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Original poster

What do i wear to a wedding six weeks after giving birth and breastfeeding?

26 replies

Lcy · 01/05/2008 10:07

I am due to give birth to my first baby in August and will be attending a big family wedding six weeks later (October). Feeling slightly worried about what i will wear! Does anyone have any ideas? I will be breast feeding and don't have a clue what size i will be but expect i will need something flattering on the tummy with easy access to boobs! Pre-pregnancy i am a 12/14.

Thanks

OP posts:
BumperliciousNeedsToSleep · 01/05/2008 10:16

Hello Lcy?

I'll have a look see what I can find...

ShowOfHands · 01/05/2008 10:16

I went to a wedding 8 weeks after having dd. I'd recommend going shopping nearer the date and post birth so you have an idea of size. Skirt/trousers and top best. A dress obviously difficult. I wore a little vest I could pull up with a wrap top over it that I could pull down and had some muslins to hand for covering anything else. I was still a little self conscious with feeding then but luckily it was a wedding in a big house and they allowed me to sit in a little drawing room in a comfy chair for privacy.

You may also be able to express at that point and your dc may take a bottle although I preferred to bf at the wedding as it meant I had an excuse to wrestle dd back from thousands of relatives all wanting a hold.

You may feel a little overwhelmed so early into parenthood at such a big event. Be prepared to leave when you and the baby are ready and don't push yourself. That said, you may be absolutely fine!

Have a lovely time.

BumperliciousNeedsToSleep · 01/05/2008 10:21

What about a dress in this sort of style, with a vest underneath?

Miaou · 01/05/2008 10:24

Well I am going to a wedding in June and will be 10 months post birth and breastfeeding but the principles are the same! I am wearing a flared skirt with elasticated waist and a jacket (has buttons but I'm making it with poppers under the buttons for easy access. Then just a scoop neck top underneath. Sadly I can't help you with shops as I am making mine but there should be plenty around (she says ignorantly)

Original poster
Lcy · 01/05/2008 10:24

Hi bumper

Thanks ShowofHands - just the thought of going to the wedding and having to breast feed feels overwhelming as it is my first baby don't know how comfortable i will be getting boob out in front of friends and family! So want a discreet outfit. Also bit worried about how i will feel about baby being passed between loads of people - so sounds like a good excuse to take him/her off for a feed and some quiet time.

OP posts:
Original poster
Lcy · 01/05/2008 10:25

Miaou - if only i had your talents! Thanks for the tips

OP posts:
Original poster
Lcy · 01/05/2008 10:27

I dont know if my boobs and a top would fit in that dress . I think that style is good but would be worried about staining material if leaked!

OP posts:
stitch · 01/05/2008 10:30

separtes i think will work best. or a wraparound dress.
i also think that you may need to forget about being able to feed discreetly, and insist they family ensures there is a room for you to feed your baby in quitely. your baby may arrive, earlier, in which case feeding may have settled down. or you may have a three week old, and still be post op. iyswim.

MissingMyHeels · 01/05/2008 10:30

I would go for a simple wrap dress and accessorise well. Something like this?

With gorgeous shoes and jewellry. I am going to a posh christening this weekend and am wearing a hot pink wrap dress and I have six week old DD.

MissingMyHeels · 01/05/2008 10:31

Oh and get some spanx or similar hold it all in knickers, they're amazing!

Original poster
Lcy · 01/05/2008 10:35

Good point Stitch - we will be at 2 venues during the day so will check there is somewhere quiet i can go and feed and relax.

MIL is shocked that i have not found anything to wear yet and is worried i will not be co-ordinated with rest of party! I felt like shouting i'm 6 months pregnant you will be lucky if i turn up wearing something clean. I told her that i cant not choose something until i know what size i am - she replied that i will surely be back in shape by then (ahhh no pressure then!)

Oh that dress looks great MissingMyHeels!

OP posts:
Original poster
Lcy · 01/05/2008 10:37

I love this as well
here

OP posts:
Miaou · 01/05/2008 10:52

Love that blue one lcy.

dexter73 · 01/05/2008 11:56

You could wear a pashmina and then use it to cover up while you are bf if you are worried about the amount of flesh on show.

MrsCarrot · 01/05/2008 11:59

I got married when ds2 was 11 weeks!

I had a very structured dress but this meant I had to fold the whole top down to bf so I did it in private.

I think a pashmina is a good idea if you are stuck and want privacy and I second spanx pants too.

Seasider · 01/05/2008 12:00

don't forget the breast pads either!!

Bramshott · 01/05/2008 12:06

I went to a wedding when DD2 was 7 weeks and after two trips round the shops trying to get clothes that fitted and I could b/f in, but trying not to spend too much as I wasn't my normal size, I decided to take the whole lot back and just wear a skirt I had and a stretchy vest top and cardigan. I figured that everyone was going to be looking at the baby anyway and not me! We went and it was fine - I spent a lot of time in a room upstairs b/f and just chilling out!

Just tell you MIL you already have something!

cyteen · 01/05/2008 12:09

I went to a wedding recently with a friend and her 3 month old son; my friend wore a lovely sleeveless maxi dress with a pashmina, and fed her little boy with ease all the way through the ceremony and reception. She folded down one side of the dress top after swathing baby and boob in pashmina, I was quite in awe of her feeding skills. Also the dress was quite a loose A line shape, so looked v comfortable - no pinching waist or anything.

TillyScoutsmum · 01/05/2008 12:16

Wrap dresses are good - maybe get a 14/16 and they can be pulled tighter or looser to suit. A vest can go underneath if there's too much norkage on show

this is quite plain but could be dressed up

can't tell if this is an actually wrap or not

quite a bold print but I think its lovely

simple but nice

Original poster
Lcy · 01/05/2008 15:31

Thank you so much for all your suggestions. I love the 4th dress TillyScoutsmum! I think i will go for a plain wrap dress or skirt cardi combo AND a pashmina with some fabulous shoes!

Many thanks everyone!

OP posts:
DazedEmma · 18/06/2008 23:12

MMH where did you get your hot pink wrap dress from? If you don't mind me asking?

HaventSleptForAYear · 19/06/2008 09:48

I like this here you can get it with short or long sleeves.

There are others on the site and there is an English version too - will try and find it for next link.

MrsBadger · 19/06/2008 09:55

skirt, vest, wrap top
you will be fine

make sure you don't miss dinner - get dh to fill you a plate if you are sequestered elsewhere, or don't be shy about eating onehanded while feeding like you do at home.

HaventSleptForAYear · 19/06/2008 10:01

BTW - if you don't go for something specifically for bf - DON'T go for trousers.

I cried buckets after DS1 and 2 when after 3 months I could only fit into a size 14 (I am 8-10 normally and had lost the little weight I had put on).

Your hips re-align or something ...

I found A-line skirts the best bet.

I think you'll be fine bf in public. I am actually a real prude - would never sunbathe topless, get changed under a towel at a beach - but I fed both DS anywhere and everywhere, including at the table.

A cardigan is useful to pull over yourself a bit.

At that age, your DC will not be pulling off the breast to grin at the other guests (DS2 16 mths ). It gets harder to be discreet later.

MrsJoshLyman · 19/06/2008 13:10

I went to two weddings when ds was 6/7 weeks old and actually wore one of the dresses that Tillyscoutsmum linked to !

FWIW - don't shop until you've had your baby and have got an idea of your size, spanx are AMAZING for smoothing out a saggy tummy (I love mine) and consider getting a special breastfeeding vest if you want to feel a bit more covered up at a big occasion.

Just remember to take lots of muslins to avoid the baby-sick-on-the-shoulder look!