5 Must Have Breastfeeding Clothes
Buying specific nursing clothes is definitely not essential, but having a few good key items can make the world of difference when it comes to how quickly you can get a screaming baby latched on, and how comfortable you feel feeding in front of others. I tried using a large muslin to hide feeding when extended family were over to visit and wish I had a few decent breastfeeding tops earlier on.
When it comes to dressing for breastfeeding you have to consider comfort as well as ease of access, and of course your budget too. There are quite a lot of options on the market, and I found it reassuring that lots of my favourite high street stores had maternity and nursing ranges too. I’ve slowly grown my breastfeeding friendly wardrobe over the last 18 months, and found some items have been much better and more utilised than others.
Here are my top picks when it comes to a nice nursing bra, a strap top staple, t-shirts, jumpers and night ware.
Image from www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PVNSGB4
1. I bought my Momanda Bralett from Amazon (for £18) in lockdown when I couldn’t get to shops let alone be fitted for underwear. These bras are underwire free, so they are comfortable and don’t impact milk supply, they are easy to unhook, and most importantly they look so much nicer than most nursing bras on the market. This bra is perfect for under v-neck tops or dresses or shirts and feels more like a real bra than the other sports types I was otherwise wearing. I feel well supported and with the lace detail I feel a little bit more like myself than just a milk machine.
Image from www.marksandspencer.com/cotton-secret-support-nursing-vest/p/clp60483004
2. When you breastfeed you soon learn that layers are everything. Lift one layer up and the other down to keep things discreet, which I why it’s important to have a few decent strap tops as under layers. The best one I found was the Secret Support Nursing Vest from M&S, for just £12. It was much more supportive and kept its shape better than others I’d bought.
Image from https://themilkyteecompany.com/r?id=bs69vb (affiliate link)
3. Hands down the best quality t-shirts I’ve found are from MilkyTee, they are super soft, thick cotton (not see through at all), and the zip design is a game changer when it comes to discreet feeding. I’ve raved about them since I got my first t-shirt and think they are well worth the investment, or adding to your wish list to ask for them as a gift. I’m lucky enough to now be a brand rep so you can shop MilkyTee T-Shirts here (affiliate link), and you can also use code ELLA10 to get 10% off your orders before the end of January 2022.
Image from www.seraphine.com/en-gb/sybil-front-wrap-sweatshirt/
4. Seraphine do some amazing jumpers that can work for maternity and feeding (and long after!). There is a huge range of nursing knitwear that aren’t frumpy, and I am in love with my Green Crossover Maternity & Nursing Sweater. The price range is a bit higher than high street, but you can get 10% off your first order when you sign up to their mailing list, and they often have sales or deals you can take advantage of, and I think the quality is worth the price tag.
5. I originally had the plain black labour delivery hospital gown from Happy Mama (for £23.99) in my hospital bag, but after my homebirth it turned out to be great for the few days after birth when I spent a considerable amount of time in bed and on the sofa. It is really thick and heavy so it didn’t twist or fly up. It was possibly too thick for my summer birth, but it was perfect to actually wear as a dress around the house in those first few weeks, with poppers to be able to feed easily, and ideal for C-section recovery if you have one as there is no low waistband pressing on the scar area.
I’d love to know what breastfeeding clothes you find the comfiest and easiest to have in your wardrobe.
