How can I be stylish while needing boob access?

[Flappityflippers1]

Hi all,

I’m 4 weeks post partum, and so far have been in the house (toddler and newborn) so have been in loungewear or leggings and can freely get my boobs out to express breastmilk and breastfeed.

However, I’ve now started planning some outings with friends and family, and am not comfortable getting an entire boob out for feeding (mahoosive boobs) - I also don’t want to live in leggings for much longer!

I’m “dumpy”... 5’3, size 16-18 (have a belly, arse and thighs so pretty evenly spread), do have bit of a waist. Boobs size 36G/H (not entirely sure, but they won’t go near my old 36E bras!)

I’m looking to buy a few key items to last the next year or so of breastfeeding/pumping. I’m not loaded so looking at high street items.

My “style” at the moment is non existent.

What do you all suggest?!

Good place to start would be Can I Breastfeed In It? Facebook group (if you have it) athough a lot of their suggestions involve whipping one out.

I bought this the other day, and pairing it with white canvas shoes (H&M converse style ones)

I also I had a c section so need to avoid my scar area

@Reclinehard I’m not on Facebook unfortunately - I so wish they’d do a website!

Vest top under nice top. So nice top goes down, vest top goes up, you don’t feel so exposed.

I used the ‘one up one down’ method so a vest with stretchy straps underneath a top so I could pull the top up and the vest and bra down without exposing too much boob (appreciate that exposing boob shouldn’t be a problem but it was my personal preference not to. So I could just wear my usual tops with skirts or trousers.

I do like wearing dresses though too and this was more challenging. You can make sure you wear dresses with buttons or wrap around tops with v necks which make it easier to whip a boob out but if you are not comfortable with the exposure then I found them a bit of a faff. I bought some nursing dresses second hand on eBay that worked really well and didn’t cost much. The quality is usually better than other second hand clothes as they don’t tend to have been worn for years at a time.

There is a fb group called Can I Breastfeed in It. Lots of suggestions on there for non-nursing clothes that still have access for feeding.

Just realised I have cross posted, recommend joining fb just to look at the group, it was really useful when I was feeding couple of years back

Check out 'Chic and Discreet' on Instagram. They've got some really nice dresses and tops for breastfeeding. (Added bonus of supporting a small business owned by a Black woman.)

Also mahoosive boobs and had to hold my boob because otherwise baby would get smothered unless I had exactly the right support underneath. I used shirts with stretchy necklines (drape necklines were great for me at the time), but I used a breastfeeding apron that had a structured top because baby(s) always used to pull on them and also pull off my boob and this meant I could see them and not be exposed

I went back into my normal clothes once I was comfy - and they fit. I couldn’t wear anything tight around my tummy but most things were fine. I wore a loose/stretchy vest under my clothes. Covered tummy and meant I pulled my top up, vest under bra and could feed very discreetly whilst still wearing normal clothes and not flashing too much flabby tummy etc to the world. Gets easier as you become established. I had lots of nice cardi/scarves too if that’s your thing can cover your top and just make you feel less exposed really. I didn’t buy anything new, just the vests obs if it’s warm you want light ones, I had one June & a July baby so In summer. Couldn’t wear a dress unless it was loose at the top though or a wrap type thing.
I’m sure you’ll find what works for you

The frugi breastfeeding dresses are lovely, although quite expensive. But you can find them often on eBay.

Have you tried feeding in front of a mirror? You'd be amazed how little you can see of your boob if you just lift a normal top. I also have big boobs, I just wore normal tops and lifted them up. The baby's head covers everything.

Ok one up one down makes perfect sense! I’ll order some vests and can at least wear my regular clothes then 😁 thanks to HG I fit in my pre pregnancy stuff now, just need to be careful about what rubs on scar - thanks all!

Yes I’ve fed in front of a mirror when learning where best to hold him, and honestly it’s like a full moon 🙈🙈😳

@TheVamoosh

Check out 'Chic and Discreet' on Instagram. They've got some really nice dresses and tops for breastfeeding. (Added bonus of supporting a small business owned by a Black woman.)

Love this, I’ll see if they have a website 😃 (I’m not on any social media aside from MN)

@BreadmanAndCake

The frugi breastfeeding dresses are lovely, although quite expensive. But you can find them often on eBay.

Did you find they have good boob access? I bought the jumpsuit and only someone with a boob under their armpit would have been able to feed in it 🙈 I’ve ended up cutting the modesty panel but out so it’s just cross over, and it’s relegated to nightwear now 😞 (especially after the midwife exclaimed “oh I LOVE your pjs! At one of our checks!) most expensive pjs ever 😬

I did stretchy vest top under anything else too - only needs to be a thin one to cover. Vest and bra down, top up, means you don't get that bare feeling across your chest as baby snuggles under the pulled-up top.

@Flappityflippers1 ah I see what you mean, I've found the access panel on a couple of H&M nursing dresses to sit in a weird place too (more under the armpit like you say). Perhaps JoJo Maman? I have some nursing tops from them and the access panel is much more conveniently placed

Following with interest... I found most bfing tops and dresses a faf. Quite sizeable boobs 32j, ended up mostly just getting boob out. All modesty gone. Just started bfing my second. Already hating the clothes that I have but I didn't find anything I loved last time.

Also g cup boobs and wanted some coverage and my baby wanted to feed all the time! I liked to wear a crop vest under a lower cut tops, so I could lift the vest up for coverage and the top down. Also got some wrap crop vests to wear under more v neck or wrap tops or dresses.
Still feeding him now at 19 months but luckily don't need to when I'm out anymore.

Ahh that’s a good idea @Threelittlesquishies

I’ve just been in matalan and bought some vests, and DH is being sent in the loft tonight to get all my clothes down so I can experiment 😁.

Checked out that breastfeeding cover a PP mentioned too and ordered one on Amazon - I’m still so awkward latching him so will feel much more confident with that

My best items were wrap tops, so you could push back the whole boob section on one side. This sort of thing:

www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/joanna-wrap-top/sty-j0852

I second the wrap tops! I never mastered the "one up, one down", but that's probably because my boobs are so small that even when they're full of milk, they're not big enough to keep the top layer from sliding down over the baby's head. 😅

@TheVamoosh I’d love smaller boobs, I’ve always been large, but it’s ridiculous when bfing 😳 I took a picture of me feeding before, even though he’s 4 weeks old now, my boob is still twice the size of his head 🙈

I have substantial boobs (definitely boob bigger than head for ages) and got most of my feeding clothes from Amazon. Couple of dresses, couple of tops and some hoodies. Admittedly I mostly got these for my November born second child (because despite not caring about what could be seen I very much cared about the cold wind!!) With most pub/cafe time being outdoors I'd definitely recommend a feeding hoodie or 3, I liked the horizontal slits best.

I live in b-shirts, I have a couple of the vests in different colours which I can wear under normal tops or wrap dresses and plan to wear on their own when it warms up.
I'm also large chested and find they give me coverage above and below so I don't feel really exposed. No clips or zips to fiddle with either which is a major bonus when my baby decides she is ravenous and needs quick access!!