Breastfeeding mums- what are you wearing in a heatwave?

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Just that really! Never fed a baby in summer before and I’m lost without layers!

I want to feel vaguely normally dressed and fashionable but equally want a bit of coverage when feeding (e.g. I’d rather lift a top up than unbutton at the neck and whack a whole boob out).

I live in wrap dresses or dresses with stretchy tops to pull down. I have small boobs though so to get a nipple out doesn’t actually expose much boob.
What about skirts/shorts with tops you feel comfortable feeding in?
I follow ‘can I breastfeed feed in it’ on Facebook, some ladies wear button up dresses and leave the top and bottom buttons done up, and just undo the middle bit.

Not currently bfeeding but have breastfeed two DC whilst living in the Middle East (ie a permanent heat wave!!)

I used to wear a lot of light button down shirts and shorts or sun dresses with straps thick enough to hide a nursing bra but that can still be slipped down off my shoulder.

Do you need to wear a bra? Once I was more established in breastfeeding and my boobs had shrunk down a bit, I didn't really need to wear a bra (especially if just hanging out at home) and this made it a lot easier as I would just wear a lot of strappy sundresses/maxi dresses etc that could be slipped off my shoulder. If I needed to be a bit more discrete, I would just fling a muslin over my shoulder/baby.

I got some cheap breastfeeding dresses and vest tops from PatPat, such as:

uk-m.patpat.com/product/Casual-Nursing-Slip-Dress-448368.html

uk-m.patpat.com/product/Nursing-casual-Print-Round-collar-Nursing-Tank-487090.html

Just two examples, there are loads.

Anything that is either has stretch at the top, button down or wrap style for me, I find it easier to use a thin scarf or something to cover the boobs up than exposing my pregnancy+lockdown flab . Agree with PP to give bras a miss at home as well.

Oh if only I could go without a bra! I have massive boobs sadly. I also follow ‘can I breastfeed in it’ but they all seem to be tops or dresses where you need to get a whole boob out and if you’re nice and small it looks fine but flopping a huge boob over the top of a nice dress isn’t quite the look I’m going for 😂. I might practice having a muslin over my shoulder. Thanks for the tips ladies!

@Chillychili that’s a good idea about just undoing the middle buttons of a dress!!

Also, I’m going off on one a bit here, but why are so many nursing clothes also maternity clothes? It’s not than often (or for that long) that you do both at the same time?!

Having bf my 2 DC both during summer months, I wore a stretchy vest top with a thin cotton type shirt over the top. I would just lift up the shirt and pull down the vest top. Either that or actual bf dresses/ tops. H&m used to have good ones that were non maternity

How about Bras that cover the top of your boob, I don’t know what they are called but I have a sports bra similar and just my nipple pokes out

www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/hotmilk-projectme-ambition-nursing-wire-free-bra/xs348/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=4014&optionColour=Black&pdpClick=true

Managed to find the nursing bra I have (I have a higher support one) but they look like crop tops
www.gap.co.uk/gap/maternity-blackout-gapfit-low-impact-sports-bra/000548730.html?dwvar_000548730_color=000548730001&dwvar_000548730_fit=regular&cgid=Mat-clothing-gapfit-sportsbras#start=4&

I wear normal t shirts and just lift it up on one side. Baby covers most of my belly. If I'm going somewhere I really don't want to expose my belly then I wear a bump band from pregnancy to cover the gap, but that's an extra layer and could be hit, so at home I don't worry about it.

Alternatively, wrap dresses and pull to one side. Of specific feeding dresses/tops, but it's hard to find nice ones that aren't maternity or frumpy!

You ask why most feeding dresses are maternity too; it's because the vast majority of mums stop breastfeeding within a few months of birth. So most don't want to spend money on feeding clothes if they can get maternity clothes that will see them through the first few months. Specific feeding clothes that aren't maternity are out there though - internet shopping is your friend!