When you’re a nursing mother you might find yourself seeking function over fashion when it comes to your sartorial choices – believe me, I’ve been there! With young babies often feeding every couple of hours, you’ll probably find yourself breastfeeding in public more often than you thought, so having nursing-friendly clothes that allow you some privacy, comfort and easy access becomes a priority.
For many women, giving up their usual style, combined with a healthy dose of sleep deprivation, can leave them feeling a bit deflated, a bit ‘mumsy’ and a bit like they’ve lost their sense of self.
We’ve put together 5 essential things you should know about nursing clothes that will help you feel fashionable and chic - and support your breastfeeding journey, wherever and whenever you need.
Practical and stylish can co-exist, there’s no doubt pregnancy and motherhood will change the way you dress for everyday but mums no longer need to feel ‘mumsy’. It’s the era of #mumlife and mothers are style icons, business bosses and all-round superheroes and their clothes should reflect this. I’m a firm believer in designing ‘non-maternity’ maternity clothes – with a collection of nursing wear that has been subtly adapted for breastfeeding, meaning you can wear them long after your nursing journey has finished, making it worth the investment.
We speak to a lot of new mothers, especially first-time mamas, who find the idea of feeding in public daunting. Breastfeeding is hard work and can be challenging, especially in the beginning, and having the right wardrobe can help to lessen these fears. Nursing clothes come with a variety of features to allow you to feed discreetly without having to shy away in a deserted corner (or worse, a public lavatory!). Different options with clever design details means you can find a style that works for you and your baby’s feeding routine, allowing you to breastfeed with confidence and without the worry of any lingering stares!
A common option to avoid feeling like everything is on display is layering tank tops and nursing camis under loose-fitting tops, so you can pull up the top layer to feed while keeping your stomach covered. Nursing tops and dresses have this function built-in through clever ‘peek-a-boo’ or double-layered designs, so you can lift up, pull down or pull aside only the material covering your breast, with an added panel underneath for extra discretion, and breastfeed with ease without the need for piling on extra layers – a win all round, especially in the summer months.
If you’re looking to flatter and smooth a soft post-baby belly then our innovative Lily Terry-Lined Nursing Compression Cami is about to become your new best friend. A ‘first of its kind’, with a fully supportive inner shelf bra lined with soft, seamless terry fleece to absorb moisture and conceal minor leakage. It also has a stretch-mesh lining throughout the bodice which offers light to medium compression to smooth your silhouette and encourage skin retraction post-partum. It’s no wonder this clever nursing cami has fast become the go-to style for new mums who want to feel like themselves and embrace the modern mama cool movement.
We know that having a newborn is already an expensive stage of life, so the last thing you want to do is buy a brand-new wardrobe. Your nursing wardrobe can work seamlessly with your existing items – choose a selection of nursing tops and dresses to create a capsule wardrobe that you can dress up or down and style with pieces already in your wardrobe, such as your favourite jeans, statement skirt or much-loved jacket and you’ll be ready for any occasion.
The right clothes can affect how you feel physically and emotionally. You’ve spent your pregnancy preparing for the baby, researching gadgets and essentials to make sure your beautiful new arrival has everything they need, but with so much focus on your baby you will have no doubt put your own needs secondary.
Clothes that allow you to breastfeed with confidence and give you the feel-good factor can make a real difference to a new mother’s feeding journey. It’s worth seeking out fashion forward, comfortable, functional pieces that make you glow! Whether it’s the perfect nursing cami, classic Breton-style nursing top, feeding-friendly swimwear or workwear appropriate shirt dress, the right nursing clothes are an investment in your personal self-care. Given these pieces will be worn on high rotation, it’s worth splurging on some you’ll absolutely love really wear. Embrace this magical journey in style mamas, motherhood – new era, still you!
The festive season is fast approaching (how?!) and with everything happening around you, the last thing you want to worry about is ‘how to dress your bump’. So Mama, I’m here to tell you, we’ve got you covered - literally.
Our styling tips are broken down into trimesters so you can jump straight to the one that’s appropriate for you this season. Be sure to read our final MAMA MUSE tips at the end, your stylish-self will thank you for it.
Want to channel the maternity street fashion trend without overhauling your entire wardrobe? I’ve pinned down the staples every cool mama needs to build the ultimate maternity wardrobe without blowing the budget. It only took me three pregnancies to whittle down this list!