What do you wear during your hospital stay

[bridee]

I'm jsut starting to think about packing my bag in preparation, however, just wondering during your stay in hospital what did you wear. The list of things the hospital says to bring is night gowns and leisure wear.

My real question is did you wear nighties or PJ's? I went looking for nighties today and all are for 80 year women - not quite my look. I certainly understand if I was having a caesar you would not want the band of PJ's on your stomach but if you have a natural birth is PJ's so bad?

[Charlyfrog]

Well I went and bought a cheapie nightgown for the labour - the type that I wouldn't worry if it got ruined iykwim - which, btw, didn't happen.......and ended up wearing a hospital gown and nada underneath.................a couple of friends just went full monty from the beginning........but it is whatever you are comfy in and if a pj top is what you want to do then go with that. IMO that actually sounds far more practical than a nightie anyways, less to have to get out the way iykwim as well.

As for my stay during.............I am taking pj top & pants, far more comfy and practical again but am taking day clothes just for me more mentally than anything - a shower and a change of clothes can really do a world of wonder when entering sleep deprived land!

[visitor1]

I wore Nighties at night and tracksuits and tops during the day

[luey]

Big W do have some 'breastfeeding' jarmies and nighties, they tie accross the boobs, release the tie and there is a booby opening.

They looked ok, only problems I could see is they are white, with pink or blue flowers (I would be worried about leakage), they are shoestring straps and no where for breast pads. I have no idea if they would be a problem but I guess you could wear a bra underneath.


Good luck

[Lucy]

For labour I had an oversized tea shirt/nightshirt.....

For night time I had soft t-shirt material pj's. Easy to BF in and soft enough to sleep in (I notmally sleep "au naturel" at home, so wanted something as comfy as poss...but that was also 'respectable' enough for me to wander the halls of the hospital /nip to the nursery etc, if necessary.

I took day-wear. It was really important for me to get up, have a shower and get dressed and do my face etc whilst in hospital. I have no idea WHY it was important, LOL, I just wanted to. (That said, I was exceptionally lucky with all 3 of my births and felt as fit as a fiddle with no pain or anything, & I ran high on happy hormones, so that's maybe why? Dunno.)

So I had jeans, comfy tops, a new pair of trackies etc, proper shoes.......comfy and practical stuff that was respectable not daggy........

HTH?

[aussienic]

I wore my normal jamies.. even after my 2 c.s. I am not a nighy person.. Button up top is recommended though. for ease of breastfeeding if you plan to do so,

big undies though hold those delightful maternity pads in

During the day I just wore my every day clothes. some didn't fit yet or were to big so DH went shopping for me.

[Karina]

I just wore trackies and a shirt.
For night time, i wore the crappiest trackies I own so it wouldnt be a problem if I wrecked them and had to chuck them out.

[Janie]

I wore pjs at night, and I bought a few trackies on sale to take in with me, which I loved. It was so nice to wear something new (even if it was a tracksuit!) when you're feeling otherwise a bit grotty. And there was no way I wanted to look at any of my maternity clothes again LOL! Like Lucy, it was really important to me to get up and shower, do my hair and face each day in hossy. It just made me feel human.....and I'm glad now, cos I dont look too awful in the photos!

[Yael]

I'm with Lucy - for me it was really important during the day to wear clothes.

I also got up and had a shower, and put a little makeup on.. I viewed myself as somebody who had a baby, not somebody who was sick and was in hospital. There is no need to wear pjs all day long, and for most of the day i was out of bed (i think once i fell asleep for a day nap on top of the covers, but that was the only nap i took.. which was silly looking back), having visitors or organising stuff etc. Also you have lots of people come into your room, nurses, drs, meal delieveries, visitors, and other health people, and i didn't want ppl to see me in my pjs.

For nights i had breastfeeding nighties which were great (i also wore one during labour).. They were more like long tshirts, and i had long sleeved ones, with no buttons (lift up section instead), so not nana at all. I wore normal pjs bottoms (i had a vaginal delivery though), never leaked, but they were pretty old so i didn't care if i had to throw them out.

I did buy some of those nana knickers though (in black), for the week I was in hospital.. They were really good, i felt better for being all held in (and i ended up wearing them for a few weeks after birth until my muscles around my tummy felt more back to normal).

HTH

[qhi]

anything you don't mind bleeding all over...sorry to be so graphic, but I didn't realise just how much blood and yuckiness there would be, and ruined quite a few really nice things. I would say something comfy, maybe trackpants, or similar. Maybe put in something which can sit under your belly in case you do end up with a c section.

[Ozziehoffy]

I bought a nightie to wear during the birth - didn't get to use it cos it was so fast...lol. I ended up just in my t-shirt... which you would never know cos DH brought it home and popped it into a bucket with Napisan (without me even asking!!) and you can't tell it even had blood on it.

I bought some new jimjams for my stay in hossy... just from Big W I think.. but cute button up with like boxer short bottoms and even had a couple of the nurses comment on them. During the day I wore my maternity 3/4 pants and tops cos you will still have a belly (obviously not as big) and I found them comfy. With my first he was c/s and I did wear a nightie for obvious reasons, but natural birth normal jimjams are great.

[lilima]

I bought a cheap nightie for the delivery, but like many others, I didnt end up wearing it, and ended up in a hospital gown.
I also had pj's that I wore the other nights I was in. I found hospital really hot, so only had summer pj's. I also had day clothes, coz I figure U wasn't sick, and wanted to look realatively 'normal' during the day.

[Jacqui]

It was really important for me to get up, have a shower and get dressed and do my face etc whilst in hospital. I have no idea WHY it was important, LOL, I just wanted to.

I am exactly the same. Its amazing how good you feel when your showered with makeup on, and dressed nice. It can really hide the night before. And you are ready for any photos that may arise.

All my bubs have been born in winter, but i found I can get away with shorts and long sleeve tops in the centrally heated hospital.

Goodluck

[ticklish]

Nighties, trackies and tops and maternity clothes - to still fit over the bump - it does hang around a bit!! The PJ I brought just didn't fit as my rear was still too big as was the bump.
Not all maternity nighties are made for grannies. I found some really nice nursing ones that were silky and lacy!! and good enough to wear afterwards even when not nursing.

[wardygirl]

I wore yoga type pants and a long sleeve tshirt type top. I'd get up in the morning and do the shower thing and wear these all day. Some nights I wore them as pjs as they were sooo comfortable and basically idential to the pjs I had.

[Kristylin]

I am a jammie girl, and am hanging to be able to wear my jammies everyday - lol. I still get up and shower and look nice etc but I just pop my pj's back on after my shower. (my dh washes anything that needs washing and brings it back). Everyone is used to me being in my pj's (I had a pj party for my 30th) so this would certainly look normal to my visitors - lol. But definately agree on the whole getting up and showering part.

I have had c/s's with every birth (emerg and elective) and found pj's were fine - just make sure they sit on your tummy - not the bikini area and you should be right. Its the same for undies.

[lj268]

Hi Bridee,
Well I found it easier just to wear casual clothes during the day, I dont think you need to be in ur pj's all day lol. I wore pj's at night, usually there are some quite nice ones that are suitable to breast feed with, i usually just pull the top up anyway.
When I had my third bub, I had had my shower and had on some casual clothes and was walking up the hospital isle (not sure why now, maybe to buy something from canteen?) and had one of the nurses ask me if I needed some help to find someone......I said that I had just had a baby and was just stretching my legs lol. I think she mustve been a new shift or something and didnt know who I was.
I usually am not one to just lie around after the birth of the bub as I am so excited.
Oh yeah, and the big undies!!! they might be UGLY, but ever so comfy when u have a pad or two in place! I used to wear my maternity bra 24/7 due to very sensitive nipples, and of course breast pads to catch any leakage.
This time round I am due in mid summer, so I dare say I will be once again in boxers and a nice jammie top at night and something cool and casual for the day.
Good luck with everything.
lj