Is it useful to have a robe for the hospital stay?

[Grace_underfire]

I am wondering if I need to buy a robe to take with me to the hospital. I hope not to be there long! I saw a motherhood robe and nursing gown set in blue toile (long) that I liked. I don't know if they will be the pits or not (quality wise) or if I should even spend the $ on this.

Give me your opinions please! :)

[Piglet]

My MIL insisted on buying me a robe before DS was born and I thought she was nuts, given that I had never owned a robe in my life (I'm a flannel PJ's girl). Well, I was SO grateful for that extra layer of coverage, both from a warmth perspective (A/C was fully cranked in our hospital) and from a "modesty" perspective. I had a pee-bag (TMI, I know), that I had carry around with me and the more coverage I had, the less everyone suspected there was something there, LOL (yes, I can laugh now, not so much then). The robe was nothing special, and was not especially designed for nursing. I found that tucking a baby in to nurse in any old robe would work just fine. I personally wouldn't go for the special "nursing" stuff - it is usually expensive, poorly constructed and involves just as much exposure sometimes as your regular clothes. A recieving blanket is pretty good, and you'll quickly get the hang of it, which will be very helpful later on when you just want to wear your normal clothes again.

Marina

[COElizabeth]

I took a robe but don't think I wore it. But I delivered in the very early fall when it was still fairly warm, and I also am not particularly modest, so I didn't mind walking down the hall in just the hospital gown (after having someone check to make sure it was covering me up adequately!). I figured it was expected attire on the maternity floor. I personally would leave your nice things at home and just wear the hospital gowns. The nursing ones are easy to nurse in, you can always get a clean one, and the hospital does the laundry! If you think you might get cold or are very modest, you might take a robe.

Elizabeth
Mom to James
9-20-02

[Rachels]

Well, I went home six hours after giving birth, and I still got some good use out of my robe. For one thing, somebody put it on me after my water broke in the huge front parking lot of the hospital, and I wound up having to take off my pants. (My very most dignified moment.)

-Rachel
Mom to Abigail Rose
5/18/02

[celfsh]

I had never owned a robe before but ended up buying a cute, light-weight, cheap one (less than $20) from the Gap to use at the hospital. It was not a "necessity" but I did appreciate having it. I wore a hospital gown the whole time (no sense ruining my own PJs!), which are none too flattering, and it was nice having something a little more "me" to throw on over the gown when visitors came, etc. It just made me feel a little more put together...not that it really made much of a difference...at least I felt better, though!

:)

celeste
mom to olivia 9/25/02

[nitaghei]

Just take along something cheap, that you wouldn't mind getting ruined. I had a long labor, and I walked around before the epidural, and it was nice to have a robe to cover the gown, and for warmth. I also got severe shaking fits after the birth - through the next day, and I was so happy to have my flannel robe. I would not spend a lot of money on one, though. I just took one of my older robes - we had a no visitor rule, so I didn't care about how I looked.

Nita

[sweetbasil]

My mom bought me one right after DS#2 was born, and boy, was I glad I had it. I had one with DS#1 that matched a nursing gown, but didn't match anything else. It sure helped to feel more modest while walking down the hall for exercise!

Best wishes,

[amp]

Didn't bring one...Didn't miss it. Then again, I never use a robe anyway. If you usually do, you'll probably like having it. If not, don't bother. And, you may get *gook* on anything you bring. I didn't get blood on anything I owned but a pair of socks I wore during the C-Section. However, I wore their gowns the entire time and I did have a massive mess with blood on one of their gowns when I was napping and didn't get the pads under me changed in time. I know, TMI, but you asked!

[Grace_underfire]

Well, Looks like it was useful for you guys! I will go ahead and plan on taking one.

This one is the one I was thinking of getting:

http://motherhood.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=84841049&category_Name=Gown%2FRobe+Sets%2FGiftsets&Category_Id=1049&MasterCategory_Id=15

What do you think? I plan on using their gowns so I don't get mine messed up but the robe might be nice to have. I tend to get cold in the AC. Hopefully if I get it and it gets nasty oxiclean will come to the rescue.

I love Toile.

[Sarah1]

I really like that robe! And yes, I am pro-robe. I wore my robe over the gown the entire time and was very comfortable. I always get chilly too. And, you'll no doubt get a lot of use out of that robe once you get home...you will be sleepwalking all day (and night) long!

P.S. As for the quality of Motherhood stuff, I bought a top and a sundress and they were my FAVES when I was preggo...and they were inexpensive. I bought more expensive stuff that I didn't like as much. So I say go for it! If you get it and it's gross, you can always send it back :-)

[Grace_underfire]

I am actually going to buy it at Babies R Us. Motherhood doesnt give you your money back - only store credit - but my BRUs carries this robe by motherhood and they do take stuff back!

[khakismom]

I brought a robe with the first baby and never used it--what I did instead was take another hospital gown and put it on like a robe, so that the open part was in the front. That way, I was covered up. I did this again with baby #2. To me it was perfect--I didn't have to pack a bulky robe, and I wasn't worried about keeping a robe clean. Just my $.02. :)

...Maureen

Mom to
Kathleen 3/22/01
Ellen 6/4/03

[lukkykatt]

I did pack a robe but ended up never using it. Maybe it is just me, but I found things very very messy while I was in the hospital. I used the hospital underwear and gowns while there - I did not want anything of my own on. When I had company, I put another gown on backwards and that worked great.

[deborah_r]

I was in the hospital for almost 5 days and I was very glad to have my own stuff. The robe was good for taking hall walks. My own gown was good for me emotionally, but I don't know how to describe exactly why I felt that way.

[MelissaTC]

That is a very pretty robe. I bought one and actually brought my own pjs. I went into labor on a Friday and was admitted Saturday so by Tuesday (when I was allowed to shower and really move around) nothing felt better than to be in my own nursing pjs. I loved having the robe to cover myself up. My in-laws had driven from NY to NC the night before and spent the entire day with us at the hospital. I didn't need my FIL checking out my boobs :) I actually used the robe quite a bit and I am not a robe person normally. True, modesty goes out the window when you are giving birth. But afterwards, I wanted a little bit back. :)

[Andrea S]

I took a robe and used it to get up and walk around especially to the bathroom when we had visitors the bathroom was far away.

Andrea
mom to Andrew 8/14/02

[DDowning]

Right before I delivered, I purchased an inexpensive blue cotton robe from Kohls. It was knee length, zipped up the middle rather than having to be tied. I think it was $20. I'm glad I had it though.

[C99]

I didn't have a robe and didn't feel that I needed it. I bought a few pairs of inexpensive PJ pants and t-shirts that I didn't care about ruining -- of course, they got nary a mark and are still in my PJ rotation nearly 7 months later. I wore those the whole time that I was in the hospital after I delivered. My baby was in the NICU, so I went down the main elevators from the 12th floor to the 3rd floor about 15 times/day and was totally fine.

[suzska]

I have a pink flannel one that I've been wearing at home for a few years. It's starting to show a little wear. So I think what I've decided to do is buy a new one for at home, and pack the flannel one for the hospital. That way I'll still feel comfy because it's "mine" but won't care too much what happens to it.

With my first pg, my water broke 16 days early and I never got around to packing my hospital bag (I know, I know). So I showed up at the hospital with the clothes on my back and that's it (we weren't sure whether my water had really broken, so I didn't take the time to throw anything together before leaving). Wished I had grabbed an extra pair of socks, though. Let's just say the ones I had on during labor ended up in the trash. I did remember to put on ones that I didn't care what happened to! I lost a lot of blood and had awful chills, but the hospital slippers just didn't do it for my tootsies after I threw out the socks. DH went home that night and got the baby's going home outfit washed and grabbed some socks for me.

This time I vow to have my bag packed in January. Really! :)

[ekbecker1]

I just bought this gown and robe last week! Not sure if you've seen it in person, but the fabric and construction seem to be good for $35. I'm not a robe person, but this one is very pretty. I am due in October and got this set for nighttime nursing and around the house in the first few weeks. I thought it would be nice for those days when you don't get out of your PJ's and some unexpected guest comes over to meet the baby. (I read somewhere that it's a good idea to keep your PJ's on those first few days because then visitors realize that you are still recovering and may not want them to stay too long.)

I wasn't going to bring this set to the hospital because it is very light in color and I'm worried about stains. If the gown gets stained, then you've got the robe with nothing to match. Instead, I bought another brightly colored robe on sale at Kohl's. I'm planning to wear it over the hospital gown when visitors come or when I'm chilly. If it gets stained, I'm only out $7!

[kristine_elen]

I'd say yes to bringing a robe but no to getting a nice one. Lots of stuff comes out of you when you have a baby and you don't want stains on something nice and new.