What to Wear in the Hospital for Delivery in India

This article is for general information and does not replace advice from your doctor or the hospital where you are delivering.

Most women pack the baby's clothes carefully and their own almost at random. Then labour starts, a nurse hands over a thin hospital gown that ties at the back, and the nighty packed at the bottom of the bag turns out to pull over the head. What you wear for delivery matters more than it seems, because for a day or two you will be examined, monitored, fed on, and helped out of bed in it.

Can you wear your own clothes in an Indian hospital for delivery?

It depends on the hospital, and the honest answer is to ask before you are in labour. Many private maternity wards allow your own nighty during labour and recovery, while others issue a gown for the delivery room or the operation theatre and let you change afterwards. Government hospitals vary widely: some provide a gown, some expect you to bring your own, and some do both depending on the ward.

Ask at your last antenatal visit, or when you pre-register: Can I wear my own nighty during labour? Will I be changed into a gown for the delivery or the theatre? Can I wear my own clothes in the ward afterwards? You then pack for the answer rather than the guess.

What to wear during labour

Whatever the hospital allows, the same things make a garment work in labour.

• It opens at the front. Staff need to reach your abdomen to check the baby's heartbeat and your contractions, and they should be able to do that without you undressing or lifting anything over your head.
• It has no tight band at the belly. Anything that presses on the abdomen is uncomfortable once contractions start.
• It is soft cotton. Labour wards in India can be hot, and synthetic fabric traps heat and sweat.
• It is not precious. Birth is messy. Pack something you will not mind staining, and a darker colour hides more than a pale one.

Avoid anything that pulls over the head, anything with buttons at the back, and anything you would need help to remove quickly.

What to wear in the ward after the birth

The first day or two after birth is when a front-open garment earns its place. You will be bleeding, sore and tired, and you will be feeding a newborn every couple of hours. Getting a baby latched in a nighty that has to be pulled up or down is hard when you are exhausted. A front-open nighty with a velcro closure from neck to hem lets you open just the part you need and close it again with one hand, and a shawl or dupatta over the shoulder gives privacy in a shared ward.

It also helps the nurses. Checking a stitch, an abdominal dressing or the uterus is quicker when the garment opens down the front and does not need to be removed.

After a normal delivery with stitches, loose and soft matters most, because tight underwear or a waistband sitting on the area is sore. After a caesarean the incision sits exactly where a waistband would, so read our guide to what to wear after a C-section as well.

How many nighties to pack

Plan for a change at least once a day, plus extras for leaks, sweat and milk. A working count for a two to three day stay after a normal delivery is three to four nighties. For a caesarean, where the stay is usually longer, pack four to five. In India, laundry usually happens at home, so a family member taking a used set home and returning a fresh one is a good way to pack lighter. Our hospital packing list covers the rest of the bag and what the person staying with you should bring.

Going home

The going-home outfit is the one people forget. You will still be sore, possibly still bleeding, and carrying a baby into a car. Choose something loose that you can put on while seated and that does not press on the abdomen. A front-open velcro kurti is easy to put on and take off, and works for feeding on the journey. Soft cotton bottoms with a loose waist suit most women. Skip fitted leggings, jeans and anything with a firm waistband for the first weeks.

What not to pack

• Nighties that pull over the head or fasten at the back
• Heavy or synthetic fabric, especially in the hot months
• Expensive nightwear you would be upset to stain
• Fitted leggings, jeans or tight waistbands for the journey home
• Only one nighty, which is the commonest mistake

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I wear my own nighty during labour in a government hospital?

Policies differ between hospitals and sometimes between wards, so ask in advance. Some government hospitals provide a gown for labour and delivery and let you change into your own clothes afterwards. If you plan to bring your own, a loose cotton nighty that opens at the front is the most practical choice.

Is a front-open nighty suitable for delivery?

A front-open nighty is practical for labour and for the days after, because staff can reach your abdomen without you undressing and you can breastfeed without lifting the garment. Check with your hospital whether you will be asked to change into a gown for the delivery itself.

How many nighties should I pack for the hospital stay?

Three to four for a normal delivery and four to five for a caesarean is a sensible count. You will want a clean one most days, with spares for leaks, sweat and milk.

What colour is best for a delivery nighty?

A darker or printed colour hides stains better than white or a pale shade. Comfort and soft cotton matter more than colour, but if you are choosing between two, take the darker one.

What should I wear going home after a caesarean?

Something loose that does not press on the incision, with no firm waistband across it. A front-open kurti with soft, loose bottoms is easy to manage while seated. Read our C-section clothing guide for the first six weeks.