How to not look “pregnant”

[Mamma283839]

I had my baby a year ago and I live in breastfeeding clothes. I’m 5’2 and very apple shaped. I pulled out an autumnal JoJo dress for the cold weather and it’s so beautiful and comfortable, but because it’s also a maternity dress it gives me lots of room for my tummy. A close friend looked at me oddly and I realise she thought I was pregnant again. 🙈

How do I rescue my wardrobe? I don’t want to give up on what I’m wearing - BF tops and dresses, stretchy trousers, leggings, dungarees, as DD still loves a feed and I want comfort above all. Most of my regular tops and dresses have been put away as I don’t love the one up/one down - I find it hard to pull it down sufficiently and be comfortable. With my Jojo dress for example should I pair it with a long cardigans to try to hide my “bump”.

I think you should pack away the maternity and breast feeding clothes and bring back your old clothes. How often does your toddler feed from you? Surely it’s not that often now as he or she will be eating meals? So you can just take your top off at home?

I also love comfort. Would a jumpsuit suit you? Lucy and Yak have their Ragan style which zips up, and I think it could work for breastfeeding. It gives some definition at the waist but (and I speak as one subject to a fluctuating waistline) has the flexibility of elastic at the back which relieves the pressure on bigger days. I like them for looking quite pulled together but also a bit funky.

however, is that what you mean, or are you looking more to work with what you have? In which case yes, a long cardi or could you add a belt or a scarf at the waist to give you some definition?

At 12 months the child will still be getting most of its nutrition from breastfeeding. They’re not a toddler yet…

At home they like little and often. Out and about not as much but she asks sometimes and it can be in awkward places like on the bus. I know BF manners are a whole other subject and we’ll get there but I don’t want to say no because I’ve got the wrong top on.

I guess there’s also the issue that I don’t quite into all of my pre-pregnancy clothes yet, or they are nice cashmere jumpers and they won’t do well around a toddler. I also use a carrier quite a lot and am transitioning to back carrying and I’m a bit worried about what all the rubbing of straps is going to do to my jumpers.

It was so much easier in the summer!

Belt/scarf is a nice idea thank you.

Yes, get out of the maternity and breastfeeding clothes. You can easily feed in normal clothes. But these cuts are not very forgiving and if you are dressing like a pregnant woman, you will keep looking pregnant. I was amazed the difference it made just going back to my normal jeans and tops.

I will add to the above that if your old clothes don’t fit yet or are too nice to wear around a toddler, you need to buy new clothes.

You need dresses with a stretchy ribbed style waistband.

12 months old don’t get most of their nutrition from milk. They eat food. Some 12 months old are starting to walk so they are toddling. I’m not against breast feeding - it’s just that toddlers don’t need it in the same ways as young babies do. Toddlers can have it at home and food/other drinks out the house so breastfeeding tops aren’t essential by that point. I commented because OP doesn’t like how the maternity clothes make her look pregnant so an option would be to return to her old clothes now her child is older.

I've got a ribbed black t-shirt which is a maternity one and is actually really flattering (and my youngest is 4 🙈) so don't necessarily agree that the bf friendly clothes need to go.

Have you seen the FB page Can I Breastfeed In It? That was so helpful as it's women showing high street outfits that work for BF. Was super useful when mine were little

I used to be on it and I’ll take another look. I just remember they were very pro one-up-one-down and I found it difficult to work with.

I’m a very wary of buying new stuff. I tried to be brave and bought £100 of tops online from H&M recently (as some of my favourite bits are from Mama), a mix of breast feeding and non BF stuff - I was checking the materials but when it arrived I found everything to be so uncomfortable and itchy, even the Mama stuff.

What brand is the ribbed shirt? I do love ribbed clothes. I like pointelle T-shirts too for their stretchiness and warmth.

It's Dorothy Perkins! It'll be over 5 years old now but looks good as new ☺️