What to wear in hospital?

[Skeppers]

Function rather than fashion-wise!

What would you recommend wearing for a) the birth (not a water birth) and b) post-birth for breastfeeding, etc. in hospital?

I'm NOT, repeat NOT doing this nekkid. God knows the NHS has enough problems without their hard-working staff being exposed to the horror of my naked, blancmange-like form as well.

Ta!

[batfish]

I haven't been in the whole birth situation yet but have seen people recommend long button front night shirts - however it does seem that some people actually can't bear to have clothes on and do end up naked, I hate the idea too but can't say what our crazy selves will decide when we are actually in labour!

[lilac3033]

I ended up in a sleeping bra (in the pool) but once I out I got a hospital gown on. That was good as it ended up trashed. I had packed a mid sleeve T-shirt that was a few sizes too big. It fell mid thigh and had a deep V neck. Covered me but I could still manipulate it for skin to skin. I think if I hadn't gone in the pool I would have worn that. Makes sure it isn't anything that you want to keep or really like. It will probably get ruined. Mine was like £3 on clearance from Primark.

[Buttercup27]

I was so hot I ended up just in a bra. I started off in a baggy t shirt but everything annoyed me and I didn't even realise I was stripping off. With ds2 I was in a t shirt .

[AnythingNotEverything]

I've got a button through jersey nightshirt (from M&S but new via eBay) soon canned half asked but modest (in my experience this is how I feel comfy in labour) and also a loose, short Jersey dressing gown from Primark. Both allow for easy skin to skin and easy examinations without having your bottom on show all the time.

When are you due? If winter a brushed cotton button through nightshirt will see you through labour and night feeds too

Go for a dark colour and prepare for it to be binned. Labour is a messy business.

[ClareAbshire]

I had a button front nightie for the birth but- and you aren't going to want to hear this- I did end up naked despite thinking I wouldn't. You couldn't have covered me up- and God knows they did try - I just went primal and would not be clothed.

In the hospital I wore other button front nighties and a feeding bra and giant pants!

[PeppaPigStinks]

With both of mine I bought dark jogging bottoms in the next size up and borrowed my DH T Shirts! I wanted to 'get dressed' so didn't take pjs or nighties

[RockerMummy184]

I don't have any recommendations for actual clothing, but for afterwards I would get some cheap, big, tight pants. I bought some of those disposable maternity ones from boots, but they are so baggy that as soon as you move they move too, and your pads don't stay in place. The last thing you want is pads rubbing on an already sensitive area!!

[Artandco]

Seraphine basic breastfeeding nightie. Looks just like a plain strappy black dress, but unclips to feed.

Take few pairs of leggings for after to add to wear as pjs/ dress and leggings combo.

Can wear at home after at night for feeding

[BreeVDKamp]

I ended up in just my pyjama top which was button-down to the lower boob for breastfeeding as I was planning to do skin to skin/breast crawl straight away. As it was I didn't hold DS for a couple of hours, by which point I was in one of those hospital gown things.

Had bought a black breastfeeding nightie from Next via eBay, but didn't get round to putting it on as didn't realise delivery was imminent.

[BreeVDKamp]

I didn't need big pants :-/ I'd bought lots in preparation but my normal pants were fine. Didn't throw any away either and I had a lot of bleeding (haemorrhage). But best to have some in case!

[rockybalboa]

Cheap strappy short nighties. Mine were Asda and Primark. Pull them up for the birthing bit, pull one side down for boob access and pull the whole top down and use a sheet for discretion for the skin to skin bit. It is roughly the same temperature as the surface of the sun in maternity units so you really want to be wearing the bare minimum. Good luck!

[MumOfOne14]

I had a long loose nightgown for the labour, it was all very rushed, ended up having an emergency c-sec & still had it on, the the midwives stripped me & bathed me( which was well needed) then I put on a button down nightgown for easy feeding & skin to skin. Maybe you should go button down all the time if you want baby put straight on you?? But honestly it's the last thing I thought about.

[originalusernamefail]

Just a sleep bra in the pool, and despite it being the hospital I work in I didn't give a monkeys belly was in the way of a full frontal anyhow! The MW did provide a dressing gown when I was out of the pool though. Afterwards I bought button up pjs from primary and wore a nursing vest underneath.

[happypotamus]

My births were very quick and I never got round to changing out of the top I was wearing on arrival at hospital. I had bought button-front nighties from Primark. I wore these during the couple of days we were on post-natal ward.

[Electroswing]

I ended up in a hospital gown, but I'd say a button-up nightie would be great for skin to skin & to wear during birth. To be honest, you'll probably not care what you look like, and hospitals are always tropical, so you may end up naked apart from your bra and it'll be fine!

I bought massive pants in case I had to have an emergency C-sec - was told you don't want anything that sits low over where your stitches will be. Get a multipack of old lady hi-rise pants from M & S!

For afterwards, JoJo Maman do fab breastfeeding tops with tie-fronts. I bought 4 and live in them permanently. They also do dresses.

[Skeppers]

Thanks everyone- this is all really useful!

I think I'm more worried about DH seeing me in the unpleasant altogether which I know sounds daft.

EDD is August 9th so I'd imagine mid-August (I really know how to pick my timing) and yes, our local hospital is like an oven at the best of times...I had surgery there in January a couple of years ago and I remember sweating on the ward even then...

I like the sound of cheap Primark vest/nightie things. Will prob go that route, then stretchy leggings/baggy t-shirts for post-baby.

Granny pants are sorted! All of my pants are BIG. Love a pair of M&S hip-huggers!

[puppy123]

Yep big Primark nighties here too! Several of them.

[scarednoob]

skeppers, I am also a bit worried about this. but then I think, by the time he's seen me sweating, swearing, screaming and most likely shitting myself to add to the fun, it's probably going to be the least of our worries...

[ALittleFaith]

I had lots of nighties but I only wore one! I gave birth in the top I came to hospital in (fast labour!). After I DD, I like vest style pj tops and pj bottoms. I felt too exposed in nighties. When I got home, joggers were awesome for feeling like pjs but looking like I was dressed!

[S2b16]

I have 2 maternity nighties packed and a pair of pjs....plan is to labour in one nightie, and wear pjs and other nightie when back on ward. But have heard people say they've ended up naked, 3rd baby for me and I haven't yet

[ALittleFaith]

I mean pj tops like this one. Also good to put breast pads in.

[SomedayMyPrinceWillCome]

I went to primark & just threw them away after x

[Skiptonlass]

I am oddLy worried about this as well. I kind of assumed they'd give me a hospital gown... Maybe they don't!

I also have no plans whatsoever to be naked. I'm British, dammit.

And the glare from my pale skin could cause retinal damage in unprotected eyes...

[AvocadoLime]

I'm sure that all hospitals have gowns to give out. I had to go to hospital suddenly in an ambulance for my labour and was given a gown, there must be provisions for women like me!