Dresses for breastfeeding

[Dinosaurus86]

Hoping someone on here might have come across some good button-down dresses that could be useful for breastfeeding.

I do have a couple of combined pregnancy/nursing ones from Seraphine but I’m a bit bored with the maternity selection and am looking forward to having a broader range of choice again.

At the moment, I’m living mostly in jumper dresses which were cut loose enough that they still (just about) fit at 36 weeks. But they’re not going to be any good for feeding, esp out in public.

Ideally I’m looking for something about knee length to wear with tights in the winter. Cut fairly loose to hide post birth lumps and bumps. But not too bulky - I’m fairly small & find lots of things eg from Toast tend to drown me.

And not super expensive because I expect it’ll just get covered with baby sick…

It’s been a few years since I needed nursing dresses but I found H&M quite good. They were one of the few cheaper shops that made nursing clothes that were not also maternity clothes (and therefore were not completely shapeless post birth). Their stuff tends to be quite plain though so I don’t know whether that is your style.

I bought a few button down style from boden

I've got this from Lee which actually has poppers so very quick to get undone and done up again when feeding. It has been great.

tinyurl.com/fmrbwk9z

I've got a few breastfeeding tops but mostly just anything with buttons that are either full length or go down low enough.
Best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy, birth and getting going with breastfeeding!

Thanks @Almostascot, I do need to check H&M again. I got a few maternity bits from them in the summer, a couple of which were great, but I found the sizing a bit weird, as another didn’t fit at all!

Will also have a look at Boden @Caspianberg. I have got a couple of baby bits from them but haven’t checked out the adult selection.

I’m really struggling with this at the moment. I’m 3.5 weeks PP and over my usual weight by 1.5 stone so nothing I owned pre-pregnancy fits but maternity wear is too loose. I’ve been looking for button front dresses for a while but the challenge I’m finding is that I have to size up so much to fit the huge milky boobs in that everything is totally shapeless.

Hush has some good options. Not sure if all dresses are true button fronts though, sometimes buttons are purely decorative.

I’m wearing the seraphine nursing/maternity sweatshirt at lot. I think I’m going to have to order a couple more of their items as I’m really struggling to find anything elsewhere. Also button front can be a bit revealing, I quite like the discreet boob options in true nursing wear.

That does look a pretty good one @Nightwithhertrainofstars! Thanks! Did you get it from the US site?

I had a few shirt dresses, I found them best as they’re not just ‘nursing’ clothes, they’re actually things normal people can wear!
Take a look at can I breastfeed in it? cibii.co.uk/ for inspo!

Obviously I am aware normal people do breastfeed! Weird phrasing from me there

That’s a good point about button down being revealing @Greytminds. I have no experience yet, so I guess I’m a bit clueless what will work. I was thinking perhaps a vest underneath to lift up and that might provide a bit more cover.

Also have no idea how much bigger I might get when milk comes in…

I did look at Hush on the John Lewis site but the one I liked the look of was out of stock! Though I think their new season stuff may have just come in.

Also @Greytminds agree with the massive boobs making everything look shapeless. Never found an answer to that… each time I have just ended up waiting for them to finally deflate a good few months in. Now I have some very sorry looking sacks!

www.oliverbonas.com/fashion/check-print-shirred-yellow-mini-dress-333648#selection.color=2002

I have been looking at this one, though not sure it’s my colour

Also, take a look at Monki. Some of the stuff is too out there but if you look around they’ve a lot of cheap shirt dresses. I have quite a few from there. Maybe avoid the smock shape due to the aforementioned megaboob situation but something like that OB nipped in at the waist and crucially elasticated looks perfect

Ooo great link @jamsandwich1

I’ve never been hugely blessed in the boob department so might perhaps avoid the mega boob in any case…

@Dinosaurus86 you may be surprised! I used to be a B cup

Never looked at Monki before but this one is interesting…

www.monki.com/en_gbp/clothing/dresses/mini-dresses/product.hidden-button-shirt-dress-black.0870593002.html

Could perhaps be tied in at the waist with a scarf or belt.

This one maybe a bit more flattering

www.monki.com/en_gbp/clothing/dresses/mini-dresses/product.mini-collar-dress-black.1008522002.html

Follow the can i breastfeed in it page, they post loads of great recommendations.

In general, I found T-shirt dresses to be my friend, or dresses with zips.

Sainsbury’s has a whole section of their website for breastfeeding friendly clothes - they’re normal clothes that happen to be feeding friendly

[quote jamsandwich1]@Dinosaurus86 you may be surprised! I used to be a B cup [/quote]
Uh oh, perhaps I am in trouble!

I had the same issue last year and found a few nice button dresses at Fatface. Also check out pinafore/dungaree dresses, you can wear a breastfeeding friendly top underneath.

www.dunnesstores.com/p/gallery-amber-tunic/2546276

Sainsbury's have some lovely stuff, and their dresses that look buttoned tend to actually have real button fastening. As PP said, there's a section on their website specifically for breastfeeding friendly clothes :)

Also look at Can I Breastfeed In It? UK on Facebook, but be prepared to spend all your money.

Oh and my boobs didn't grow at all during pregnancy or breastfeeding🤷‍♀️

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!

This is upper end of my budget but looks lovely. For those experienced at breast feeding - do you think it unbuttons low enough?

www.hush-uk.com/cait-cord-mini-dress-velvet-red/003522-2475.html

Take a look at Breast Dressed over on Instagram, or also never fully dressed are mostly breastfeeding friendly

I think that red dress doesn’t have enough buttons for me.