Help! Labour and after

[plum711]

Hey everyone,

Starting to pack my hospital bag and struggling to find nighties anywhere that aren't super light colours. Can you wear normal loose pjs after labour or are you better in a nightie?

I wanted to get cheap dark nighties for during labour that I can just bin but also dont want to rock up in a pale grey if things could get messy...but then also I think will I really care at the time?

Also can anyone tell me how many nappies I should take? I've found so many different hospital bag lists that say so many different things. The panic is setting in now!

You can wear PJs. You only really need a nightie if you’ve got a catheter in; when that was me (twice) I just had a PJ top on and bed sheet over my bottom half honestly! Obviously not getting up much if you’ve got a catheter/pack/drain etc in.

It is crazy that maternity nightwear is all so light, you’re right! I thought the same in April when I had this baby!

Primark came up trumps for me with cheap dark nighties that also had buttons at the top for easy breast feeding.
After the birth I liked the security of close fitting pj bottoms and massive knickers. I got ASDA's pack of 5 black high waisted granny pants in a size bigger and they were perfect for comfort and holding maternity towels in place.

Nappies wise I just took a single pack of newborn nappies. I didn't know how long I would be in for or how prolific the baby would be in needing bum changes. You can always get someone to bring more in if needed.

I suggest taking lots of snacks of the things you like to eat as hospital food can be hit and miss.

For labour you won't care at the time. I spent the majority of my time in hospital in one of their gowns anyway. Just changed into dark pjs a few hours before discharge.

Nappies- I took 2 packs but only used about four or five in total over a 24 hour stay post delivery.

Thanks everyone!

I think I'm just going to take big tshirts for labour and then some pjs for afterwards!

Also bought some witch hazel liner pads for inside maternity pads - not sure if I've wasted £12 on a gimmick or if these will actually be good? Haha. The fear has really started now and I'm absolutely petrified of the labour/after labour moments!

Primark nighties are amazing!! Loved mine

If you have a normal delivery you will hardly be there long enough to need a change of clothes! I was out of hospital at 6 hours post delivery. And was given a hospital
gown for labour, which is just as well as I sleep nude and don’t actually own a nightie…

I took both. Ended up giving birth pretty much naked. I had to strip off. I was so hot and DS is a July baby. Had a shower after birth and popped on a nightie but did end up popping some pj bottoms on too

It really depends on the time of day and how your birth goes. I gave birth wearing just a soft bra/crop top which pulled aside easily for feeding. It didn’t get very messy at all. This time birth was straight forward so I changed into normal clothes afterwards so I could move around in the day as DS was born at 8:30 in the morning. Last time I had a PPH so could hardly get out of bed so did wear pjs.

I think I need to stop overthinking it and realise I wont care what I'm wearing at the time - just cant stop thinking about it all and I think searching for nighties constantly online is something in my control unlike most other aspects of labour. The unknown is torturing me haha.

I gave birth in a vest top.
Nightie was amazing for after.

In the moment you don't care, I had a consultant face to face with my vagina to get my son out.
I am the shyest person when it comes to my body and honest I didn't give two hoots.

Nappy wise, I took a full pack of new born.

You really won't care so please don't fret or spend a lot!!
I ended up giving birth in one of my hubby's T-shirts that had quite an embarrassing slogan on it and I've no idea how I ended up in this but you 100% won't care !!

If you're hoping to breast feed just get something either big and baggy, or something with buttons for easy access is ideal

Just in case you did want a nightie I got these in black. They're button up too so perfect for breast feeding once you're home too (if you choose to/can breast feed).

www.boohoo.com/BZZ46658-105-16.html

I have birth in a wintery jumper having only just gotten my trousers off in time... Oops! My socks were had to go in the bin...

After the birth I just slept in normal PJs with underwear and a big old sanitary pad underneath. Only benefit to a nighty would be if you had a catheter in.

Probably one big pack of nappies would be enough to get you started. If you end up staying a bit longer than expected you can always send a relative to get you more.

I found a nightie in Primark on Friday. It's not a huge store so doesn't have a specific maternity section but in the nightwear and lingerie section, they had a tiiiiiiny selection of maternity stuff. This nightie is charcoal grey, short sleeved (essential in case you have a cannula/drip) and button-up. It was tagged at £10 but scanned at £5.

I've packed one pack of Pampers size 1 nappies which was free in an Emma's Diary pack. I think there are 22 nappies in there which should last at least two days. I've got more and will leave another pack in the cat in case we need to stay in, then my partner can just fetch them from the car if necessary.

Err, I meant I'd leave a spare pack of nappies in the car, not the cat!