MSE pregnancy club II

Agutka

Could someone explain to me, using simple words :rolleyes: , what exactly I need to take to hospital to WEAR. I'm not packing my bag just yet, but have spent a few hours wondering around cheapo shops in a daze...
In my mind:
- I need a dressing gown - as light as possible due to extreme temperatures in the maternity ward, BUT does it need to be a dark colour? I'm thinking of all the...erm...bleeding...
- large t-shirt or naked at the actual birth, whoohoo
- pyjamas or nightie for afters? Does it need to have a button front for breastfeeding? Are you wearing a bra after birth? Or do *they* just stay up magically?
- prefering nightie idea to pyjamas, due to giant maternity pads - you don't want the whole world to know what you're wearing after all, but some sort of trouser leg would give you more coverage
- can you stand waistbands in the first few days or is your belly too tender?

Please, please help me... I wonder if they go through this at the classes...?

daphne_descends

Emma_b, I'm planning two weeks leave before I start my maternity leave - meaning my last day of work will be at 31 weeks. I'm 24+5 now and have had enough of work to be honest. No desire or motivation to stick around longer than I need to. And as I'm not dead set on coming back I am not bothered by the different a few weeks makes to me 'return' date.

Agutka I would go with pj's AND nightie - you can wear pj bottoms under the nightie if you want, but if it's v warm then the nightie should give you enough coverage to feel comfortable (if you're lucky enough to have any dignity left by then I suppose). The rest - I am as clueless as you. To me it's another reason to have a home birth. (Though I know I'd still need to pack 'just in case'...)

Just been to Mothercare and saw a fab button-up nightie. Shame it had an awful Disney thing on it - I'm having a baby, I'm not 12.

Justie

yes you'll need a bra or at least a vest with secret support as you may well need breast pads so need something to hold them in place
PJs are ok if you've not had a section but I think would irritate if you have
I probably wouldn't bother with a dressing gown as the wards are so hot and you'll either be in your nightie or dressed but others with more experience than me may be able to give better advice on that

I think I'm going to buy a pair of men's shorts to wear as PJ bottoms under either a big tshirt or a cheap nightie - I'm not bothering with a breastfeeding nightie as I won't wear it at home and if I'm in hospital I'll either flash my baps or draw the curtain

take some flip flops - hospital floors are horrid and I wouldn't want to stand in the showers without something on my soles

I've read that you need socks for the labour though as the circulation in your feet isn't great so you might want some slide on shoes to shuffle about it when you have socks on

don't forget going home clothes too

I'm hoping for a home birth but will have to have stuff packed just incase

helend

Agutka wrote: »

Could someone explain to me, using simple words :rolleyes: , what exactly I need to take to hospital to WEAR. I'm not packing my bag just yet, but have spent a few hours wondering around cheapo shops in a daze...
In my mind:
- I need a dressing gown - as light as possible due to extreme temperatures in the maternity ward, BUT does it need to be a dark colour? I'm thinking of all the...erm...bleeding...
- large t-shirt or naked at the actual birth, whoohoo
- pyjamas or nightie for afters? Does it need to have a button front for breastfeeding? Are you wearing a bra after birth? Or do *they* just stay up magically?
- prefering nightie idea to pyjamas, due to giant maternity pads - you don't want the whole world to know what you're wearing after all, but some sort of trouser leg would give you more coverage
- can you stand waistbands in the first few days or is your belly too tender?

Please, please help me... I wonder if they go through this at the classes...?

Hi Agutka - when having both dd and ds I took a lightweight nightie for birth but it is sweaty hot hard work so that got whipped off and gave birth in bra both times:rolleyes: am going to try and keep some clothes on next time though!

I also took 2 buttonfront nighties for after birth and a lightweight dressing gown (pale blue and no marks - tho I did ruin a nightie), pair of slippers. I found a sleep bra was the most comfy thing to wear underneath and kept breastpads in place.
Some paper knickers or tatty old ones you don't mind ruining
A big dark towel and flannel
Must admit I never took pjs - and tbh by the time you've had sprog you don't care who can see your legs, but I don't remember feeling sore around my middle
Socks - I always have cold feet!
Clothes to go home in
Hth

Agutka

Thanks for the replies, seems I am thinking along the right lines... didn't consider the breast pad problem.
Definitely though I hate being hot and when you're hot and in pain everything irritates you, even the softest cotton round your neck.

I asked my ever helpful brother, who took such good care of SIL when she was in labour, what I should take to wear. He just told me not to be silly as 'they give you stuff'. Explains why poor SIL had to hang out in lovely hospital gowns then - I just looked over the photos. Hmm, didn't she look comfortable...

Raindrops_&_Moonbeams

Dormouse wrote: »

You're not boring us - that's what this thread is for, sharing experiences! :grouphug:

But wow, what a weird situation for you! I'd say the colostrum is a pretty good pregnancy sign - why else would you get it unless you're pregnant?

Was it jo_b that said on this thread that she's had colostrum leaks right from the start of her pregnancy, so it is possible! (Hope you don't mind me bringing this up, Jo! )

I know you said it didn't happen with your other pregnancies, but pregnancies don't have to be exactly the same - just think what your body's been through already, I guess it's natural for it to react slightly differently this time!

You said the test is negative, but it's very early, isn't it, so it could be wrong.

Keep us updated, and good luck!

Oh you're so nice, thank you!! Unfortunately I made the mistake of spending the last couple of hours googling about colostrum (am now an expert, ask me anything lol!) and it seems I'm either one of a tiny minority of pg women who produces it before the 2nd trimester or I'm not pg and could have a type of breast cancer!!! Feel much happier about it now then! :undecided

To the person asking about hospital clothes I wouldn't bother with the dressing gown either, in fact I'm sure I didn't touch half the stuff I took in with either of my kids! Slipper socks were good though as even though they were both summer babies my feet were like ice and I was worried about slipping in normal socks.

Hope everyone else is doing OK, I promise I'll stop whining once I know one way or the other what on earths going on with my body!! :rolleyes:

Chubacheroo

Raindrops, could it be an infection or something? Have you seen a doctor about it?

I've had colostrum from 16 weeks, but it was more of a creamy colour. I feel like I've been wearing breastpads forever!

Dormouse

Yellow colostrum is normal too, that's what I had straight after DS was born.

Google is a great thing, Raindrop, but too much information is not always a good thing. Hope you find out soon one way or another.

Re: hospital clothes... Remember maternity wards are HOT HOT HOT so I'm not planning on taking much. With DS, I gave birth in a large t-shirt and was sweating like a monkey by the end (boy that shower felt good afterwards! :T). I think I wore a nightie and thin dressing gown afterwards (I honestly can't remember - just asked DH and being a bloke, he doesn't have a clue what I wore either! :rolleyes:), but that's because I went to bed soon afterwards. The next day, I just wore normal clothes.

A bra is essential, as it's likely you'll leak. :rolleyes:

I had DS in July, and with this one being due in August, I'll just be wearing flip-floppy type shoes to the hospital, so no need for slippers. I didn't need socks either, but I guess those of you due later on in the year might want to pack a pair.

I've kept a collection of horrible greying pants to use after the birth and I'll take loads of pleasure in binning them afterwards (and shopping for lovely new ones! :j)

Most importantly, I'd say it really doesn't matter what you wear. :cool: Nobody's going to bat an eyelid at the sight of someone's boobs, and with most women shuffling around like John Wayne, it doesn't really matter whether people will notice what size maternity pads you've got. You'll have kissed your dignity bye-bye in the labour suite anyway, so who cares what you're wearing, as long as you're comfy - that's your main concern :cool: :rotfl:

Claire_Jones_3

I'm gonna be 38 weeks by the time I leave work! Am I leaving it a bit late? I'm already 32+3 but feel fine (apart from waddling around the office like a duck!) Had midwife appointment today and she said baby was head down and quite comfy and my bp and urine tests are all fine. I think 2 weeks before my due date is going to kill me with boredom I can't leave any earlier and its not worth thinking about baby being late!!! Maybe once this crazy nesting type thing kicks in I'll wish I left earlier.

When should you get hospital bag ready? I've got a bag but not organised it yet and its starting to weigh on my mind. And what the hell do you put in it, there is a list of the back of the mothercare book but how much do you actually need?

LilMissEmmylou

re hospital clothes, i found i needed quite a few nighties with front opening (although its just as easy to pull ur top up tbh) as i tended to leak a lot!
and i wore pj bottoms under my nightie for walking about but was far too warm to wear them in bed.

claire - i got my bag ready (wait for it lol) the night before my waters went lol so it was at 36+2 that i packed, although i had everything i needed bought before then and it only took so long due to house move.

My bag had a drink, some snacks, spare nighty, socks, maternity pads,spare big pants, face cloth (so glad i had that, i was so warm giving birth!) and a camera for after the birth oh and some baby clothes lol. Dont worry too much should you go in with nothing, there is always somebody to bring you in what you need. Some people also include a nappy for the baby and the likes but my hospital had one on her without me even noticing lol so no worries there.