A caesarean is major abdominal surgery, and the incision sits low — right where the waistband of almost every garment you own rests. For the first six weeks, anything that presses on that line hurts, slows healing and can irritate the wound.
This is general comfort guidance, not medical advice. Follow your doctor’s instructions on wound care, lifting and activity.
The rule: nothing at the waist
No elastic, no drawstring, no waistband of any kind. This rules out most pyjama sets, leggings and track pants for the first few weeks, which is why a nighty becomes the obvious answer — the weight hangs from the shoulders, so nothing rests on the scar at all.
What to look for
- Weight from the shoulders. An A-line nighty, falling from a yoke, touching nothing at the waist.
- Front opening. You will be feeding, and you should not be raising your arms over your head or twisting while the wound heals. See front open nighties.
- Loose and soft. Order at least one size up from pre-pregnancy. XXL or XXXL for most women.
- Pure cotton. The wound area needs to stay dry and ventilated, and postpartum sweating is heavy. Synthetic fabric over a healing incision is the wrong choice.
- Length to the ankle. Warm enough to sit and feed in without needing a blanket over the abdomen.
For the hospital bag
Two front-open cotton nighties, dark coloured. Dark matters: there is bleeding afterwards, and you do not want to be worrying about marks while recovering. Loose, high-waisted cotton underwear that sits well above the incision, never on it. Slip-on slippers, because bending is difficult.
At home, weeks one to six
Most women live in two or three nighties for the first fortnight. Have enough that you are never waiting on the wash — four is realistic once you account for night sweats and leaking milk. Combo packs help here.
Keep the scar area clean and completely dry; pat, never rub. Loose cotton over it all day is the single most helpful thing you can do.
The hospital bag, specifically
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| 2 front-open cotton nighties, dark | Feeding access; bleeding does not show |
| High-waisted cotton underwear | Must sit well above the incision, never on it |
| Slip-on slippers | Bending is difficult for days |
| A light shawl | Hospital air conditioning, and cover while feeding |
| Nothing with a waistband | The incision sits exactly where one would rest |
When to call your doctor
Redness spreading from the incision, increasing pain rather than decreasing, discharge, a bad smell, fever, or the wound opening. None of these are things to wait out.
See feeding and maternity nighties, or read the feeding nighty guide.
Questions we get asked
Why does a nighty work better than pyjamas?
The incision sits exactly where a waistband rests. A nighty hangs from the shoulders, so nothing touches the scar at all.
What should I pack in the hospital bag?
Two front-open cotton nighties in dark colours, high-waisted cotton underwear that sits well above the incision, and slip-on slippers because bending is difficult.
When should I call my doctor?
Redness spreading from the incision, pain increasing rather than decreasing, discharge, a bad smell, fever, or the wound opening. None of these should be waited out.
