For the C-section experts around here -
*what is the ideal "wardrobe" to pack for the 3 days in the hospital?
*Should I plan on wearing the hospital gown the whole time until it's time to leave?
*Can I wear pants of any kind (yoga?) home or after surgery or will they hurt me too much? Should I pack a maxi dress to wear home instead?
*Did you wear the "mesh" hospital panties or did you buy some jumbo granny panties to wear after the surgery? I'm gathering that you want really high ones after a C-section?
Thanks in advance - I know this should be common sense but I'm confused about what will be comfortable to wear with the incision.
Re: Silly Question about hospital clothes
I've had two c/s and wore the gown the whole time except the last day before leaving.You will have bleeding and be checked a zillion times and the gown is just so much easier.I also worn the undies they give you and took some home to wear for a few days.
I wore drawstring pants that I could pull up and over my belly.Or yoga pants that have a wide elastic band.The slight pressure was actually helpful.
I've had 3 c sections so this is old hand for me.
I wear the hospital gown until I take a shower, which I try to get them to let me do as soon as possible. Nightgowns or comfy empire waisted dresses are the most comfortable since you do get checked and trying to scootch your pants down with an incision is NOT fun. I hate hospital gowns, so I want out of it ASAP. This time around I bought some knit old navy dresses on clearance in dark colors to wear.
I suggest a dress as your going home outfit. The waistband on pants can irritate your incision. Usually within a day or two after I'm home I can tolerate yoga pants with the fold down waistband.
I normally wear the mesh panties for the first two days and then switch to some that won't irritate my incision because the mesh panties aren't fun to walk around in.
I think I stayed in the gown until I was discharged. (I had to stay an extra week until they discharged DS, but I wasn't a patient.) The gowns are easier for when they check you, and you don't have to worry about staining them. That said, my hospital's gowns were pretty ghetto, so I was glad to get out of them.
Even when I was in the gown, I had some yoga pants on because it was so cold.
Underwear - my hospital didn't give extra mesh, so I wore what I had (bikini, but not too low-cut). As long as they don't rub your inciscion, you'll be fine. If you haven't read about the maxi-pad trick, then here it is - stick the pad in your underwear so that it goes along your incision. It will give you some cushion there and absorb any goo.
Also - I had staples, and the staples got caught on the mesh. I was more than happy to switch back to normal undies.
Here's my opinion.
1. I hated the mesh underwear. I wore them for the first few hours, while I was still catheterized. Once the catheter got out, I put on my own underwear. I have large grannie panties, so they were fine. I got no blood on them.
2. I wore the hospital gown until the catheter came out too (so about 12 hours total). I then put on my own large dress-jammies (no pants). I packed about 6 jammies even though I would only be there for 2 nights, in case of blood. Never bled on them, I wore 2 of the 6.
3. I wore my maternity jean shorts the very next day. The maternity panel actually made me feel more comfortable and more "held together", whereas wearing just the hospital gown made me feel like I was going to fall apart. lol. I packed 1 pair of jeans and 1 pair of shorts (both maternity), and about 6 shirts (for options!). I was wearing them the next day because I prefer regular clothes to make me feel more "human".
I hadn't heard that, what a great idea! Thanks!
With DS, I was only in the hospital for about 48 hours, and I wore the hospital gown the whole time until the day we were going home. I wore maternity yoga pants home, they were fine with my incision. I can't remember how long I used the mesh panties for, for sure the whole time in the hospital and maybe for a few days afterwards. I wore yoga pants or sweat pants exclusively after getting home and never had issues.
You might want to pack a dress, just in case, but I don't plan to. I also plan on wearing nursing tanks & yoga pants while in the hospital this time, so I'll look more normal for DS when he comes to visit.