Clothes for labour/hospital bag?

[fghj149]

Hello, expecting my first baby in a few weeks and wondering if anyone has any recommendations for clothes to wear to the hospital for labour/birth? NHS website mentions something loose and comfortable to wear that doesn't restrict you from moving around or make you too hot. Unfortunately my baby brain is extreme today and I cannot think of anything suitable! Nightie maybe? Any suggestions for labour/birth and what to bring to change into would be most welcome! :)

I ended up giving birth in the t-shirt I went into hospital with. That worked out well as it wasn't in my way down below when giving birth. Second time I just wore my bra.

Button up nighties/pj tops are useful if planning to breastfeed.

Don't bring anything bottom half that is white.

Thank you ❤

Also take tena lady/incontinency pants rather than maternity pads

I've also ended up in whatever I was wearing that day twice. It's easy to get sucked in by special outfits but really loose and comfy is fine.

DC1 I took a loose nightie. DC2 came quite fast and I hadn't had time to change into a special birthing outfit. I just wore the T-shirt I arrived at the hospital in (I had time to remove my trousers and knickers but left my socks on ).

Do you mean what to travel to hospital in or to give birth in?
To travel in whatever you're wearing, both times I think I wore leggings with a baggy top/dress. For labour/birth I had a crop top and a baggy t shirt. I actually ended up starkers for my first birth and second birth I was in the pool so a bikini top.

For after the birth take clothes as well as nightwear. I was in for 5 days (during covid times so no visitors at all) and getting dressed felt like a treat!

You don't need special clothes, as you'll be wearing loose comfortable clothes anyway because it's the end of pregnancy and you won't want to get changed in between contractions. I have always ended up taking off my clothes in labour anyway.

It's useful to think about what you'll be wearing afterwards - very loose/stretchy waistband, nothing skinny on the legs (hard to get up/down when you can't bend), pants that you don't care if they get blood on and can throw away. And if you want to breastfeed you'll need tops with breast access, which means either opening at the front, stretchy so you can hoik a boob over the top, the overlapping V neck kind of design, or very loose so you can lift it up (They don't need to be specific nursing tops. There are loads of ordinary clothes you can breastfeed in.)

The bump doesn't completely deflate so maternity stuff, especially what fitted during the second trimester, is fine.

Thanks very much everyone ❤️❤️

Honestly, once your in labour you'll care less than you think. I wore a hospital gown first time, and had a naked pool birth 2nd time. This time I'll take a nightie/baggy top and will likely have a bra on when I arrive which could be worn during labour/the pool etc if I wanted. I get hot in labour and find clothes irritating so I may end up naked again 😂 I am not normally a naked person, so this totally surprised me! x

I absolutely lived in my baggy hush jogger type trousers throughout pregnancy (and lockdown) wore these to go home in as they were super comfy. Wore an old t shirt to give birth in which got thrown away, depending on how things go you may end up in a hospital gown (but let’s hope not). I took a Tankini top in case I got to use the pool…

The baggy clothes and nightdresses are more for afterwards. I too, just popped off my trousers and knickers to give birth. No special outfit needed.

I wore a hospital gown, why mess up your own clothes?

Primark is good for this, they have huge t-shirts/nighties that you won't mind if they get blood/baby gunk on. Some with buttons at the top are good for skin to skin. I also bought enormous pants from there that I could use with maternity pads and then just got rid of. Tena pants are good for the first few days. Loose trousers/PJ's for after and if you're on the ward. It does get very hot in hospitals, so you'll want to stay cool.

I packed a nightie but ended up in just the top I had on each time. For coming home I wore joggers and tshirt

Consider a thin dressing gown for afterwards too. I had a 5 day stay but DD had two weeks in NICU / SCBU. Having a dressing gown made moving between the different areas much easier for the days when I wasn't quite well enough to get dressed but was well enough to get out of bed / sit with DD in a chair etc.

On the maternity pads, i see a few people above recommending tena but you need to make sure whatever you buy are unscented and untreated to allow the whole area to breathe. I personally found boots own brand maternity pads to be amazing. You can also pop a couple of drops of tea tree oil on them and put them in a ziploc bag in the freezer in advance of the birth for some homemade cooling pads. Also, buy LOADS! My waters broke before I went into labour and i went through about 20pads absorbing the waters before contractions even began 🙈 DH was hastily sent to buy more.

Thank you everyone, this is all so helpful!❤️