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Email a FriendPosted by Joan on Friday, Aug 13, 2010 11:32 AM (EDT):
Only a “boob” would buy that “Boob” dress. Sorry couldn’t resist!! LOL This has me in stitches!
Nursing Wear To Fit Your Needs, Style and Budget
Fashion Friday!
Posted by AGroup in Reviews on Friday, August 13, 2010 10:00 AM
Am I the only one who is less-than-satisfied with the current selection of nursing-wear fashions available? Don’t get me wrong; I do occasionally stumble upon a piece or two that are pretty cute but, all in all, the options out there leave a little something to be desired, don’t you think?
Maybe I’m crazy, not looking hard enough, or not looking in the right places, but from what I can tell most of the apparel designed for breastfeeding moms these days seems to scream: Look at me! I’m lactating!
Not that there’s anything wrong with lactating, mind you. It’s really a very, very cool thing but girls, if you’re anything like me (a little bit shy and pretty private about such matters), you just don’t want that message tattooed across your forehead—or, ahem, chest, as it may be. And don’t even try to tell me that those conspicuous flaps don’t scream lactation!
I’m lucky because my personal style and needs lend themselves well to creating outfits that are breastfeeding-friendly while not technically being nursing-wear. I simply pair a knee-length skirt (you could easily substitute the skirt for a pair of pants) with a cute shirt over a camisole. That way, I can simply lift the shirt and lower the cami and voila! we’re in business with nary a shirt flap in sight!
Now my sweet friend, Abby, her needs are a bit more complicated than mine. You see, she has to have c-sections to deliver her darling babies which means that she’s left with a tender scar—a tender scar that would much rather not be aggravated by the presence of a waistband—so she’s in the market for a few good breastfeeding-friendly dresses.
And we did find a few:
This dress, designed by Milk, is pretty cute. I appreciate the cross-wrap style because dresses like these are worn by the lactating and non-lactating alike which keeps ‘em guessing. The color is delightful, too!
We found another lovely wrap dress at Trendy Tummy Maternity. It would be nice to have at least one outfit like this that could be worn to more formal events.
I also think this dress, spotted at Due Maternity, is pretty but my goodness! Check out that price. No, thank you.
So ... can you always-helpful gals assist my friend, Abby? I know she’d especially love to hear from those of you who have had to have c-sections. What do you wear? Where do you shop? What are your secrets?
Thanks so much, ladies! We really, really appreciate your help!
Comments
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Posted by Joan on Friday, Aug 13, 2010 10:14 PM (EDT):
Hope I didn’t offend anyone with my sarcasm. But seriously, I have looked through this thread and the one item I would have loved to have when I nursed is the “Undercover Mama” undershirt. It would have been a lifesaver at times. Or should I say a “belly cover upper”. Loved those nursing days.
Posted by Sarah in Ottawa on Friday, Aug 13, 2010 1:37 PM (EDT):
I am due 2 weeks from today and I have the same preoccupations! With my (nearly 19 month old) son who was never able to latch I expressed milk until he was 14 months, so I bypassed nursing wear entirely. I am not sure what will happen this time, but I suspect I will need some nursing clothes - blah. I am a naturally buxom girl, and when lactating it is just a gong show. I may end up stealing your camisole idea, Hallie.
I have several girlfriends who SWEAR by the Boob line (the designer is Swedish, I believe) but holy sticker shock! The clothes, however, appear to be very well made and quite durable.
Posted by Laurel on Friday, Aug 13, 2010 1:54 PM (EDT):
Ok… nursing bras are good and cheap at Target. Target also carries some camisoles, which are great layering pieces - although you can’t wear them alone because when you bring the flap down, everything is exposed. Old Navy has some inexpensive nursing pieces as well. I have one Boob top, and absolutely adore it… super easy, modest, etc. I also have some nice modest pieces from Motherhood Maternity.
Handsdown, though, my favorite nursing pieces come from Motherwear. Their dresses are all absurdly short on me, though, and I’m only 5’7”.
Posted by Bethany on Friday, Aug 13, 2010 2:40 PM (EDT):
I also must have c-sections to bring my babies into this world. Add in that I’m a plus-sized gal, and I have extreme difficulty finding decent nursing wear. What I did manage to find was awkward as my breasts are not under my armpits. I ended up practicing nursing in my regular shirts in front of a mirror, simply lifting the shirt. It ended up being less conspicuous for me personally than fumbling with the nursing shirts I had.
That being said, these are beautiful dresses! The Evita Ruffle Wrap would probably fit me, too. Thanks for the links, Hallie. As an aside, I wish I knew how to sew because I would just make my own clothes—nursing or otherwise. lol
Happy nursing, y’all!
P.S. If anyone can explain to me how the slits under my arms are supposed to help me nurse discreetly, I’m all ears. lol
Posted by Grace on Friday, Aug 13, 2010 2:49 PM (EDT):
I don’t have advice for a C-section, but my solution was to use my regular underwire bra, which I lift up during nursing, and my regular T’s and skirts/jeans. Then I bought myself 2 yards of the most beautiful, light-weight, machine-washable fabric at Joann’s. With the edges hemmed, it’s my nursing cover. I keep it in the pocket of my “My Brest Friend” nursing pillow, which goes in the bottom of the stroller.
Posted by Anita S on Friday, Aug 13, 2010 4:00 PM (EDT):
I’ve never had a C-section, but I always find something at Expressiva . They run very true-to-pre-pregnancy size as well. http://www.expressiva.com/store/home.php?cat=1&sort=orderby&sort_direction=0&show=all
Posted by Jill on Friday, Aug 13, 2010 4:49 PM (EDT):
I’ve been nursing on and off (mostly on!) for nearly 9 years now and just before my 4th baby born a year ago I found these very cool nursing tanks from Undercover Mama. They are tanks without the straps. They hook to your nursing bra so you can lift your shirt, keep your tummy covered and it flaps down with your nursing bra. ANY shirt becomes a nursing shirt and for only 20 bucks! I absolutely LOVE it!! http://www.undercovermama.com/ I think I need to order some more!
Posted by Erica on Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 7:08 AM (EDT):
WOW! Thanks for this. Makes it a lot easier to stretch my current wardrobe…hubby was not happy to learn I had to buy special nursing shirts.
I second the recommendation for Motherwear….most of their shirts are modest and well made - I splurged on a few and wear them to church, otherwise I wear my Bravado tank with a shirt over it. Bravado is great for us larger chested mamas, but the tank is not as supportive as I would like, so the Undercover Mama seems like the perfect solution to wear with a regular nursing bra and a shirt!
Posted by MrsRinNY on Friday, Aug 13, 2010 6:01 PM (EDT):
I’ve logged around 4 years of nursing with my two children so far and I really don’t think it’s necessary to buy much in the way of nursing wear. I didn’t even have a nursing bra with my first. This time around, I invested in three nursing camisoles and they literally turn any top into a nursing top. But I also avoid nursing in public when at all possible, and bring a bottle of expressed breast milk when I’ll be out with my little guy at feeding time.
I pretty much wear cute nursing pajamas and gowns with robes the first couple weeks when I barely leave home. For out and about, this won’t help her but my favorite tip for nursing clothes is the cute but less frumpy motherhood maternity clothes for pregnant women that have a button down front. They especially have a lot of cute tops (like this one: http://www.motherhood.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=949410002&MasterCategory_Id=MC1) that I pair with black capri or long leggings.
Posted by Genevieve on Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 5:10 PM (EDT):
Wow! You wear a cami under your shirt? I live in the South and I can’t imagine two layers with the heat… I did sew myself a pretty poncho; I saw a traditional Muslim woman nurse with her hijab on and it concealed much better than the modern “bibs”. I even got to use a modern Amy Butler fabric.
Posted by Jill on Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 5:15 PM (EDT):
I do wear the Undercover Mama with another shirt here in Florida. It is hot but I find that nursing shirts are often so much heavier than that. At least I can wear the Undercover Mama with a really lightweight regular shirt so that I’m covered but with minimal weight. And they were brilliant in winter (we actually had winter in Florida this year!). I liked having an extra layer on my torso but not on my arms.
Posted by Eva F Bogaerts-Hauk on Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 7:03 PM (EDT):
I bought this one, from target: http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/176-9704771-0299732?asin=B0037DYKNU&AFID=Froogle_df&LNM;=|B0037DYKNU&CPNG=women&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=B0037DYKNU&ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001 and have been very satisfied, except for the length. Even after I had it shortened a good five inches, it is still too long. But then I am barely five foot three. Aside from that I would definitely recommend it. Depending on your size you might also have to shorten the shoulder straps a bit.
Posted by Eva F Bogaerts-Hauk on Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 7:15 PM (EDT):
another good option is expressiva: http://www.expressiva.com/store/Dresses-p-1-c-1.html
Posted by Leila Miller on Sunday, Aug 15, 2010 2:13 AM (EDT):
Modest Middles are amazing…. You can wear whatever shirt you want, and still have your middle covered up while you nurse. So, cheaper than nursing shirts (which are ugly and confusing), and you don’t expose your whole stomach and back. It was invented by a wonderful Catholic mother of five (or now six?), and I am glad to have found them while nursing my eighth child. Wish I knew of them earlier, but they were only invented a couple of years ago! http://www.modestmiddles.com
Posted by irene amido on Sunday, Aug 15, 2010 7:37 PM (EDT):
I love Target’s nursing camis, they’re affordable, comfortable, and there’s a good selection of colors. They’re perfect for around the house and running errands but they’re not dressy enough to wear for parties or when you feel like getting gussied up. From that frustration, i’ve been developing a line of nursing wear (kenleyevans) with styles that are different from the current market offering. I’m looking forward to presenting all breastfeeding mothers with a new option…one that is affordable, fresh, and chic! For any twitter-ers, please follow @kenleyevans for more info and ur input is always appreciated! Lastly, i love wearing an infinity scarf with the camis…it’s a great alternative to a hooter hider and it looks real chic.
Posted by irene amido on Sunday, Aug 15, 2010 8:42 PM (EDT):
i couldn’t find myself either through the “find people search”...
here’s the direct link: http://www.twitter.com/kenleyevans
Posted by Helen on Monday, Aug 16, 2010 12:13 PM (EDT):
Check out JoJo Maman Bebe http://www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/pu+Maternity+Maternity+1 for some super lovely maternity and nursing wear. They are UK based but top quality and quite a number of modest finds this season!
Also, there is a Singapore company called Maternalove http://www.maternalove.com/ which has some lovely, modest dresses! They do sell through UK and Australian companies, too, so I assume they have US agents too.
I’m expecting baby #2 in 3 months and I’ve also turned my thoughts to nursing wear. As a dress lover I found it hard when baby #1 was nursing to find anything decent!
Posted by Holly on Thursday, Aug 19, 2010 5:15 AM (EDT):
My son is 7 months old and I wear dresses to church all the time! Of course, I go to a small church and we’re pretty relaxed, but I’m talking Boden, Shabby Apple… If it’s a button up I wear a camisole so the top is covered, sometimes I just pull down and use a nursing cover and I have been known to lay a blanket across my lap and pull my dress all the way up!! Oh- this is in nursery, of course!
Posted by John Sanford on Friday, Jan 21, 2011 7:01 PM (EDT):
Nursing wear can be both stylish and comfortable. Gone are the days of pregnancy wear that you were ashamed to leave the house in. The biggest thing to make sure is that you and your baby are comfortable.
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