Thank you so much ladies for all your answers and advice! I am not sure I wont wear my classic VS pjs after all. They don't have an elastic band round the belly but are to be tied and the ones I have a quite loose. Am thinking with the front opening and the easier access of pulling them further down and the top up it will actually be easier. I have this body image problem (since being pregnant and putting on weight its gotten so much worse!) and I just really don't like the idea of bare legs and bare arms. All the nighties I have seen that I liked the look of are cute short things without sleeves. I think they are lovely but they aren't for me. The ones that are long with long arms look like something my maiden aunty of 90 would wear! Or of course those classic men's ones that my father (73) is so oddly fond of. Smexy! Not. But I do thank you so much for your advice. I know you are probably right to recommend nighties but I just don't think I can.

I stayed in my hospital gown for the first 24 hours, no undies - wasn't even given the option but with the catheter in it would have been a nightmare anyway. The pads were just placed between my legs and I bled heavily and leaked so the nurses kept having to fiddle around and change them (as my legs were completely numb for hours afterwards) and having anything on my bottom half that had to be pulled up and down would be dreadful. Bare in mind you will be immobile for hours and nurses have to do everything for you so they need quick easy access. You will be able to get up and about the day after so it will depend on how sore you are as to what you can manage. I despise nightdresses but bought a cheapy one (remember a strappy one will enable skin to skin contact and bonding with baby) which I wore for the first few hours of getting back on my feet and moving around and when I felt ok I was back in pjs by later that day. Unfortunately you won't know until after the op what will suit so I would take pjs and a nightie or massive tshirt. By that point all dignity and caring about appearances has gone out the window anyway!

Also remember that maternity hospitals are usually really hot so you will need something cool x