I have completely forgotten what to wear while bf'ing

[NorkilyChallenged]

Please remind me what I can wear in the first few weeks/months after birth of baby, especially if bf'ing.

DC3 due in 3 weeks. I'm enormous, much bigger than with previous pregnancies so I think it will be a while until I fit back into my pre-pg clothes again (size 10/12). Also, I will hopefully be bf'ing again.

I have no idea what I'll be wearing. I've already realised I have virtually no maternity wear for this hot weather. I had dc1&2 v close together so think I had never put my maternity/bf'ing stuff away by the time I was bf'ing dd2. But now....

Any hints/tips? I could get some new stuff as long as it wasn't too pricey, to get me through the interim period of bf'ing and (hopefully hopefully) losing weight (am not enormous just bigger than I got in the past, maybe 11.5 stone?)

Maxi skirts or dresses but always take a shawl or something feeding in the dress. They are great as they are usually loose and you can wear them when you have lost the baby weight.

normal clothes, I'd have thought (am puzzled as to what breastfeeding clothes are). Separates so you're not left half-undressing, though I've fed easily in wrap dresses.

Anything except bodycon dresses.

Well all I mean is clothes that allow bf'ing access (so for example I've got lots of quite fitted short- and long-sleeved tops that wouldn't be loose enough to allow me easy bf'ing access. Does that make sense?

Maybe shirts & vests would work? I don't have many shirts....

Maxi skirts a good idea, will need loose-ish waist at first I think?

Erm, still don't know.

I wear very fitted clothes and dresses and just either pull down if lowish necked, or pull up the bottom (if it's a top). Dresses I just pull down or pull the side away if it's a wrap style.

Am I missing something?

I DO recommend Anita underwired feeding bras. Last for ages, best fit, really supportive and great for large breasts.

Have tiny breasts, not much bigger when bf'ing (apart from initial couple of days) And still have my bf'ing bras, so have fetched those out already.

I definitely don't think I'll fit into my normal tops. I'm sure I had specific tops (from normal shops, not special bf'ing wear, but not my normal wear iykwim) last 2 times but cannot remember. Maybe I'm imagining it?

Will look through wardrobe but already know most of my (limited) mat wardrobe probably wouldn't work brilliantly as tops....

I still don't understand. What do these special tops do exactly? Take a normal t-shirt, how is that not going to work?

Sorry, maybe I'm missing something?

Bf tops stop you from flashing your midriff or in my case flab. It would also help you feel more confident if you are a big shy about bf in public.

Right, sorry I seem to be annoying you so much...

Let's say one of my pre-pg tops. Fitted, waist-length. Isn't going to cover unattractive post-baby gut and definitely don't want to be showing that at first. Is also quite tight when I've put a lot of weight on so might not fit generally either (tops of arms? chest?).

Maternity t-shirt, will gape enormously round the middle as I will presumably not have the same size enormo-bump I am current sporting. And I don't have much + it's not summerwear anyway so it would be nice to have more choice.

To be honest, you should probably just stop reading this thread since I'm clearly making no sense to you at all. I shouldn't have asked. I actually cannot remember what I used to wear pre-pregnancy anyway so maybe it is a stupid question...

And I didn't ask for "specialist bf'ing wear" I asked about clothes I can bf in. Which in my (possibly erroneous memory) wasn't my normal wardrobe with my previous two experiences of bf'ing....

Never mind, honestly, I'm clearly too hormonal for S&B at this stage in pregnancy

Op- have you tried the jojo maman bebe nursing range? Check out sale page too.

I'm at opposite end of problem- now need mat clothes but struggling as I'm a size 22

I have some bfing vests that I love because they hide my tummy and don't expose my entire boob while feeding. Unfortunately they are from blooming marvellous which has shut down. They are my basic outfit, goes with jeans, skirts etc and can add cardi as it gets cooler.

So I meant to say, get some bfing vests and you're sorted !

Hi there I've got a mix or specific bf tops (including two t-shirts from Matalan which were cheap and flattering) and loose or stretchy tops or tunics worn with string vests (£2 each from New Look). I also gained too much weight so needed to buy a few things. I've got most things from New Look or Dorothy Perkins. Congratulations and hope it all goes well!

OP - I know exactly what you mean - not sure why others are so confused by what you're asking. I haven't even had first DC yet (DD1 due in 3 weeks) but know that my normal clothes just wouldn't work for bf, as really don't want to pull up entire tops to expose tummy, or down to expose whole breast.

Will be buying a few loose shirts or tunic tops with buttons down the front from Primark, New Look etc so I can discreetly tuck baby inside and not flash everyone.

I've bought a load of 1.50 spaghetti strap vests, size 16, from primark, in bright colours, and some of their 3 quid short-sleeved tops, size 14, in darker colours, to go on top (pre-pregnancy am size 10-12). Cut a slash in the tops, just under your boobs, from armpit to armpit. To feed, pull top up above slash and pull vest down. I've been asked a number of times where I got my fab 'designer' bf tops from!

tigerbear I tried that but found I struggled when out to button and unbutton one handed with wriggly infant so have swapped to the pull top up, pull vest down combo. But I might be particularly lacking in dexterity

norkilychallenged Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you, or upset you. I am genuinely baffled as to what you meant by bfeeding clothing that wasn't special breastfeeding clothing. I tried to offer a few suggestions.

I'm 24 weeks myself so am on a short fuse as well ;)

If you'd said I want the kind of clothes I can breastfeed in while hiding a belly I'd have known.

But I'm one of those ghastly women who isn't that courteous to her fellow man and just gets them out whenever and wherever. And I also hate to have lots of different types of clothing in my wardrobe for different purposes/times/phases.

Very good luck.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

Thanks otchayaniye - I should have just walked away and thought about it before replying while heavily pregnant tetchy No problem. I definitely cannot wear my normal clothes right after the birth, though it would be nice to think I could.

I should have just expressed it better in the OP.

Norkily, I just used to put a vest on under whatever top I was wearing, then pull the top up and the vest down.