During the whirlwind of pregnancy excitement—and after being showered with gifts for baby—what to wear home from the hospital after birth might be the last thing on your mind.
But it’s a crucial consideration; after all, you’ll need to stock up on postpartum staples before birth begins.
Luckily, this guide is here to help. We’ll break down some key considerations for new parents and touch on some of the clothing items that will help you nurse, bond and recover in comfort.
If you’re looking for the ultimate cozy postpartum wardrobe primer, this is the resource you need.
Considerations
When considering what to wear home from the hospital after giving birth, think about:
- Nursing and skin-to-skin access – Even if you’re planning to formula-feed instead of nurse, you’ll still need items that simplify skin-to-skin. Button-up and tie-front items are especially useful—they open (and close) quickly and easily, and the right fabrics will offer enough comfort for all-day wear.
- Postpartum wraps – Postpartum belly wraps (sometimes called “belly bands”) can provide posture support and boost your overall comfort after delivery. If you plan to use them, be sure to add them to your go bag ahead of time. In addition, your postpartum clothes should be loose enough to accommodate both your belly band and your postpartum belly (which will take some time to shrink back down to its pre-pregnancy size).
- Temperature regulation – Postpartum temperature fluctuations are common, and they usually ebb and flow on their own. However, you should pad your wardrobe accordingly: try to assemble a wide range of long- and short-sleeved pieces and various fabric weights.
- Feeling cozy – Feeling good in what you wear is a must after giving birth; it’ll boost your mood and confidence and support your overall comfort. No matter what you feel best in—natural or synthetic fabrics, soft or sleek materials—make sure you have plenty of favorites in your postpartum closet.
- Your body’s needs – As your hormones fluctuate after birth, so will your needs. As such, it’s important to listen to your body to best meet those changing needs. Having a wide variety of clothing items in your collection postpartum will help you continue to boost your comfort (even as your body is changing).
Clothes to Wear Home After Giving Birth
With all of the above in mind, let’s get to the list of postpartum must-haves: items you’ll want to stock up on before birth to set yourself up for success after bringing baby home.
Maternity/Nursing Bras
Maternity or nursing bras are a must for new moms—whether or not you’re breastfeeding. These special bras offer two key benefits:
- Support for sore breasts – Whether you’re nursing or taking the formula route, your breasts are likely to be sore after birth; that soreness might continue for a few days (or for much longer if you’re nursing). In the meantime, you need a bra with extra support to improve your overall comfort.
- Ease of breastfeeding – Nursing bras in particular provide easy, quick access for breastfeeding. You might be thinking, “Why can’t I just skip the bra altogether?” If that’s more comfortable for you, you should certainly take that route. However, postpartum soreness might leave you wanting support. Maternity bras provide relief without complicating your nursing process.
Comfortable Underwear
In your search for the perfect postpartum underwear, keep an eye out for two must-have features:
- High-waisted cuts – Especially for people who deliver via C-section, high-waisted underwear offer more support than low-rise cuts. Even if you deliver vaginally, you’ll still deal with belly shrinkage during your first weeks postpartum—high-waisted underwear can provide posture and overall support (especially if you aren’t planning on using belly wraps).
- Breathable fabrics – Breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics are a must for new moms. As your body recovers from birth, temperature fluctuations may lead to increased sweating—moisture you’ll want to wick away to prevent skin irritation.
If there’s anything we recommend stockpiling, it’s underwear; between sleepless nights, washing bottles and nursing, you might have limited time to do laundry. Even if you wear the same shirt for a few days in a row, you’ll always feel a little better with clean underwear on.
Loose-Fitting Tops and Bottoms
Loose-fitting clothes will ensure comfort and coziness during the postpartum period. Tight clothes might feel too restrictive, and you want to make it as easy as possible to shed layers if you feel a hot flash approaching.
With that in mind, we recommend:
- Leggings – While you might like to have a little more support around your belly (especially after a C-section), consider picking up leggings with flared legs for improved breathability and comfort.
- Joggers – Even if you don’t need the belly support leggings off, you’ll likely still love the simplicity and comfort of an elastic waistband. Since joggers offer a relatively loose fit, they're a great addition to your postpartum wardrobe.
- Loose tops or t-shirts – Like your bottoms, your tops should be loose, too—especially if you’re nursing.
All in all, loungewear is a must-have for new moms.
Nursing Tanks
In addition to soft, loose t-shirts, nursing tanks offer a comfortable solution for moms on a frequent postpartum feeding schedule.
Like your other items to wear after birth, look for options with:
- Breathable fabrics
- Loose, flowing cuts
- Cozy textures
Many of today’s nursing top and tank designs are flattering and stylish. Consider picking up a few that you can wear on some of your first outings with baby.
Pajamas
Pajamas are some of the most multi-functional garments you can have after giving birth. Why?
- They’re comfortable – When it comes to comfortable clothes to sleep in, cozy pajamas certainly take the cake. And after bringing baby home, sleep might be slightly harder to come by—so, you’ll want to make sure you boost your pajama stash to set yourself up for a successful night’s sleep (when you can get it, of course).
- They’re breastfeeding-friendly – Button-up pajama tops in particular are a must-have for nursing moms. Even in the birthing suite, you might find yourself pulling on your favorite button-up PJ top after skin-to-skin. There’s no denying their practicality for new moms.
- They’re perfect for sleeping and lounging – Made of comfy fabrics and featuring charming prints, PJ sets might make you feel a little more like yourself once you and baby come home.
Another tip from the pros: grab a few different sleeve lengths when you’re stocking up on pajamas. Short sleeves make tasks like diaper changing, formula prep and bottle-washing much easier (and more hygienic).
Robes
Like button-up pajamas, robes are a must-have after you come home from the hospital—you might even get to give birth in your own robe (if you’re delivering vaginally and your hospital allows it).
Once you’re back at home, robes are especially useful. They offer:
- Quick and easy coverage when unexpected guests come to visit you and baby
- Soft, comfortable fabrics that provide warmth and a boost of coziness
- Pockets—ideal for carrying your phone, pacifiers or even empty bottles
- Simple layering for nursing tops or pajamas
Keep in mind that there are many types of robes out there. You’ll likely benefit from a mix of long and short length robes (and a few short- and long-sleeve designs).
And, like underwear, you may want to get your hands on a few more robes than you think you’ll need. You’ll likely have a few different robes in rotation at any given moment, and having extras will give you the chance to put off doing laundry for a little while longer.
Discover Postpartum Comfort With Softies
Whether you’re already a cozy connoisseur or you’re looking to rediscover your comfort-loving side after giving birth, the postpartum experience simply isn’t complete without a few of the closet staples above.
When coziness and quality are top priorities, turn to Softies—we’ve been making the softest clothes around for almost 20 years. Between postpartum essentials (like robes and loungewear) and everyday clothes for your first family outings, you’ll find everything you need for your wardrobe in our collection.
Explore our cozy, quality-made favorites now.
