i want to get a few things in for post-natal summer wardrobe - come and help me pleeeeease

[Tutter]

i know from experience i'll need a few things to get me through that in-between stage of pregnancy and anywhere-approaching-normality figure-wise

so am looking for bf-friendly tops and a couple of pairs of trousers

my regular tops are all too tight-fitting (and too small for bfing norks)

i have thick waist and narrow hips so trews that sit low tend to fit better and are more flattering - so no waistbands please

budget?

I mean, are they temporary clothes IYSWIM?

don't worry too much about budget - happy to spend whatever i need to to get a couple of really lovely things

if anything like last time it'll take an age to shift weight

btw am a sahm

on the slovenly-casual = 0, uber-smart = 10 scale i probably aim for a 6

so lineny-trousers or cropped jeans and long line shirts or tunics (but how the divil would they work for bfing?) is what i have in mind

by way of example i saw this and liked it (with cropped jeans?) (and without belt) but my size not in stock

If you waer a strappy vest top under a tunic-type top you can lift the tunic up (if its loose enough)and pull the vest down therefore avoiding too much exposed flesh if thats a concern.

Lots of tunic tops everywhere on the High St.-almost wish I was pregnant/breastfeeding to take advantage of them all!

If you wanted budget items I bought some lovely 100% linen trousers for £8 from Primark last week. They sit really nicely on the hips, have a zip and tie waist and have had lots of compliments about them. Great for pottering around doing "Mum" things without worrying about ruining decent ones.

I am in the same situation, Tutter and I bought a long line top to wear for DS3 christening which was really difficult to feed in (I was a bit desperate when I bought it!). I'd always prided myself ion discreet feeding in church but on Sunday managed to give the whole congregation an eyeful while trying to hoik up the long top - it was a bit too narrow around the hips.

M&S have a 3 for 2 offer on plain t shirts if you just want something to see you through

Hello again Tutter, your fellow column here! Am at the post natal stage now, with ginormous waist and not much hips plus am bfeeding (all the time it seems) so am also on the lookout for clothes to tide me over. I started a thread on here (Style) for bfeeding smock tops but there are other suggestions on there - sorry cant link still
Will watch with interest as have such similar wish list and figure to you, lets hope someone inspired can help us out (now have NO time to shop with v hungry newborn....)

ooh thanks for replies all - betty, might have to try the vest + tunic thing out for size - would be great if can get it to work (wrt bfing i mean)

pannacotta - did i know you were postnatal now? how old is dd/s? will check out your thread...

Tutter I haven't posted anywhere (never really got into the ante/post natal threads)...
DS2 is 2 weeks now and lovely, but tiring of course
Not sure what you think of bfeeding tops but www.mamaway.co.uk was suggested and has some pretty tops which don't look like bfeeding tops and are quite stylish/modern looking.
Am on the hunt for suitable tunics etc but the ones I bought pre-baby are too tight round my expanded norks!! Did see a black tunic top on M&S site (I searched under tunic or smock I think) and Top Shop have a few such tops too.

aw a boy, lovely - congratulations! am expecting my second boy too

have found a long-line shirt on the dorothy perkins site that would prob work over a vest top, but that's all so far

will have a look at mamaway, thanks

Is v nice to have two boys, even though I spent the first five months of pregnancy feeling sure I was having a girl!

Here is the M&S link
www.marksandspencer.com/gp/search/203-7561756-3172727?node=42966030&field-keywords=smock&viewID=all-product-search
(must learn how to link).

There are loads of tunic/kaftan tops on the Debenhams site, some more suitable than others. There are a few button up ones that might be good for bf (white one on the first page for example)

Any joy Tutter?

I agree re: button-up shirts. Lived in these (casual ones with a small amount of stretch and elbow-length sleeves) and cotton skirts when bfeeding DD in mid-summer a few years ago.

The shirts were great for bfeeding as I never had to hoik anything up or risk exposing my belly, but I felt smarter than if just chucking on a t-shirt (any t-shirt I tried just got stretched and saggy round the tummy from the hoiking.)

Got the lot from Dorothy Ps for not very much at all and have recently used again during early stage of pregnancy.