Nursing clothing recommendations please

[clownstotheleft]

Just as the title says... I'm due in under three weeks and starting to look around at nursing tops (H&M, mamalious, Next...) and all of them look frumpy and with very little variation in style or even colour! Assuming breast feeding is good/okay for us, I would like to have some choice after what feels like forever in the same fours pairs of maternity jeans/leggings and vest top/shirt combos.

I live in Switzerland (from the U.K. so familiar with U.K. brands mainly), so need a company who will ship and doesn't cost the earth. I have a fairly relaxed style and summer here will the 25-30degs, so need some bits weather suitable, but not too strappy.

OR should I sack off the nursing section and just go for regular clothes and favour button up tops?

Ive just seen some lovely maternity/nursing tops from jojomamanbebe. Quite pricey though!

I'm in the same boat @clownstotheleft. Really hate all the nursing clothes on the market, not to mention the extortionate prices. I have ended up buying loads of plain thin strapped vests, that have extendable straps so I can loosen them so they're easier to pull down, and plan to wear normal tops/jumpers over the top which I can pull up. This has worked well for a few of my friends. I also have lots of cross over jumpsuits from new look that I wore in early pregnancy that are easy to pull to one side. My main problem is knowing what size I will be in bottoms after, I know I won't fit back into my pre pregnancy trousers afterwards, but also won't fit into my maternity ones (my bump is HUGE!) so panicking slightly that I'll end up in frumpy pyjama bottoms until I can face a trip to the shops!

Thinking is getting this one. I’m only 12 weeks so hoping to get my money’s worth out of it!

I’ve got a few things from Jojo but I mostly wore a normal top with a vest under so the vest comes down and the top comes up.

There’s a Facebook group called Can I breastfeed in it? where people post normal clothes they’ve found that are bf friendly.

I've been looking at the B Shirt website. They are basic but have a choice of colours - I'm planning on getting a few of their vest tops and wearing under normal tops/blouses.

I wear any normal top with a thin vest underneath. Then just pull up my top and pull down the vest underneath and you're sorted ( and covered)

Once you're got back to normal size I guarantee you no longer want to be wearing nursing tops

Check out the Facebook group Can I Breastfeed In It UK - lots of good recommendations!

The nursing vest tops from H&M are really comfy and soft, nice designs too. I just live in them and I have different coloured jeggings as my jeans are still too tight. I find breastfeeding makes me really warm so i just throw a cardie over if needed but mainly wear the vests in the house.

I have got a few bits from happymama and have been really pleasantly surprised with the quality for the price. I got the dresses in the sale for £8/9 each and they are lovely! Really flattering and nice material. The only downside is that they are all cold wash only for some reason.

Frugi do some more interesting breastfeeding tops and dresses, and also Amazon and eBay - they have a few brands of (Chinese mostly) stuff that is a bit different to the standard JoJo striped top

I just wore patterned t-shirts and lifted them to feed. The patterns helped disguise any leaks and baby covered my bare tummy. Can't understand why you would need any special clothing.
Having a baby is expensive enough without unnecessary extras.

I quite liked the Breastvest - can get from Amazon or EBay. Keeps your tummy covered when you pull your top up or open a shirt to feed.

I always wear a vest so it’s top up and vest down. Get some nursing bras and washable pads in case of leaks.

I found the best thing was loose-ish top, and best underneath.
A lot of the nursing stuff can be quite fussy, and often involves pulling something down, I rather pull a top up, and then have the best cover my tummy etc.
There is a great U.K. brand called tilbea that sell nursing vests, they’re about £15, and they sit just under your boobs. I used to do this myself with a bf my son, but will but a couple of these for baby number 2.
Good luck!!

Never wore any that were multi purpose - maternity and breastfeeding. I’d had enough of looking pregnant. Unfortunately that’s what the majority of nursing clothes seem to be.
JoJo do some that are non maternity so a few of those are good. Otherwise just tops that have buttons or that are low cut or that are wrap style, or you get used to a vest plus a jumper and just pull the jumper up and the best down.
Only things I can’t feed in are jumper dresses or really tight tops with a high neckline.

Thank you for all your advice, I'll definitely have a look at the sites mentioned, and invest in a few (more) vests for this summer to go under my regular tops. Hopefully it will not be a scorcher of a summer with the layers.

@witchy89 for bottoms I would recommend checking out the harem pants (called jersey joggers now) at Next. My pre-pregnancy ones still fit (under bump of course) and I've ordered some more for when baby is here, also last year they had some awesome jersey culottes which were really stretchy and comfy - hopefully they bring out some more this spring.

@clownstotheleft ooh thanks, will check them out!

Amazon!!! I've got so many great tops that are completely 'me' and very cheaply

I got double use maternity and nursing tops that I'm wearing now at 18 weeks but will be suitable for nursing afterwards too. They don't look at all like maternity or nursing tops and I love them.

I wanted something that meant I didn't have to lift my whole top up. I do get v cold in winter so didn't wsnt to have to keep lifting everything up, especially during winter dog walks,

The problem with the clothes that double as maternity/nursing wear is that maternity clothes tend to hug your bump (to make it clear you’re pregnant not fat) and I guarantee you you will not want your nursing clothes to cling on your newly postpartum tummy!

I got a few tips from ASOS for the first weeks when the baby was still small. After maybe a month I just wore normal clothes - baby covers tummy so can just pull a top up (better than a button opening thing as the pulled up top covers the top bit of your boob). If you’re self conscious you can also wear high waisted leggings to cover your tummy, or do the double top thing.

Tops not tips!