy, it wasnt large size but covered up enough of me 2 feel slightly more dignified, once id been stitched up i had a bath and put on something a bit nicer anyway.
will pick out an nightee im happy 2 throw away again this time

[yoodle]

naked is best, all three times I whipped off whatever i had on! :)

[kalo12]

well it depends if you are having a video made. have you had a vajazzle yet?

[Northernlurker]

I wore a hospital gown with dd1 and then took a nightshirt in for dd2 and dd3. I was given it secondhand from another mum. I expected to chuck it away but it actually washed very well.
£6 nightshirt will be fine. Just take plenty of comfy pants for afterwards!

[cowboylover]

Those Peacocks ones are great and the buttons are long enough to feed in.
I now have them in every colour after a 2 week stay!

[howabout]

No you don't. I used the hospital gown. However I wished I had thought to have PJs for afterwards to protect my modesty around the ward. I had forgotten that I would no longer have a bump and so would be able to put PJ bottoms on!

[ALovelyBunchOfCoconuts]

Thanks all for your replies.

It's quite annoying when you look at the online guides as to what to pack in your babg and they list the most impractical and expensive of items.

The peacocks ones are fab, they button down really low so I got one in a large size for labour and one in just a size bigger than normal for after and plan to just take a few cheap joggin bottoms and vest tops for on the ward.

Believe it or not I have given birth before I just have a complete memory block on it for some reason!

northernlurker Thanks! PANTS! They are not on my list! Haha that would have been interesting!!

[babyonbord]

im using my dhs old hockey shirts for when im in labour

[phlossie]

I gave birth in a dress rolled up from the bottom and down from the top (good look)!

It's nice to be able to have skin-on-skin at birth, whatever you choose to wear. Afterwards, remember that 1. you may have a sore c-section scar so you need something that does not bother it, 2. it's bloody boiling hot in hospitals, 3. you'll need quick and quite possibly constant access to your boobs and 4. you'll have the mother of all 'periods' so have lots of changes for your bottom half.

I remember that I bled on my only pair of PJ bottoms, and my trackie bottoms were too hot.

[phlossie]

kalo12. Brilliant. Definitely want one of those!