Hospital bag - nighties

[Freckle1]

Hi everyone,

I’m due in mid June with my first DC and I’m starting to think about my hospital bag. I had a question about what night wear everyone is packing/how much to pack. So far I’ve ordered two nighties in black from Gap (they have 30 percent off today) www.gap.co.uk/gap/maternity-nursing-nightgown/000422176.html?dwvar_000422176_color=000422176011&dwvar_000422176_fit=regular&cgid=#start=12&q=Maternity%2Bnightwear&lang=en_GB and a matching dressing gown to cover up if I want to www.gap.co.uk/gap/maternity-lace-trim-robe-in-modal/000417875.html?dwvar_000417875_color=000417875000&dwvar_000417875_fit=regular&cgid=gap#start=26&q=Maternity%2Bnightwear&lang=en_GB. Are two nighties enough, one for labour and one for after? Or do I need more? (Or I guess I may wear a T-shirt for labour and then have two spare for after not sure). I know I probably won’t care how I look, but I’m super fussy about what I wear to bed, I find too much fabric on nighties/pjs really uncomfortable and usually wear just a T-shirt and undies to bed at home, even in winter, so I don’t really have much nightwear to begin with. I’m trying to plan out what to buy now because I hate the idea of being hot and uncomfortable on the ward or perhaps in dirty sweaty nightwear if I haven’t packed enough... Thanks I’m advance for any help! x

I'm a FTM so I can't help on the number of nighties

However, I ordered the same nightie and dressing gown last week and I can confirm that they are really comfortable to wear.

I'm due in June and thought I'd wear some T-shirt nighties I wear now for the birth and get a nightie or two like you linked for after.

I've got sleep T-shirt's from primark I may wear but they are extremely short and I hate wearing pants at the best of times.. maybe labour is the one time no knickers is acceptable though?! They are so cheap it wouldn't be an issue (ignoring morals) to chuck rather than trying to save them.

I didn't wear one in labour. I found I wanted to be totally naked or close to so I wore a crop top and nothing else.

After birth the ward was boiling hot but I did find I wanted something on my legs when walking around so I looked decent as I felt a bit naked in front of so many strangers in just a nightie. Probably less people there at the moment though as visitors are limited

I made the mistake last time of only taking 2 😂 this time I've got 4. Just simply because I ended up having to change once when my waters went, change again after birth because I had a heavy bleed and then had to wear a hospital gown because I had nothing else apart from clothes to go home in 😂

I wore that nightie to give birth this May. I packed another one which I wore for the night and the next morning til I was collected. Two is fine I'd say OP XX

Two should be fine. If you have an unfortunate soiling incident, you can ask DP to bring something else in and if needed, the hospital will supply a gown while you wait for clean supplies to arrive.

Two in your bag should be fine but you may want to make sure you have a spare or two at home that your partner can bring in if needed.

Throughout my whole pregnancy I just assumed I would have a straight forward labour and birth and be out the same day. I initially had 1 nightie and hadn't even bothered to pack slippers. I ended up needing to be induced and having to have a postnatal stay after. I found the panic buying of extra things before my induction really stressful so would definitely advise that you have extra stuff ready at home in case your hospital stay is longer than expected.

Thanks so much all this is super helpful. And thanks @Suite88 good to know these ones are comfy!

Just a personal preference but I preferred dark colour pyjama bottoms after I’d given birth as I felt more protected from leaks. The bleeding can be quite heavy and I didn’t want it running down my leg.

I only took 1 nightie with my last. I had a cesarean so was tethered to a catheter all night and only got a shower after it was removed the next morning. No way was I staying a 2nd night so I dressed in day clothes after my shower and nagged all day to be discharged. Went home around 7pm. Our eldest I had PJ's and that wasn't the best idea, breezed through a few pairs as they got bloody, was there 2 nights after birth. Other 2 singletons the nighties again but a couple as I was in 2 nights after birth with each.

First baby I just had a big tshirt on to have baby with an extra and 2 pairs of pajamas. When I had baby hubby was having to pull the tshirt out from under me over my head for skin to skin as the neck of the tshirt was in the way. This time I have 2 nighties packed with buttons (attatched photo) so i can just unbutton the top of the nightie as far down as I want, I'll have a spare and then I like long legged pajamas so packing 2 pairs off them again.

Take for sleeping but some light joggers for walking around, you'll be padded up to the nines so won't feel comfortable walking around with nightie on (if other men there) I'm guessing

I had two nighties and a pair of pyjamas in my bag. I was in from Sunday & left on Weds (had one set of actual clothes too) and that was enough.

I had 4 nighties & was in for 4 nights (unplanned!) so I just got lucky. Pack extra.

Anyone have any recommendations for nighties that are good for breastfeeding? Last time I had one from boohoo which was buttons all the way down but it was really gapey over my bump and made me feel disgusting and the other one I had from jojo had tiny tiny holes for your nipples to come out of, not great when you're trying to get the hang of breastfeeding! This time I'd really like to get a couple that actually work for breastfeeding and cover me up enough on the ward.

@Inthesky42 Happy Mama on Amazon and Bonprix were where I bought mine

Do the nighties have buttons/opening at the front for breastfeeding if you’re planning on trying? You don’t want something too high necked that means you have to pull it up from the bottom to get your boobs out 😜

@Hesma I was just about to comment the same thing. I wore a nightie which was a button through oversized shirt style for autumn baby. And plus size PJ bottoms with a vest top for summer baby.

I took my tankini and cover up for labouring in - it was a fairly quick event once at the hospital and most of it spent in the water.

I did take a nightie for afterwards but didn’t wear it, preferring the pj’s I brought as I could just lift up the top for breastfeeding and felt more covered up when sitting out or walking about on the ward

I'd pack a couple extra to allow for the various parts of you that will leak. Better to have them and not need them then need them and not have them.

I would definitely take 2 pairs of pyjamas too especially as bleeding can be very heavy and would want it running down your legs for all to see. Good luck. How exciting

I wore a massive oversized nighty shirt from tesco. Fab, had cathéter and still kept modesy.

Going to toilet after was easy as I didn’t have to worry about leaking or anything. Easy to bf and do skin on skin but unbuttoned the front a bit.

Kept it, going to pack for this DC currently cooking.

Just had my first!! ... i took 2 nighties and a pair of pj's..id say 2 nighties is enough if you're only there2 days x

I had a nightie for labour and another for after. Glad it was a nightie style as I had a catheter and episiotomy so the first morning after the birth I had a few people wanting to have easy access 😂
I didn't have much lochia luckily as I'd passed a lot of blood along the way but yes definitely felt happier once changed back into leggings and t shirt from that point of view.

Honestly I spent most of the time half naked haha. The hospital is really warm and you always have your boobs out for feeding anyway. I just had one simple nighty dress and that was it. Definitely go for a dark colour as there may be blood leaks.