What clothes did you pack in the hospital bag for yourself?

[Marghe87]

I am starting to think about my hospital bag (scary!). The hospital gave me a list and I have also watched a few youtube videos to see what other women had with them for labour but was wondering if you had any advice on clothes specifically? My plan is:

• a cheapy long camisole to wear during labour (I am hoping for a water birth but it should be fine regardless)
• a soft comfy robe to wear after birth, in case we need to stay longer
• an comfy outfit for going home

My question mark is mostly around whether to choose a PJ or a nightgown. I have a white one which would be ideal as it opens at the front but am thinking white is probably not the best choice after birth.... what do you recommend?
Am I forgetting other essential clothes? (I will of course pack nursing bras and comfy panties, etc)

I didn't pack nightwear. Just wore comfy yoga type trousers after with a breastfeeding vest (h and m). Breastfeeding bras are more faff as an extra layer, so in the first few days its easier using the vests.

The same thing can be worn daytime or night, and I felt better not being in 'pjs' as had to often go out of room even nighttime, and then didn't matter if I hadn't got showered and dressed before needed to go out and about in the morning (my baby is 2 months so fairly recent).

For example I stayed in two nights, one morning at 6.30am the nursing 'rounds' had already started and they came in (private room due to covid) and I had to go with baby off to get his newborn check-ups done before we could be signed off, no time to change if i had been in nighty. One evening I was about to go to sleep about 10pm when they also came and decided he had only been checked twice for jaundice, and had to be checked a third time within 24hrs or something...

Used dhs large tshirt in waterpool, and then hospital gown to give birth.

Take decent slippers, or cheap slip on pump type shoes. i wasn't allowed to walk around after without solid bottom shoes on.

@Caspianberg: thank you! re the slippers, do you mean you weren't allowed bare feet? I was planning on bringing flip flops, are those not ok?

@Marghe87 - no, flips flops or loose slippers were only allowed in room/bathroom. To walk about and take baby to get weighed, eye tests etc they had to be proper closed type shoes.

I went in in trainers btw that fitted perfectly, and two days later couldnt fit them back on easily without loosening the laces a lot, so feet must have swelled a lot during labour1 they were back to normal a week later. So some roomy slip on shoes would be my suggestion.

Also, the only other thing I actually used were small cartons of apple juice afterwards. Were great to drink easily during the first night, and helped put sugar and some energy back into me (i threw up 101 times in labour..luckily it was relatively short). So i recommend them.

oh and charge your kindle, I forgot, and it was really boring as baby just slept 99% of the time, and we were all in private rooms due to covid. So i ended up facetiming dh and family loads to have something to do.

Primark lounge wear and big pants (emcs).. Lightweight dressing gown.
Cosy blanket for napping!!. Hospital bedding rustles!!

Plenty of PJs or long nightshirts I was only in for 36 hours after an emcs but was bleeding everywhere constantly and I only had two night shirts with me.

I bought loads of cheap stuff in primark. Dark coloured button down pjs were good because I was wearing massive pads and granny pants (size 20 black primark specials!) and wanted pj bottoms as an extra layer in case of leaks. (Once I was home it was a heatwave and a long cotton button down nightshirt was lovely for bf). Also had various vests and leggings plus a dressing gown and slippers and flip flops, none of which were needed as was in less than 24hrs and got to stay in the delivery room with en suite so no walking to communal showers etc. I had a nicer top and some leggings to wear home.

I spent ages thinking about what to wear for labour and when it came to it they just put me in a hospital gown, didn't get asked.
I took a pair so button down pj's for breast feeding. Go for dark colours in case of bleeding/milk leakage. Other than that just really comfy clothes. Do you plan t breast feed? If so i would invest in a couple of proper nursing tops just makes life a bit easier until you get the hang of gracefully getting your boob out These are fab:
www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/breton-stripe-nursing-tops-b4431.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkM2m15Xt6gIVzOvtCh2kMQ8PEAYYBCABEgKskfD_BwE

For my first it was a planned section

I had what I wore going in - something like nursing bra, long sleeve top and waterfall cardi with I think probably yoga trousers and slip on pumps

I took 1 huge nightie and a couple of nursing tops to go with the yoga trousers

2 pairs xlarge leggings over bump and a robe

I didn't wear the robe at all, in fact I was boiling (winter but ward hot!) I wore u ova trousers and nursing bra with the waterfall cardi most of the time, nightie good for when catheter was still in and easy wear

Came home wearing what I went in wearing as I was changed into gown almost immediately

Lots of huge knickers, comfy bras and flip flops for shower

I may try wearing a dress and huge leggings in this time to wear home if more comfy, def taking yoga trousers and waterfall cardi again, slip on slippers and 2 large button down nighties.. I don't think I'd bother with anything else

Flip-flops good for shower area but slippers good for walking about or collecting water and dinners, I stubbed my toe a couple of times after the numb waddling about in flip-flops post birth!

Ps congratulations and wishing you well!

*yoga not u ova sorry!!

Started labour in a nightie, went in the pool wearing a vest top, then into a hospital gown for delivery. Used my dressing gown to transfer between delivery rooms. Then after baby arrived I showered and changed into clean pyjamas. Ended up changing my top several times due to baby puking on me, and then into normal clothes to go home the next day.