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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

What to wear in hospital?

62 replies

Skeppers · 03/06/2015 10:29

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!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

S2b16 · 03/06/2015 16:29

Ours will give gowns on request(mainly for emergencies) but tell you to take your own where you can. Same as baby clothes and milk, (they used to give bottles out when I had my last one, 6 yrs ago tho I bf)

purplemunkey · 03/06/2015 16:56

I took a black strappy nightie for the birth and pyjamas for the post natal ward. I was given a gown for birth and used the nightie in post natal as it was bloody roasting in there! My pyjamas never got unpacked.

u32ng · 03/06/2015 17:29

Yep Primark is your friend! I bought a few cheapo 3/4 button front nighties: 1 got binned after labour and the others for fresh on afterwards. Big pants from there also tho I could've done with a size down I think!! I got 12-14 when I'm a 10 thinking the 8-10 would be too small.

Also got fluffy bed socks.

Get a cheap pair of flip flops for walking about & going to the shower. Especially if you end up needing to stay in! Although I forgot to pack proper shoes and had to leave hospital in feb (in Scotland) in the flip flops

Pack an eye mask too so you can get some kip with those hospital lights. Well as much kip as baby will let you!

Christelle2207 · 03/06/2015 17:45

Soft comfy jogging bottoms are good for before and after. I gave birth in a longish t-shirt both times.

imwithspud · 03/06/2015 20:52

With my first I wore a hospital gown, I was induced and had an epidural.

Second time round I just wore a plain vest top, I was also wearing joggers when I first arrived at the hospital but then my waters broke whilst I was wearing them so they had to come off. By that point though I could have been stripped naked and I wouldn't have cared. I think the midwives provided a towel to try and keep my modesty somewhat though.

Afterwards I wore pretty much the same, joggers/pj bottoms and a vest top. I love vest tops for the hospital, especially as hospitals are generally always hot, good for breastfeeding in as well since they stretch. It's all about being comfortable especially after giving birth.

RabidFairy · 03/06/2015 20:57

Bra. Both times. I couldn't abide anything on me but I needed to keep my boobs out of the way. So: bra.

Laboured for a while in a birthing pool with DD which meant a bra made more sense than a bigger top. That was in July and yes I was very hot.
Then with DS who was born in the Spring (I was still very hot!) I started out more fully clothed, but again stripped down to my bra. Both times the bra came off as soon as the babies were born for skin to skin and feeding access for them.

DC3 due any day and although I've packed a t-shirt I expect to do it in my bra again!

trilbydoll · 03/06/2015 21:01

All my nightshirts are Matalan, just to give you another option

I can also recommend Mothercare crop top things for afterwards - I think they call them sleeping nursing bras or something. Fitted enough that breast pads don't slide out but really comfy.

WhatWouldCaitlinDo · 03/06/2015 21:08

Another vote for primark. I bought a handful of their tshirt nighties with 4 buttons down the front. Wore one in labour, good for skin to skin then it went into the bin and I popped on a clean one. Bizarrely my feet were freezing so I also had knee length fluffy socks. Not a good look, but at least I was warm.

The first time I wore a New Look beach dress with a very deep v-neck. £3 and a pretty colour.

When I was home I mostly wore normal PJs; the old fashioned button up front ones. Easy for feeding and the bottoms had a drawstring which I tightened as the weeks went by and my tummy shrank. I didn't buy them especially, I had them before and still wear them now.

DanyStormborn · 03/06/2015 21:08

I wore large maternity nighties (from Mothercare) for the birth and in the ward afterwards. They had popper openings for easy breastfeeding. I wore the darkest one during the birth but all the blood etc washed out just fine. No need for a dressing gown on top as they kept the place toasty warm!

Guyropes · 03/06/2015 21:10

I am thinking vest top and sarong. Both easy to remove if wanted.
Really like the idea of short dressing gown. Gonna google the JoJo maman tops now.

Yeasayer · 03/06/2015 21:19

I spent a lot of browsing and researching what to labour / give birth in. I think I decided on a black vest top and packed some socks as I read your feet can get cold.

Without going into a big 'my labour' story (I was induced, took a bath & had a freakishly quick labour); I was actually butt-naked in a wheelchair - in a lift- with the midwife trying to protect my modesty. Through puffs of gas and air I told midwife not to bother as I wouldn't be seeing anyone again anyway.

Honestly, when it comes down to it what your wearing will be last thing on your mind. Make it comfy and disposable

Guyropes · 03/06/2015 21:28

What are the sizes like on JoJo maman ? It just says small medium and large.

applecore0317 · 03/06/2015 21:42

I wore a sleep bra as couldn't bear to wear anything else, didn't want anything on me. The hospital was really warm as well, this was on Monday morning, so not even a hot day.

If you don't want to be naked I would recommend something very loose and very light.

Post birth big pants and a nighty with spaghetti straps works instead of specific nursing nighty.

I took a lightweight dressing gown too and mainly had the curtain around my bed closed anyway. I travelled home in a maxi skirt and t shirt, but wish I had worn a maxi dress instead as the skirt wasn't that comfy on my stomach.

33goingon64 · 03/06/2015 22:25

10 seconds after arriving in our birthing room I took everything off except my bra. Midwife tried to persuade me to put pants back on but I wouldn't have it. Being on display is the last thing that'll be on your mind.

Electroswing · 04/06/2015 09:57

guyropes, I've bought medium tops from JJM but bought them when pregnant (they're maternity and nursing, so they're generous round the middle) and reckon if I bought them now I'd take a small, ideally. I'm a 10/12 on top. Hope that helps?

Electroswing · 04/06/2015 09:59

Here you go, there's a size chart on the JJM website

Electroswing · 04/06/2015 10:01

Ha, 33, I had to be gently encouraged to don pants afterwards. 'You'll feel better with some pants on . . .' I was happy just lying there not being in labour, to be honest. You really don't give a fig at that stage.

littleostrich · 04/06/2015 10:12

When I went into hospital I didn't actually know I was going to have a baby that day (34 weeks and not in labour), so I ended up giving birth in the clothes I'd put on that morning: they removed my leggings and knickers and I kept on the long t-shirt and stripey socks. (Not actually sure why the socks stayed on.) I had planned to buy a nice button down nightshirt or something, but on the day I didn't even have a hospital bag, so I suppose I saved myself some money!

I was in hospital for five days afterwards and I lived in huge comfortable pants, pyjama trousers and t-shirts.

Original poster

Skeppers · 04/06/2015 10:35

Is there any chance of getting a G&T after the birth? Sounds like I'm going to need one? Lots of ice...or maybe a nice mojito...

Yeah, I'm not sure where the fear of nudity has suddenly come from; nobody who knows me would describe me as 'coy'! It just makes me feel a bit skeevy. You're probably right, zero f*cks will probably be given on the day. Was looking at my bump in the mirror literally half an hour ago thinking "how the hell is that going to come out?"- he's still got another 7 weeks of growing to go! I'll probably be more occupied with that.

Yeasayer The story about being splayed stark naked in a wheelchair tickled me because that's exactly what I can imagine will end up happening, especially after a few hits on the gas and air.

I'll check out Primark anyway in the next few weeks, see what's what. In the meantime I can at least maintain a semblance of dignity.

OP posts:

hazeyjane · 04/06/2015 10:39

I am probably a bit odd for this, but I wore a white cotton nightie, it was and is really pretty. The MW with dd1 rolled her eyes at me when she saw it, and said it would end up getting thrown away, and was I sure I wanted to wear it - but I wore it for all 3 births (including an elcs) and still have it now (and it is still white!)

Electroswing · 04/06/2015 10:43

My mum says they used to hand out Guinness in hospitals to all women after birth. If you didn't want it they put lemonade in it so you could stomach it

Sadly this no longer seems to be common practice

Elledouble · 04/06/2015 10:44

I took a big t-shirt dress to wear for labour (it had a greasy little mark on it so I don't wear it) and my partner kept trying to suggest I put it on but I wouldn't listen and ended up going through the whole thing in the bra, vest and over-knee socks (bloody ridiculous) I'd turned up in. Bare bum

Electroswing · 04/06/2015 10:46

Even better than any G and T are these 2 things after birth:

Take a deep breath in. Keep breathing. Keep breathing. Can you feel that? It's your lungs expanding to full size for the first time in 4 months. And it feels AMAZING.

Roll over onto your back and just lie there. You don't have to feel guilty about this any more. It also feels amazing.

Later on, there's also the luxury of eating massive dinners without heartburn.

Original poster

Skeppers · 04/06/2015 10:51

Electroswing I DREAM about being able to lie on my back! My God, I have probably missed that more than booze.

I do have a selection of manky, oversized t-shirts (many with holes in. They are my 'Sunday' t-shirts). Maybe I'll just reappropriate some of those?

OP posts:

RabidFairy · 04/06/2015 11:32

Nevermind the G&T, I had buttered toast provided for me within about 20 minutes of each birth. It tasted like heaven! It's the little things that make you happy after you've pushed a small human out of your vagina!

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