FTM Clothes to breastfeed in - please help!

[AaronBurrSirr]

Hi all - I’m a new mum to a 5 week old and am really struggling with not having anything to wear that I can feed in. All nursing tops and dresses seem to be wrap dresses or draper which isn’t really me. Can anyone recommend any non nursing specific styles that are easy to feed in, or any companies that are actually nice and not typically ‘mumsy’, or am I looking for the impossible??

Could you wear normal shirts or shirt dresses with a vest under? I have recently bought some jersey dresses from Boden which are v-neck and stretchy which you can easily pull to the side for feeding. Other suggestions would be t-shirts from JojoMamanBebe or Seraphine- they do some in decent material which are slightly more form fitting
(not tight but not drapey) and have a panel you can lift up for feeding.

Vest top with other top on top. Pull vest top down and other top up to feed.

Also, double layered dresses like this www.mamalicious.com/gb/en/mm/nursing-wear/slit-detailed-2-in-1-maternity-midi-dress-20011414.html?cgid=mm-nursing-wear&dwvar_colorPattern=20011414_SeaSpray_786187 are vreat when you're sick of separates

www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/lola-jersey-dress-vibrant-teal-tropical-retreat/sty-j0592-dbl?cat=C1_S2_G4&pid=J0592-J0592-G_00000003548

Are you on Facebook? Join a group called "can I breastfeed one it? Uk" (www.facebook.com/groups/canibreastfeedinit/?ref=share) - loads of tips on clothes from the high street that are good for breastfeeding that aren't naff and expensive nursing wear

Jojo top- I wore these during pregnancy and during breastfeeding and they still look great 18 months later

www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/breton-stripe-nursing-tees-b4869.html

Thanks everyone, you’ve given me some inspiration and I’ve joined the Facebook group have been in a right sulk this morning about the things in my wardrobe I can no longer wear!

I have just got some nursing clothes from patpat which are really nice and easy to feed in.

I breastfed for 16 months anywhere needed, I just wore a nursing bra with a strappy vest top then any stretchy/button up top will do.

You unclip bra then lift vest to above nipple and latch on, t-shirt over hang bunches up and covers anything above the breast and baby covers under :)

Frugi do nice breastfeeding clothes.

I bought a few strap vest tops from M&S that I wore under my regular tops. You lift regular top up and pull vest top down so you can feed discreetly whilst still being able to wear your usual tops.

Yeah i always found the easiest thing was a vest top under a top layer of some description - lift the top layer up and pull down the vest top.

Agree with PP, the best solution is a vest top underneath and then any top you like over it. Then you hike up the 'top' top and sort of poke the boob out between the two layers of that makes sense.

No use at the moment as it's so warm, but in the winter I had a lovely cardigan specially designed for breastfeeding- it sort of extended further than usual round the front to cover up and then you could wear whatever you wanted under.

In the warm weather I've been using a large muslin square (the really big sort) to cover up when it's too hot to wear a vest underneath my top. I tie one corner around my bra strap so it can't fall off and you can then get set up underneath and attach your baby. Once your baby is latched you can use the excess fabric to cover any exposed skin. It's really hard to put it into words because I'm so used to doing it now but it gives you the privacy you need and you don't have to cover your baby's head whilst they feed, plus the muslin is lightweight so neither of you get too hot. Suggest practicing at home first!

Yep, agree with the strappy vest top under whatever other top you want to wear. Pull top up and vest down.

I really wouldn't bother with those breast feeding vests with clips - I did the first time round but they're just a faff and another thing to forget to do back up after feeding. I lived in ordinary cotton jersey strappy vests from M&S for 2nd and 3rd child - much cheaper than the breast feeding ones too, and more comfortable.

I got some really good t shirts in new look maternity section.

www.newlook.com/uk/womens/clothing/tops/maternity-black-nursing-t-shirt/p/616601901?extcam=UK_PPC_PLA_Google_DV_c&_cclid=Google_CjwKCAjw0_T4BRBlEiwAwoEiAb4OfxVfDFiJijMOz48knrhGfQUPNuVcxWSYNGfn-XRNwbkMIIJMdRoCN74QAvD_BwE&gclid=CjwKCAjw0_T4BRBlEiwAwoEiAb4OfxVfDFiJijMOz48knrhGfQUPNuVcxWSYNGfn-XRNwbkMIIJMdRoCN74QAvD_BwE

They were my staple wardrobe for a very long time.

When I breastfed (Dds 10 now so it's a while ago) I wore vests from new look under my clothes, that way my middle stayed covered and I could whip up the over shirt. I got them specifically from new look because their cheap vests (if they still do them, they used to be £1.50) had the arm straps and trim on the top made of elastic so it was really easy to pull down.

I wouldn't get specific breastfeeding tops, there are many, many stories of sleep deprived mums going to answer the door and forgetting to do the clips back up and giving the postie an eyeful. At least if you do the vest + top they naturally fall back down to cover you.

I like the H&M BF vests. I sleep in the Small ones and use the Medium ones on very my nursing bra when going out.
You can get good freaked on bundles on Gumtree on clothes.
Go to the charity store and search for nice tops in size 12 or 14 or whatever your currently are our are about to be.
H&M - I got a nice pink top in their sake. Save's me wearing a vest ona hot day.
I cracked and an waiting on some Next deliveries too. They've got some good deals on now for nursing clothes. I wanted a dress as I'm stuck of wearing shorts and jeans. Am living constantly in my comfy Lululemon yoga pants. Buy in their We Made Too Much sake section. Four way stretch so they'll retain their share as you slim down.

Ask for a reduction for the bundles as your traveling to collect it from them

Ask your friends to donate any old bigger tops they have lying around. My sister gave me a few pieces the other day. A change is better than a rest 😁

I found the H&M bf vests useful in the first few months when it felt like I was constantly feeding. Now I feed less frequently, I just put a thin vest under things, much easier than half the stuff designed for breastfeeding. I tend to wear shirts, looser/stretchy tops, jumpsuits with buttons.
Jojo maman baby has some cardigans that i found useful (not very stylish but soft and comfy), Seraphine does some nice stuff but it's pricey.

Stylish Mum are amazing for breastfeeding clothes - I cannot recommend them highly enough.

They're not the cheapest but their stuff is fantastic quality, comfy and flattering.

www.stylishmum.co.uk is their website.

I had three Seraphine dresses on rotation - they looked great and were super practical (not wrap style)

Don't buy specific breastfeeding clothes unless you love them. I wear dresses quite a lot and have found lots that have a button or zip at the top or are simply able to be pulled to the side. Anything with a v neck tends to work too.
The vest top trick is great too as it will allow you to wear things like jumpers without having to sit with your stomach out.