breast feeding clothes - advice

[missbumpy]

I know I'm getting a bit ahead of myself as my baby's not even here yet (8 and a bit weeks to EDD ) but I'm trying to work out what things I need to buy in advance like nursing bras etc.

My mum mentioned yesterday that I should get some breastfeeding tops or shirts that will fit my post-baby belly and which button down for easy access.

Sorry if this is a stupid question but I hadn't even thought about this. Any thoughts? Do you need special clothes for bf or do you just hike up your usual tops? Where can you get special bf clothes from?

Thanks.

[Kathyis6incheshigh]

Most people don't get special clothes, though some people seem to find them useful, not really sure why.

[determination]

I didnt use bfing tops with dd1 but i have only used bfing tops with dd2 and i am so much more confident feeding in public as absolutely nothing is on show.

I got some from here and also H&M have some nice nursing tops..

[NoviceKnitter]

Good stuff to think about - it's easy to forget that not all clothes are suitable for breastfeeding...

Don't get yourself measured for nursing bra until you're 37 weeks which is when you're likely to be at peak size. Most of the instore measuring ladies know what's needed and will advise you well - i.e. something with enough room for your milk to come in and room for breastpads (see my other thread on that subject - I had NO idea how much breasts leak before I had DD)

Remember you're likely to need to wear a bra day and night (to keep all that leakage mopped up apart from anything else) so you'll need a few. I've got five but am supplementing them with my old maternity bras so really need more. Mine are just from M&S but some threads on here rave about places like Bravissimo, so I mght try them next.

As for clothes, you can buy special nursing clothes, e.g try some of the maternity clothes websites like Blooming Marvellous. However, it's not really necessary. You do need loosish tops and I now wear a vest under that's easy to pull down below boob and keeps my post partum tummy covered. Also, if I'm out, I sometimes tuck a muslin under my bra strap and hang it down over LO - gives us both a bit of privacy.

Having said all that, I'm pretty new to all this myself, so interested in what others have to say...I went to the park in a maternity dress the other day not anticipating that LO would need to feed, or that the dress would be completely impractical! Was a bit of a nightmare but we got there in the end...

[gringottsgoblin]

buy a load of vests (£3 in new look) so you dont horrify everyune with your belly (or maybe thats just me) then just wear stuff you can pull up.

[hunkermunker]

I have a belly hugger for when I'm feeding All The Time.

And then I just bought some scoop neck cheapy vests from M&S (they're nice and thin, so they're not too hot to wear under things, and they're stretchy) and I kept it tucked into my jeans and pulled the neck down of the vest and lifted my top up - same effect as the belly hugger, but another layer of clothing, which isn't as great in the summer, necessarily.

I found it wasn't so much breast I minded showing (you don't, really, if you lift your top up), it was more post-baby tummy that I objected to being on view!

[evenhope]

I found bf tops (H&M) were useful for the first few weeks when we were having a struggle to latch on, but since then it's easier just to wear a T shirt and jeans/ shorts/ skirt, and just pull the shirt up. Baby covers the flesh on show- so long as you are sitting down.

[MrsBadger]

Button-down usually ends up being a lot more revealing than lift-up - with the latter the baby covers most of the gap.
For dedicated BF clothes try Jojo, Blooming Marv, Mamaway etc - even Next have a couple. Most places that do matwear have them.

Really the best tip if you're worried is to wear a stretchy vest or a bump band (if you have one already) to keep your tummy covered while you hoick up your t-shirt.
(And avoid empirey things with elastic under the bust as they are hard to hoick).

[mammaduck]

breastfeeding tops are really good for feeding in public - determination is right - you can't see anything and it takes the stress away, esp. if you're new to bfding.

i wore one when taking DS for his first visit to the staffroom where i work which is still mostly men as it used to be a boys school and i was chatting to them and they literally didn't even realise i was feeding Ds, just thought he was asleep and having a cuddle!

good luck with everything, missbumpy! birth, and breastfeeding and beyond!

[Notyummy]

Good idea to get sorted now so you feel as comfy as poss and not tied to the house. I had a breastfeeding camisole from either Blooming Marvellous or Jojo, which looked like a pretty vest, but had a clip away secret support bra built in....absolutely fab! I also used the muslin tucked under bra strap technique the first few times I went out and it made me feel much more comfortable. Actually, no one was that interested, and being quite small of norkage, I was able to feed without too much juggling of boobs! Dress are generally a nono, unless they are specifically designed. Whatever you do, do it with a nonchalant, devil-may-care, this-is-al-natural confidence, and people either don't notice, or will be too scared to stare! I only ever had positive comments.

[missbumpy]

Thanks everyone. That's all really helpful.

Sounds like opinion's divided on the special bf tops. I might invest in 1 or 2 of the special bf vests and then I'll do the whole vest under loose top thing that lots of you have suggested. The bump hugger thingy looks quite useful too.

Thanks for the tips on nursing bras noviceknitter. That's another thing for me to worry about. I'm currently giving Jordan a run for her money on the breast front (32G now...no idea what I'll end up once the milk comes in ) so I think I'll be a bit limited in choice as places like M&S don't do a great range of sizes. I'll try to get to Bravissimo a few weeks before I'm due.

[MaryJB]

Tie halter necks are good - under another top - so you can just undo the tie. I got them from Primark - so go now before the summer stuff goes.
I did invest in some nursing tops, and used my bump band - so not to scare people with my wobbly belly. I got mine on line - try - they sell Boob Nursing Wear which is nice and not too frumpy

[MaryJB]

Oh and Anita Underwear do G and H cup sizes. They are a bit pricey, but well worth trying to find - as they are good quality