Capsule wardrobe for nursing mum

[SwivelHips]

I haven't lurked in S&B for over 9 months, so I'm even more out of touch than ever .
DS is 3 wks old and I've barely ventured out of the house because I've got hee haw to wear. I need tops I can nurse in, I've had a look at nursing tops and they are disgusting....I can do the vest tops but that's about it. I also need to think of c-section scar for bottom half....I also need to think about the weird shape I am from the neck down

I'm 5'10, long wasted and i'm probably about a size 16. Boobs are massive (for me), might be about 40D at the minute but I hope to hell my back shrinks. Quite a casual dresser, erm used to like fat face and some of the stuff in Mint Velvet.
I have ordered various nursing tops but they need to go back as they're shocking.
Please, please, please can someone help....I am in need of a makeover to get me out this blinking house :)

Right, you don't need nursing tops as such. I would suggest you get several t-shirts with a matching colour vest top that's suitably stretchy (usually best to get ones with v thin stretchy straps, a size up might be best - or with adjustable straps having them adjusted to being as long as possible) wear the vest under the t-shirt, t-shirt up, vest pulled down to release nork, that's the quickest way to do a DIY feeding top (most are double layer anyway so this isn't any cooler)

If it gets hot this summer(!) then just vests, with a nice scarf round your neck that can be opened out to cover any exposure, nork over the top of vest.

If you want proper 'feeding top' - I rather like this and it doesn't look too much like a feeding top.

If you like fat face, this would work with a vest underneath. A shirt like this would also be fine.

Have a look at the cardies, shirts and tops you already own, you probably have more than you think you can nurse in, remember, you just have to have nork access - it doesn't have to be a formal nursing top. (Which tend to be rather hideous and shapeless.)

Don't panic about buying specific nursing tops, I agree, they are all hideous. There are two ways of dressing in 'normal' clothes, that allow access for feeding. You can go for tops that you can pull down or open, so look for deep v necks, wrap tops, or buttons. Or you can go for my favoured style which is a normal, stretchy vest under a loose or stretchy top. Then you can lift the top, lower the vest, and feed easily and discreetly. Dd2 has been feeding for nearly a year and I've found I can wear more or less anything I would normally. The only thing I have to avoid is dresses, although ii have a couple of wrap style dresses I can feed in, I always feel a little bit exposed when I do.

i BF both DDs for more than 18 months and i never bought a BF top - netver liked them and overpriced. I wear normal tops.

oh, and one thing I found useful, did you have one of those belly bands when you were pregnant to cover gaps in clothes? (something like this ) they are good for wearing underneath a normal t-shirt now, so if you want to just lift up your top to feed you aren't showing your tummy to the world without having to wear 2 layers. (if you're doing that, it's best to wear a t-shirt a size up)

I've tried the stretchy vest under floaty top and, I agree, it works. Found what I thought were the perfect stretchy vests in M&S (2 for £8??) but they're pretty short and ride up in the most unflattering way.

Has anyone found any that are quite long in the body?

Sorry to hijack post, OP . . . :)

Primark is great for vests. Very cheap, reasonable quality, wash well and don't stretch out of shape, and a nice long line.

Thanks, chaos.

shame I live in the only city in the UK without a Primark. Grr.

Go for quantity over quality in the top department.

Both my babies were sick a lot, and I constantly stank. A supply of easy-wear, easy-dry tops was invaluable.

H&m are also good for the price

oh yes, as many things you can get away with wearing without ironing. You won't iron for the first 2 years couple of months.

I second the suggestion of h&m vests under my existing tops. I am similar proportions and had a nightmare trying to use nursing tops. The only ones that suited were from Boob and are quite pricey so didn't get many.

I used a nursing cover for the early days while baby and I worked out how to position etc (cause believe me the whole coffee shop will notice if a jj size nork is out and being wrestled with by a wriggly baby) but now just use the vests.