What clothes to pack for a summer birth?

[AppleStrudel23]

Hello all! I'm 32 weeks pregnant on the dot today and I've realised I should really pack my hospital bag. For clothes I have two cheap stretchy strappy dresses that I thought I could just pull down to breast feed with. I'm not sure how much more I need? How many outfit changes should I have? (As I was writing this I just added two pairs of nursing pyjamas to my George Asda basket)

Also is there anything else you'd suggest I'd take thats not on the NHS list?

I gave birth in summer and the air con in our room was broken - on overdrive so the room was freezing cold! A dressing gown and warm outfit for baby/a blanket just in case would be my advice! We were wrapped in towels it was so cold!

I'm 25w and also curious!

Wow.. That sounds really wild. That was the last thing you were expecting I'm sure! I don't think I'll have that problem as the maternity ward I'll be in is infamous locally for being boiling in summer.. But I'll take layers or a blanket in the car just in case. Thank you for your input! I didn't think about preparing for emergencies like that, so its giving me something to consider!

Congratulations! I hope we don't suffer in the heat too much

I’m 33 weeks and also thinking the same- I think I’m going to end up hugely overpacking because you just don’t know what you’ll get with the great British summer!

definitely taking dressing gown, slippers, long button down linen PJs, button down nightie, button down short PJs and a couple of summer dresses that are very light and floaty. I’m not going to bother with leggings or trousers I’ll just stick a jacket on if the weather isn’t that great

it’s my first baby but I’m thinking that if I have to stay in hospital I’ll just be in PJs all day anyway? So over packing on those but going light on normal clothes

@AppleStrudel23 congratulations right back! Envious you'll be in labour a lot sooner though. We can do this

I wouldn't plan to take many clothes unless you know for some reason you are expecting a long stay? There's usually not much space to keep belongings with you and ime it can all get muddled up easily and you can't find things etc when you've got a lot. I was only in hospital for about 24hrs after the birth of DC1 and about 8hrs after DC2! I only pack enough for me and DH for one night and one next day, if you need more and end up staying longer then he can go home and collect more and bring more. I had one summer baby and one autumn one.

So I usually take two sets of PJs - say a nightie, and a pair of PJS. For the summer baby I took a short nightie and PJs that were a vest and short sets, but longer ones for the autumn baby. Something to wear to leave the hospital in like a t-shirt and leggings. Flip flops for wearing on ward instead of having to wear shoes all the time and especially if you may have to share showers. Thin dressing gown as a cover up and in case a bit chilly but our hospital is always boiling. A little handheld battery operated fan.

I had an August baby 2 years ago around the period where it was like 30 degrees 😰 I just wore nursing bras with an oversized shirt and then adult diaper (for bleeding) 😂 I’m sure you could change the adult diaper for shorts. And flip flops!

@AppleStrudel23 Things that are comfortable and loose. Be prepared that you'll be bleeding a lot (like all your missed periods rolled into one) and sore down below if you give birth vaginally - you might want a pair of shorts under your dress for instance to give you more coverage / own mental comfort. Good idea to pack extra changes of underwear in case you bleed through maternity pads, and lots of maternity pads too. Get some breastfeeding bras. Rooms are normally roasting. I know friends who have had summer babies have got mini handheld fans for during labour.

Also good idea to have a few snacks for after birth / between hospital meals / your partner to steal whilst you're giving birth 😂

Take your own minitures of your shampoo, showergel etc. If you're a makeup person and its important to you take that too.

For DD I made an initial hospital bag, then I made an 'extras' bag partner could grab if we had a longer stay, which we unexpectedly did as I couldn't urinate after birth so had a few days in hospital with a catheter before being discharged home with a catheter (not that uncommon an issue. Only lasted a week thankfully).

I last gave birth in June 2021 and I recall the hospital being like a sauna. I actually packed a handheld fan. I also just wore large nighty's and adult nappies because I find maternity pads useless, I always bleed through them.

This time I'm due in December so will be packing my thermals 🤣

With my boys I gave birth in the summer and it was absolutely roasting!
I just had oversize T-shirts and leggings and thin strappy Cami tops! I'll never forget sitting by the window and thinking I was going to melt 😂 anything that is loose and comfortable though half the time I was just in pyjamas anyway! Good luck 😃

I gave birth in an unseasonably warm April on am incredibly hot ward, so basically summer, I would say strappy tops and some comfy high waisted and loose shorts/casual or PJ ones. And then some nighties. Flip flops or sliders instead of slippers. Maybe a thin loose cardigan if it's a bit cooler at night and you get up for a wee.

What are you planning on taking for baby? I'm due in July and haven't thought about it 😅

My first was born in Dec and took loads of different clothes and ended up living in short and t shirt PJ's as was so hot (I was in for a week in total) so that's the plan. Deff have some form of trousers as the blood afterwards really smells!!! This time just plan loose shorts and t shirts.

Towel and flip flops for a shower and long Charging wire and fan.

I didn't think about the baby 👀

Will you be packing a sleeping bag or swaddle for yours? I was just thinking some vests and some onesies and then socks, scratch mittens and I've only got two hats.

Is that enough?

@AppleStrudel23 I was thinking a couple of onesies and vests, some thin hats, I was planning buying a low tog ergopouch swaddle bag so may pack that as well as those large muslin cloths that people swaddle with! Thing is if you have a no complications birth you could only do one night, if even that! I was in for 3 nights and wasn't prepared for it so I'm going to over pack this time just in case 😂

My first birth I gave birth in the dress I arrived in, l changed into a breastfeeding nightie once he was here and I showered then changed into a dress and thin leggings when it was time to leave. I arrived at 7pm, had him at 4am and was home by 2pm

This time I'm packing light and will have a bag at home/in the car my husband can collect if I end up staying in. Last time I packed like would stay in for 3 days and we couldn't get moved on the ward for all our stuff. Pack light and have stuff ready at home for additional days would be my advice!

I had my second baby last year in August by c section and was home the following day so didn’t use hardly anything. My first was a May baby and was an emergency c section and was in 2 nights as got an infection but I only used 1 set of pjs as was in a hospital gown for awhile. With my second I also just used one nighty.

I would fully recommend a nighty for after the birth and a floaty dress to go home in just in case you end up with an emergency c section and it may be more of struggle to get on than a dress you can just pull over your head. Also big knickers just in case. I didn’t expect an emergency c section but wish I had thought about it the first time

DD was born in the heatwave of 2019. The air con on the ward broke, it was like an oven!

I would recommend a few strappy tops (size up because boobs), a couple of pairs of cotton pyjama shorts, a thin cotton dressing gown (I got one cheap from Primark), flip flops and a comfortable crop top to wear underneath.

Then you can just add a pair of leggings and big t shirt for home time.

Edit: scratch the leggings - PP’s suggestion of a loose t shirt style dress is much better

I had my first baby in June, I wore a loose nighty the first day (ended up with emergency c-section so was in bed all of the first day). The switched to loose tunic tops and leggings. The best thing I had were massive knickers with the waistband around my waist so well away from the scar. In my normal size as I quite liked the feeling of being held in.

DS wore a vest and babygro and a hat. We didn’t bother swaddling as he hated it but it can be done with a muslin cloth.

Hospitals can be hot places so layers are good. All being well you’ll be home soon so I wouldn’t take too much, your partner or other visitors can always bring more in. Also assuming you’re in the UK, the weather can be anything from cold to sweltering heatwave so be prepared to change if the weather changes.

I gave birth in April and it was warm, but I remember being freezing cold the few days after birth, which is apparently very common because your body temps warmer in pregnancy then suddenly drops back to normal. Take a cardigan or dressing gown!