Nursing clothes & nightwear

[2020N]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for recommendations for some nursing clothes & nightwear please?

I’m expecting my first baby early Feb & I’m hoping to be able to breastfeed. We are most likely being transferred to another specialist hospital after birth for baby to have an op so are looking at a hospital stay of around 10 days. I’m looking for tried and tested comfy, practical nursing wear & nightwear please?

Thanks! x

I just wore a breastfeeding bra along with baggy top and bottoms or a nightie with buttons at the top you can undo and feed baby that way.

I lived in H&M nursing vests, both day and night more or less. With those you can do the "one up, one down" - wear a nursing vest or simply a stretchy cami as a base layer that you pull down, and any old top on top that you can pull up. I also made plenty of use of plain old button-up shirts and zip-up hoodies.

I had some nice Mama Feels Good multi-layer nursing tees that I bought secondhand on eBay. But in general, don't overthink it or feel like you have to overbuy. You'll need nursing bras, and nursing vests can be helpful, but ordinary stretchy Camis work fine for many people and there are tons of "normal" clothes you can breastfeed in. Search for Can I Breastfeed In It? on Facebook and you'll see loads and loads and loads of normal clothes that people bf in.

I coslept with my babies and in the end at night I used an adult sleeping bag that zipped. This kept me warm, meant I didn't worry about my covers getting over the baby, and I could unzip and have baby latched in about 5 seconds without sitting up. In fact I still have it and will sell it to you for a tenner.

M and s nursing nighties are good. Jojo feeding tops with a lift up panel I found by far the best for day time. Although they’re pretty much all stripey so be prepared to morph into ‘where’s Wally’ !

These vests, much prefer them to nursing bras
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07GV7QFCC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_52j4FbTGBZAJV?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

These tops - size down!
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07F9RBWY3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_03j4FbBTRTMCV?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I also bedshare with baby and at the moment wear amazing wrap too knitted onesies in bed from Asda, but they’ve sold out. Keep me warm when I can’t have much bedding.

I breastfed for nearly a year and a half. No need for fancy bf cloths, just your existing clothes with a cheap vest underneath will do. Top comes up and vest comes down then feed You'll save a fortune!

Bras - I used mothercare night time ones (I don't know if they closed down though so potentially no good to you) and new look for day time. Just one white and one black one of each, you really don't need to go mad.

I also loved boots reusable breast pads and Emily Norris YouTube bf advice videos. Good luck.

I have these nighties though and they’re lovely a soft and buttons easy to open with one hand

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08GK7PBP5/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fabc_j6j4FbR5P4VD9?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I have bigger boobs pre BF milk engorgement etc so found most nursing bralette/camis etc useless as they didn't give enough support or fit properly etc. Getting measured in a pandemic is also a headache! Boob or bust is great for working out sizes from home.

The best things I bought were primark old school style jammies that button up at the front, except I went 2 sizes larger than normal. So comfy! And cheap enough that when they get milk and sick all over them you don't mind as much.

Nursing clothes I just went with normal stretchy material vest top and either button up checked /denim shirts or jumpers that were baggy enough fit to be able to easily lift up. Also cheaper and a lot easier than trying to do/undo clips with one hand etc as you hold baby!

I've also gone for night shirt style nighties. Cyberjammies and Fable & Eve have some nice ones. I've found a style I really like that I find comfortable, and which survive washing well, and have stocked up. I buy them in two or three sizes bigger so there's room around the bump. I also bought a set from Seraphine which is super soft but less flattering. My PJs no longer fit me - I figured night shirts were more practical for after birth too.

Good luck to you and baby!

I found that the best nightwear was the shirt style button nighties; can just unbutton for feeding

Highly recommend joining the Facebook group ‘Can I Breastfeed In It UK’ - you’ll get loads of ideas from the ladies there. I think I had one nursing top when I started out and have basically worn normal clothes since (fed my first until just over 2 and now expecting number 2) 🙂

I was always more of a discrete bread feeder so didn't like the whole normal baggy tops just hoiked up etc - you can get maternity nightwear from H&M, Next or New look, vests you can get from Tu at Sainsbury etc. Abs incest in a waterfall cardigan etc to wrap around yourself if you like to be more covered

I LOVED my jo jo maman pjs. So soft and comfortable. I got 2 sets as they were so comfy. I had a summer baby so also got a shorts and T-shirt set from H&M which was fab, still wear the T-shirt's from H&M now but been back in normal bottoms for months.

Thanks everyone, it’s really helpful to hear what works best for you all x

Another vote for the H&M mama nursing vests. They come in a 2 pack and lots of nice colours. I wear them with sleep nursing bras (I bought from h&m and some unused mothercare ones on eBay) for extra support. These with soft cardigans/button up tops/zip hoodies etc work perfectly for me.

For nighttime, the sleep bras and any button down pjs.

I found the sleep bras and vests more flexible for changing breast size (engorgement, daily fluctuations between feeds, and now I’m losing some pregnancy weight they are smaller overall) especially as haven’t been able to get measured.

Also a nice lightweight soft shawl/scarf can double as a nursing cover, baby blanket, shawl etc. I don't know about anyone else but all my socialising has been walking outdoors since baby was born so it's been really useful!