bathrobe and nightgown for hospital?

[Anonymous]

I don't actually own a bathrobe or nightgowns (I'm a boxers-and-tank-top kind of gal).

I was wondering what moms who've been through the delivery process think about the necessity of these items, since I don't really want to bring my pajamas to the hospital (since they all are pants or shorts, doesn't seem like the right call). Should I go out and buy a cheap nursing nightgown and terrycloth bathrobe somewhere like Target?

thanks.

[Anonymous]

YOu totally don't need a nightgown, though if you're there for more than 2 days you may really want something other than the hospital-issue gown. The feeling of a shower and your own clothing is glorious.

On the robe front, you might want to pick up a cheap one (though Sibley has them in some, not all rooms - you could ask for one). You'll want to walk the halls a bit (you'll be forced to if you have a c-section and need to get up) and you sure don't want to be outside your room in just the gown.

[Anonymous]

I'm like you - I am more of a running shorts t-shirt girl but I will say espically after having a C-Section last year it's good to have a nightgown (normally I HATE nightgowns) but you don't want the elastic rubbing around where the scar will be if it's a C- and also you will have to be cleaning up down there a lot and it's just easier to not deal with pants!!

[Anonymous]

I wore my lounge around pants when I got into my post partem room. Like you, OP, I'm a t shirt/shorts sorta girl too.

So, I wore my flannel lounge around pants and nursing top. I felt super comfortable, still very functional, and even looked decent for pictures (as good as hospital and 2 day post partem pictures get )

[Anonymous]

PP, it wasn't a pain to wear pants? (I'm just thinking of all the checking down there docs will have to do).

[Anonymous]

I bought a mumu type gown and robe from walmart and took it with me. I had a surgical birth and was in the hospital for 4 days and never once wore the gown. I did wear the robe to the baby care meeting. glad i had it because it was the one for the moms and dada

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, it wasn't a pain to wear pants? (I'm just thinking of all the checking down there docs will have to do).

Nope, not at all. The doc. only checked on me 2x and the nurse only 1x. So it wasn't a big deal. In fact, they all kept pressing on my tummy (I think to check if the uterus was shrinking back to its original size - which it was ) more so than checking down below the waist. Then again, I had a textbook recovery and uneventful birth so the doc really wasn't that concerned about anything so she didn't really continuously check on me.

Now if you have a c/s I am not sure lounge-around flannel pants would be a good idea since the incision might be where the elastic pants band is.

One more note, unless you live very far from the hospital, I'm sure your DH/friend/relative can go home/go and buy you whatever you need. You're at the hospital, not a deserted island so don't feel like if you forget something or need something that you'll be doomed.

[Anonymous]

For me a bath robe is a necessity - mainly because I prefer to lounge around in one after I take a shower. So that's a must have in my hospital bag...in fact that and slippers are pretty much the only things in my bag right now (and I'm 38.5 weeks pregnant).

When I had my son I wore the hospital gowns. If I went out of the room I'd use another gown as a robe. In my baby care class most of the moms were wearing the hospital gowns.

[Anonymous]

With my daughter (now 4) I just wore the hospital gowns the whole time. I did bring an old ratty robe to throw on over it though and for showering etc. I didn't want to bring my nice one so it wouldn't get all yucky. By the time I got home I was back into wearing PJ tops and bottoms (t-shirt and shorts or pants). I preferred having bottoms actually - made it easier to change pads etc. than with a nightgown. I had a vaginal delivery btw. Nursing wasn't a problem either - I just pulled up my t-shirt. Definitely bring socks and slippers though.

[Anonymous]

i have to say i found the nightgown uncomfortable...it isn't what i normally wear, and i am pg with # 2 and am definitely bringing lounge pants this time. everytime i got out of bed with the nightgown i felt as if my entire insides were going to come falling out on the floor ( sorry if that is TMI) so i feel like if I have pants i may feel a little more secure about that. iwould go with a nursing top, though, just to make life easier.

[Anonymous]

I brought some cheap nursing gowns that I got at Target and then never wore them because the hospital gowns with the snaps on the shoulders were much more convenient.

But I did frequently wear the inexpensive robe that I brought with me (from the Gap online). I had a c-section and one of the things I had to do was walk up and down the hallway as part of my recovery, so the robe was helpful.

[Anonymous]

The opinions seem to vary, but for me I brought a nursing gown and a light cotton robe. I had a long labor, so once I was in recovery and took a shower I couldn't wait to get into clothes that were mine and smelled like my own laundry. Weird, I know, but it really made me feel more human. I also brought onsies for baby and she wore those from day1 too. Just made me feel more like at home. I had a v-delivery and wore those stretchy panties they give you and never got anything icky.

[Anonymous]

I purchased a cheap robe from Target - I thought if I was laboring and want to walk the falls this would be more comfortable than just the hospital gown. I didn't use it for that purpose but used it at home when we had lots of visitors and I didn't want to be just in my pjs.


I purchased some larger PJs that had button down fronts so that I could nurse. I loved these as I felt a bit more normal in my own clothes. Once again these offered a bit more coverage and allowed me to move around easily when I had guests visiting.

[Anonymous]

I also recommend just wearing the hospital gowns. I don't know about anyone else but I was a bloody mess after delivery and proceeded to bleed on EVERYTHING. I don't think anyone could adequately prepare me for the blood. I ruined at least 6 hospital gowns in my two days stay.

[Anonymous]

I am super vain, and I LOVE pajamas, but I couldn't bring myself to wear anything but the hospital gown, precisely because of what PP said... I too was a bloody mess. I really enjoyed my new nursing pajamas once I got home, though.