Clothing on the postnatal ward?

[user1499609760]

Probably a random question, but what did people wear while on the postnatal ward? Is it all, or mostly, nightwear like pyjamas and nighties? I know from experience that hospitals tend to be boiling, so I am thinking perhaps nightshirts and (big) shorts over maternity pants + pad, maybe with a dressing gown for moving about - also conscious that visitors will be around.

Wondering whether my cheapie Disney nightshirts from Primark will look out of place but equally, don’t necessarily want to bring in my nicest pyjamas when there will be a lot of potential mess. I’m due a c-section and hoping to breastfeed, if that makes any difference.

If you're having a C-section then I would wear a nightie so you don't have anything pressing on you. And the postnatal ward is hotter than the earth's core.

My Mum always taught me to dress nicely for air travel and hospital - so that's what I do, but I don't think you'll look out of place in anything you choose.

Birth isn't as messy as you might think so I wouldn't worry in that regard.

Good luck, exciting times!

I wore h and m breastfeeding vests. Comfy, no bra needed and fine day or night. Leggings.
Long cardigan.
Also easy to pack (think the vests came in packs of 2)

Meant I looked vaguely dressed 24/7. Especially when they would come at 5am to start baby check ups so you needed to be ready to walk with baby in wheels crib a few rooms down to have hearing checked or similar

100% cheap nightshirts/dresses are what you want. I was a postnatal ward midwife for many years. No one is fully dressed until ready to go home really (and even then it’s mostly leggings/loungewear).

I had big button down nighties with baggy PJ bottoms to throw on underneath with mine. With bleeding/pads etc. you’ll probably want some pj bottoms/leghinhs/tracksuit bottoms for walking around.

I would say a proper dressing gown will probably be too hot and sweaty. I’d go for baggy cardigans or zip up hoodies.

Exactly the same as @Caspianberg , H&M nursing vests and leggings. I’m not a fan of wearing nightclothes during the day (just personally, I wouldn’t judge anyone else who wanted to!) so liked to feel dressed during the day. PJs for me during the night, I don’t wear nighties at home, and found PJs perfectly comfortable.

Any nightie will be fine, with full briefs. I had a section 3 weeks ago and my room was 27 degrees at points. Good luck :)

I mostly wore nighties for the first day and then added loose cotton pj bottoms when I was up and about. I found a light dressing gown with big pockets really useful when I was walking to and from nicu. I had a bottle of expressed milk in one pocket, my camera in the other and then my hands were free to hold onto the wall to steady myself.

Comfy soft cheap leggings/pj bottoms.
And a button down pj top, or just an H&M nursing vest when it was really hot.

Most people were in similar pj bottoms or thin jogger type things, and either a casual t shirt or something with buttons.

Thanks everyone for your insights! I can see the appeal of the vests + leggings combo. My only concern is whether that would be comfy with a likely c-section wound? Did people just wear the maternity leggings they had before? I have a few pairs of maternity ones that come up high, so maybe that’s what I need to carry on wearing. Or can people recommend some good post-C section ones?

I guess I could always change into a nightshirt at night - if it’s very warm I don’t tend to like lots of material around my legs when I’m in bed, plus people seem to be suggesting they’re a good option for after c-sections.

I got new pj’s to take in but also a nightie too so after I’d had a shower I put the new pj’s on to feel a bit fresher. But I didn’t pay much attention to other people on the ward to be honest but I just wanted to feel a bit “put together” in nice pj’s.

I got an old fashioned nightie with buttons at the top.

Are the H&M nursing vests supportive? As in, do they have that built-in shelf, or would you need a bra underneath as well?

I bought this from eBay. It's buttons all the way up.

Maternity leggings for sure so they’re lose enough around the incision. I mostly wore PJ bottoms though because they were loser than leggings/comfier. I’d recommend the Next nursing bras. I still wear them almost 2 years pp and I’m not bf 🙈 so comfy!

I would still have a dressing gown handy for wandering around in - there will be partners/visitors on the ward.

I'd pack a few cheap nighties. If you have any stitches that or a catheter that need checking, it will be easier. I was bed bound for about 2 days post birth, and it was much easier to have the cheap nighties to wear.

I’ve had 2 c sections and stayed in the gown for a few hours, since couldn’t change anyway really without being able to feel legs! Then I got up, got the catheter out immediately (had to push for this but it’s best to get moving) and had some fancy nice pyjamas from Victorias Secret ready. Was much better for having stitches checked to be in trousers since you could just pull up your top and not get it all out. Also take some regular sanitary towels, I had no need of the maternity pads after either of mine as there wasn’t much bleeding as it’s much comfier not to have something so bulky in your knickers 🤣

I wore leggings, a top and a hoodie. I didn't feel ill so didn't want pyjamas but still wanted to be comfy

I find them supportive enough. I don’t have very big boobs so that might make a difference, but I don’t wear a bra with them. I like that I can feed wearing them and not show my stomach off, which I am much more concerned about showing in public than my breasts when feeding 😂

Buttoned night shirts. Or men’s casual shirts like the ones lumberjacks wear. The pockets come in handy for storing a spare breast pad
Dark colors for lower area, dark dressing gown, dark towel in case you leak from maternity pad
Thick socks. My feet were freezing after both births even though rest of me was hot

I disagree birth isn’t messy. Some births are. With my dd there was a lot of blood and I pooped on my dh - he should have also thought about what he was wearing. Then with my ds, the first thing he das after coming out was a massive poop on my stomach. Never mind the birth sweat, which has its own special stench that never really seemed to wash out.

I got summer shortie pyjama and vest sets (not what I usually wear but loose and cool

Button down nighties as well for bf

Minimal clothing and comfy, basically

I wore oversize t-shirts and legging.
I had a dressing gown with me but didn't really use it except the one time I popped to the shop outside the ward.

Even going home I just wore and oversize tshirt and leggings. I took a nice outfit to come home in but didn't feel comfortable in it.

Had our baby a year ago in a very hot hospital, aren't they all! C- section here too, I lived in a nursing vest (H&M as others have said) and a button down nightie with long sleeves, these doubled up as dressing gown, maternity leggings for sure, I liked the H&M before and after ones as you can comfortably fold down the waistband of aggregated the section wound, and knickers a few sizes too big as not to upset the wound too.

Congrats and hope it all goes well 🥰 exciting times x

Another one here who lived in breastfeeding top + maternity leggings + massive knickers to hold maternity pad. At night I changed into my pyjamas. I dislike nighties as I hate the feeling of my thighs rubbing together. Had a C-section with my second, and I found it ok. No rubbing. Wound or thighs.

H and m vests are amazing (yes they have built in shelf but obviously depends on how big you are as to whether supportive enough) with maternity leggings and a cardigan would be my recommendation

@user1499609760 - yes the h and m have built in support. I didn’t wear bra with them as too awkward with double fabric. And you can wear washable breast pads in them fine. Comfy to wear to sleep also as I would have leaked milk if no breast pad the first few months at least.
And yes, you can wear maternity leggings fine the few days you are in to cover higher if needed.

I wore soft yoga pants at home also