https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-on-a-nursing-wardrobe Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 19 Apr 2026 02:29:53 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-on-a-nursing-wardrobe#post-1887506 Thu, 08 Feb 2018 18:23:29 +0000 Helena 1887506@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great tips, and if I can add, a cute nursing canopy or two is super-helpful. I nursed for almost 2 years total (about a year per baby) and that thing got me through every situation imaginable. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-on-a-nursing-wardrobe#post-1887500 Thu, 08 Feb 2018 18:11:24 +0000 tanstaafl 1887500@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I tried a couple of tops designed specifically for nursing mothers, but found that carrying the baby and the diaper bag and getting the baby in and out of the car seat or stroller often ended with wardrobe malfunctions that left me or my bra exposed to the world. My nursing bras and nursing tanks were functional but not particularly attractive. I found that looser fitting tops plus cardigans were the best combination for me to nurse without feeling too exposed. I’d pull up the top while the cardigan kept my sides and back covered. The baby covered my front and boob. I never used nursing covers, but I know that plenty of women prefer that additional coverage for when baby suddenly decides to stop nursing. </p> <p>I returned to work after 4 months of leave and pumped until they were a year old. After one session of pumping in my slip and bra I put all except my wrap dresses away. While button front shirts would have been easiest for pumping, I never found any that fit well over boobs that would drastically change size over the course of the day. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-on-a-nursing-wardrobe#post-1887491 Thu, 08 Feb 2018 17:39:14 +0000 Cardiff girl 1887491@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sounds like great advice,wish you d been around when I was having my daughter. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-on-a-nursing-wardrobe#post-1887320 Thu, 08 Feb 2018 05:55:39 +0000 Ausmum 1887320@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I got most of my nursing stuff from <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.angelbub.com.au">Angelbub Maternity Wear</a>.&nbsp; They were great and the ladies were so helpful.&nbsp; I really liked their range of Peek-a-boo nursing.&nbsp; Actually I still wear some of it today and I haven't breastfeed in a 3-4 years.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-on-a-nursing-wardrobe#post-1441162 Thu, 12 Feb 2015 00:52:20 +0000 Jenava 1441162@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm nursing ATM!&nbsp; I like the Nordies BP. cami for my underlayer.&nbsp; The straps are stretchy and the body is fitted to it works under just about any top.&nbsp; These are the cami's I wore pre-pregnancy as well.</p> <p>For a nursing bra my favorite is an Anita bra.&nbsp; I'm a 32F now, so I needed an underwire.&nbsp; This one is very similar to my full coverage Chantelle's that I wore during pregnancy, except it's for nursing.&nbsp; I just ordered the Cake one from Nordies, because I needed a black one and was placing a big sale order for hubby anyway.</p> <p>I like surplice tops for nursing, or button-front tops or dresses.&nbsp; The Red Fleece shirtdress works great! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-on-a-nursing-wardrobe#post-1441074 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 20:30:14 +0000 rachylou 1441074@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hey, this is a really good write-up!</p> <p>Also, the Bobeau... ohmigosh, that is very very close to my now deceased favourite cardigan. Brilliant find. Brilliant! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-on-a-nursing-wardrobe#post-1440513 Tue, 10 Feb 2015 21:55:49 +0000 Sarah Kay 1440513@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great idea, Suja! I have a 10 month old who is still nursing (although less and less now that she's chowing down on the big people food!), and it was tough to find outfits that I was comfortable in at work and would allow easy access for nursing. I am lucky enough to be able to feed her at daycare at lunchtime, so my outfits had to do double duty. Like you, I found a top layer - cardigans especially - to be indispensable! It made it so easy to lift up my shirt, but still have extra layer there to cover myself if needed.</p> <p>As for nursing bras, I am rather busty but with a small frame, so most nursing bras I tried did nothing for lifting me up. I finally found the Cake 'Croissant' underwire nursing bra - what a difference it made! It pushed my ladies back up where they belong, and made me feel so much better in my clothes! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-on-a-nursing-wardrobe#post-1440508 Tue, 10 Feb 2015 21:48:06 +0000 Aziraphale 1440508@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great suggestions, Suja! It has been a long time (over seven years) since my second child was born, but I remember the misery of postpartum dressing with crystal clarity. :-)</p> <p>May I add a nursing bra suggestion? For Canadian ladies especially, Bravado makes a good line of pregnancy and nursing wear. I lived in their nursing bras, day and night, both before and after pregnancy. Like your Target bras, they did not give my breasts a particularly nice&nbsp;shape (but who cares -- it's not like the rest of me was a particularly nice shape at that point&nbsp;anyway ;-)) but they were super comfy, hard-wearing, easy to undo for nursing, and provided excellent support. I'm sure these bras were&nbsp;at least 50% of the reason my boobs recovered well after the milk went away.&nbsp;</p> <p>For those women who manage to feel fab in the first six months postpartum, I applaud you. For the rest who (like me) felt gross, don't worry, it's such a short time in the grand scheme of things. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-on-a-nursing-wardrobe#post-1440506 Tue, 10 Feb 2015 21:42:16 +0000 descoladin 1440506@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is fantastic. I'm due in March and my older one is 5, so I've forgotten everything I knew about postpartum dressing. Thank you!!</p> <p>I remember wrap-type tops being very nice because I could just push some fabric aside and voila, nursing access. All my wrap tops are long-sleeved, though... which will be nice later on, but I need to find some short-sleeved ones for the summer! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-on-a-nursing-wardrobe#post-1440503 Tue, 10 Feb 2015 21:29:30 +0000 juliette 1440503@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>new here - new baby and I was definitely not prepared for dressing while nursing.&nbsp; I'm hoping I can add some tips as I navigate putting together a wardrobe.&nbsp; In the meantime, THANK YOU for these great tips - I'm printing them and sharing them with my pregnant friends so they will be more prepared than I was! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-on-a-nursing-wardrobe#post-1273797 Mon, 09 Jun 2014 19:59:00 +0000 Suja 1273797@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thistle, &nbsp;Great point on nursing bras. I did buy some better nursing bras than the ones pictured here. &nbsp;Actually, this advice is more for the very first weeks when you are attached at the hip to the baby. &nbsp;Dressing for work while nursing has many more considerations. &nbsp;I also hear you on the bra situation. &nbsp;All the talk on YLF has be wanting nice bras but I don't want to invest in those until the nursing phase is done.</p> <p>StaceyMcGill, I had no idea what to wear after my first pregnancy. &nbsp;I thought I would just get back into my regular clothes a week after I had the baby. &nbsp;Ha! &nbsp;Rude shock. &nbsp;I just wore what I could find and didn't feel fab at all. &nbsp;The second one was much better because I knew what to expect and put a little thought into post partum dressing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-on-a-nursing-wardrobe#post-1273734 Mon, 09 Jun 2014 18:04:19 +0000 Anonymous 1273734@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great ideas! I really like the cardis you posted.&nbsp;I had a very hard time dressing myself after my last pregnancy, but I'm hoping it'll be easier this time now that I know what to expect and what works. </p> <p>I would love to read a blog that focuses on postpartum fashion. Shana at Ain't No Mom Jeans and Grace from Camp Patton have some good posts on this, too.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-on-a-nursing-wardrobe#post-1273715 Mon, 09 Jun 2014 17:42:15 +0000 Thistle 1273715@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Terrific ideas! I am with you all the way on making pieces do double duty. </p> <p>As a working mom, I had to go back after my 12 weeks of FMLA were up. I pumped until DD was a year old, when I was no longer protected under the new healthcare law. How I got through pumping at work and nursing at home:</p> <p>1. I always wore trousers and a top. I used a hands free bra that I had to change into, but that way I could still work while I pumped (yes, I had my own office. With a door that locked!). Great time to get caught up on e-mails.</p> <p>2. I always wore two piece outfits wherever we went, and I got a nursing cover. I literally just dropped the cover and lifted my top. &nbsp;</p> <p>3. Nursing bras were the only specialty item I bought and they were a must for me. I wore them for almost 2 years after DD was born - basically until I was completely done nursing and done procrastinating on getting new ones&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/thoughts-on-a-nursing-wardrobe#post-1273705 Mon, 09 Jun 2014 17:32:16 +0000 Suja 1273705@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>A friend of mine recently had a baby and paid me a huge compliment by saying my recommendations for maternity, nursing and baby products were spot on. &nbsp;She said, you know, you should start a blog. &nbsp;That got my thinking that I could document my thoughts in my lookfab blog for anyone that has an interest.</p> <p>When you're nine months pregnant, all most women can think about is having the baby and getting their bodies back. &nbsp;At least that was all I could think about. &nbsp;Little did I know that the whole nursing phase has a lot of its own challenges AND now you have the baby so you are getting even less sleep. &nbsp;Dressing should be comfortable, practical and enjoyable IMO. &nbsp;My philosophy is that all nursing wardrobe items should do double duty, you should be able to wear them even when done nursing OR they should be wearable during pregnancy. &nbsp;I don't subscribe to the philosophy that you need separate items just for the nursing phase that don't work in other phases.</p> <p>First off, I recommend the Emma bra from Target.&nbsp; This isn't the bra to give you the perfect shape but it is super comfortable and give you a place to put your nursing pads. &nbsp;I love it so much, I even sleep in it. &nbsp; Also, it is high enough that it functions like a camisole or second base under v-neck tops. &nbsp;Read the reviews, they are great. &nbsp;This bra is also great for sleeping or just around the house&nbsp;when pregnant.</p> <p>Second, it is important to find a comfortable "base" layer. &nbsp;For me, it was my pre-pregnancy leggings (which I just pushed under the belly and wore during pregnancy and post partum) and my maternity camisole. &nbsp;I love the starfish leggings from Lands End. &nbsp;They wear like iron. &nbsp;They have been washed in the regular cycle and put in the dryer every single week for over a year and they still look good (although the black &nbsp;is slightly faded). &nbsp;Amazing. &nbsp;If your climate is warmer, you may prefer shorts or a maxi skirt on bottom.</p> <p>For the camisole, I swear by the Liz Lange for Target maternity camisole. &nbsp;I loved it so much, I even wore it as my regular camisole after pregnancy. &nbsp;Unfortunately, it appears to be discontinued. &nbsp;I tried the BeMaternity camisole from Target and it was nowhere close to the Liz Lange one. &nbsp;So I don't have a great recommendation for a cami, but having a bunch in neutrals like black, gray and white is essential. &nbsp;If you find those Liz Lange for maternity camisoles somewhere, please PM me.</p> <p>Next, I recommend a flowy top layer. &nbsp;The Bobeau button cardigan is excellent for this! &nbsp;It provides coverage, warmth and had a fashionable vibe about it. &nbsp;It comes in several colors AND can be worn post nursing in your regular wardrobe as lounge or casual wear. &nbsp;It washes pretty well, again I just machine wash and tumble dry. &nbsp;It comes in so many colors. &nbsp;Sometimes you have visitors or are out and about and forget your nursing cover. &nbsp;With this top, I don't even bother with a nursing cover, even in public. &nbsp;I can't say enough good things about this one.</p> <p>I also have a few drapey pieces from the Lands End starfish line. &nbsp;Again, they wear well with washes and are non-maternity clothes so they can be used even after the nursing phase.</p> <p>To finish and give me a little pick-me-up, I wore hunter boot socks with my leggings for that tall boot look in the house. &nbsp;It balances proportions with the leggings and I have a couple bright colors which made me smile. &nbsp;A nice cheerful scarf also works.</p> <p>I just placed these items in the most accessible spot in my closet and everything matches with everything else so I didn't have to think.</p> <p>I hope this is helpful to all the pregnant and nursing moms out there! &nbsp;Congrats and best of luck! </p>