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 didn't use any nighties with either of my kids. Think I took 2 for my first labour but just ended up in hospital gown and wore pjs after birth. It's not something I wear so I'm glad I just bought cheap primark ones at the time, they were pretty much waste of money!

I did take a thin waffle type dressing gown as wards are so hot u don't want a fleecy one.

I think it was so hot at night I just slept in bra and pants lol.

Oh and u want big pants, like big big comfy pants! I'm a size 8 and my mum got sent out to get me size 12's as I had bought big pants but bought xsmall 🙈 and I'd had an emcs they were cutting in 😕

That's a good point about dressing gown...I took a "beach cover-up" shirt type of thing and was glad of it as was the June 2019 heatwave. I did wear it on antenatal when shuffling to the loo at night and so on. I was in for the week, if I hadn't been in a window bay on both antenatal and postnatal I think I'd have sweated off most of the baby weight before we went home!

Two will be plenty. I had to wear a gown for labour. My nightie I got from mar Alan with buttons down the front to chest so I could bf. Bought soft leggings and T-shirt to leave it and a few knickers two sizes too big which were a godsend. A lot of what I packed I didn’t need or look at. Just don’t forget some snacks and phone charger!

That’s meant to say matalan!
And I had two also was in July 2018 heatwave I gave birth in 32 degrees. I did still use my dressing gown for nipping to the loo on the ward

I took 4 nightie/pj loungewear combinations. One of them was soft stetchy bottoms and a top. I actually felt so much better in loungewear walking about so was pleased i had that option.

I'd take a few extra then you will probs need just so you have options, it's difficult to predict exactly what you will want when the time comes. I had my DD during a heat wave, I ended up staying in the clothes I'd gone into hospital in for the first 4 hours or so after which I was examined again and 8cm and didn't bother putting anything back on my bottom half I was moved then from MLU to delivery suite and once there I changed my bra and t shirt for a loose PJ vest top. I stayed on the bed (continuous monitoring) and just had the hospital sheets covering my bottom half.

After birth I had a shower and changed into a short button-down nightie with very short PJ shorts for some additional coverage. Had a moderate bleed and would definitely want something over my massive maternity pad. I just stayed in that until the next morning when I had another shower and put my proper clothes back on and went home. I took a light robe, a bikini top and another nightie none of which I ended up using but was good to have so I had options.

Wore vest for birth (although I took a tshirt). Then on ward, I wore leggings, vest and zip hoody. Also flip flops which I binned when I got home.

@PFin can I ask where that nightie was from please? Really nice

I got 2 cheapy ones from Asda, over sized and one I wore during Labour until things really got going and my waters broke whilst wearing it, then I had another for after baby was here. I will definitely pop a few more in this time round. Go for big and comfy! I also wore it for quite a few weeks after the birth l, it was hot and easy to wear x

More than 2. It's so hot on the ward and I felt gross.

If you want to breastfeed, keep breast access in mind.