clothing for breastfeeding

[dearbagpuss]

I am breast feeding as a first time mum and at the moment (two weeks in) am comfortable doing this at home. I am now beginning to worry about being out and about and needing a range of clothing for discreet breastfeeding. Can anyone recommend any good ranges/items to buy? I am on a budget but would rather spend the money on something I would wear. Or is it possible to wear 'non-specialist' nursing clothing? Any advice gratefully appreciated! TIA

I just wear a loose floaty top over a vest top, vest pulls down, top goes up and kind of drapes to cover everything the baby's head doesn't. I find it easier than specially designed tops.

If you try feeding in front of a mirror it's amazing how little shows in most tops.

Neck scarves or ponchos helped me a great deal.
I have a lightweight brown (goes with anything) poncho, that folds up nicely in my bag, which I whip out whenever we need it.
Oh I wear a stretchy vest top underneath of course

I wear a loose t-shirt and a vest underneath. A muslin can be handy for coverage as well. I also wear strapless stretchy dresses with a cardi over the top.
Try and get to some bfing groups as that is a great environment to help you get used to nursing in public and mums there will be able to give you some tips, and you can see what they wear!
Good luck!

Agree with PelvicFloorOfSteel. Only now I'm so brazen I only wear the t-shirt and just hoick it up. DS covers the belly flab

I do all of the above but I also bought some boob tubes which I wear under my top and that keeps me covered. I find that I can get cold easily when feeding so it provides another layer and this also helps disguise leakages!!

I felt the same when my baby was born. He's now 3 months old and I now wear my usual, pre-pg wardrobe. Some suggestions:

• wearing a stretchy vest (Primark do ones with adjustable spaghetti straps for about £3) under another top is a general favourite, described as the top-up, vest-down technique. Vest covers tum when pulled down to expose boob.

• a floaty top rather than a tightly fitted one will make life easier and provide a bit of coverup when pulled up as it'll drape around your feeding boob

• you can add an unbuttoned cardigan to hide any side view (useful if you have large breasts or your top doesn't have much drape to provide coverage

• you may find that your baby wants their milk NOW so wear things that give quick access, e.g. no buttons to undo

• pashminas, nursing covers etc are also used by some people. Try a few things at home in front of a mirror.

none of the so-called breastfeeding tops worked for me at all. The slits just weren't in the right place. the suggestions ^^ up there are way better.

I agree re vests. Also, another option is to continue to wear bump bands (also very useful for smoothing out the muffin top if, like me, your jeans are very a bit tight) if you already have them. They provide good tummy coverage when you hoick up your top, and if you get too hot in them, you can scrunch them down a bit until you feed.

Hello I didn't like the discreet feeding clothes at all they were so awful and expensive...I bought a cape by bebe au lait it's like an apron that has a rigid neck line so you can see what your lo is doing and keeps you covered! Then you can wear whatever you like and only have one layer of clothes on...I have been really hot since having my daughter and didn't like the idea of layers of clothes on me too! I can highly recommend it, also great for when your lo gets older as they won't get distracted whilst feeding I paid £25 for it from mothercare but I believe you would get a cheaper one from eBay

I like H&M nursing t-shirts and vests - they're quite cheap and good worn under a cardi or on their own when it's hot, and are discreet and easy to use. These are what I wear e.g. when visiting male relatives I don't know very well - the rest of the time I manage with normal tops and cardigans with the top pulled up and a muslin tucked into my bra to hide my tummy.

I'm still bf dd, now nearly 8 mo. My tips to add would be to choose darker coloured tops as they tend to hide leakages better, v-necked t-shirts are good as you can access boob from the top as opposed to getting tummy out. Invest in a couple of padded nursing bras (1 black, 1 white) - again to help prevent signs of leaks, and really to just enjoy bfing because it has its own rewards. And not to worry what anyone thinks while you are out, IME the disapproving looks came from oldies who should know better, and you might just inspire confidence in other Mums to bf in public too.

Best of luck!!

I just wear my normal clothes, but always have a blanket with me to cover us both up a bit. I think boob tube tops are quite discreet for feeding in, as you can pull one side down, while still being covered up on the other side, and your tummy is also covered too.