I will admit there are many days when this nursing mom picks pajamas as an outfit, but there’s something about getting into real clothes that makes you feel better and be more productive. It’s just so difficult to find clothes that work with your every 2 hour feeding schedule and the overall change in your body composition (well hey there 15 pounds of baby weight you’re still here?).
I nursed Ramona for a year, so I have had to nurse and work even if that’s not the case with Beckett. I wanted to write this as sort of an encouragement to all the moms who are balancing life and nursing. Here’s to looking great while doing it.
Go ahead and buy stock in button down shirts. You will be wearing them for pretty much as long as you choose to breastfeed. I do wear blousey shirts from time to time. If I have to nurse in public, there is just too much material between the pulled up shirt and the nursing cover. Beckett does not approve (lots of crying involved). It gets too hot. Nursing becomes frustrating etc, etc.
Pull out a boyfriend button down. Pair it with a cute cardigan and some flats. This formula works so well you’ll keep going back to it, so keep things interesting by mixing patterns. You will wear your hair up because 1) your hair falls out by the handfuls after you deliver and 2) baby will pull your hair with their surprisingly strong grip. You need this DIY hair tie, so make one. It’s the right addition when you’re sick of your usual top knot/messy bun.
Pumping frees you up a bit with regard to wearing layers. You aren’t having to juggle a baby with the multiple pieces of clothing, so you can layer away. Tucking in your shirt and wearing a skirt at your waistline is going to make you appear thiner i.e. trick people into thinking the baby weight vanished. I love how this skirt drapes and is knee length.
Yes date nights will be possible…eventually. You will have to pump at some point either on the way there or home or both. I just slip my cover on, pull my dress over my shoulder, and pump in the car. It’s not as easy as a button down but still possible.
When you need to wear a dress, think wrap dresses, shirt dresses, cross front dresses, jersey dresses that pull down, or button front dresses. I like to wear dresses that pull in at the waist, but you can belt any dress.
I prefer to wear nursing tanks instead of bras. They are great for day and night, but don’t work out in them because there’s no support. (But who needs to work out when you’re burning all those calories nursing? This girl. Desperately. Ugh last 10 pounds.)
A pair of statement earrings and sunglasses go a long way. You can hide the rough nights with those handy accessories. I am not much of a casual jewelry person anyway, but I’m really not a fan of necklaces while nursing. They seem to get in the way or baby pulls on them. A scarf is a better option. Plus it can hide what’s left of the baby weight or a boob leak (yep that happened).
I can’t stress the necessity of button down shirts enough. If you are buying new pieces, pick shirts with small prints since they are more flattering. A chambray shirt and a black boyfriend cardigan can be layered with everything. They are basics that you will reach for more than a few times.
Hope that helps all you nursing friends out there because breastfeeding is hard enough without having to worry about what you wear. It does get easier and is so worth it though! I’m working on a newborn essentials post, so look for that!
Any of you nursing mama’s have any wardrobe tricks that have helped you?
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I just love your style. Impeccable taste. Just impeccable! Love the picture of the two of you.
Aw thanks Katja. I can always be impeccable when I don’t have to think about price and what not!
I just discovered the nursing camisoles at Target this go round (I think they must not have had them yet when I had Gus)….omg. I think I’m going to have to wear a camisole under everything for the rest of my life now, so in love with them am I.
They are so life changing. I mean how great is it to not have to wear a bra! Plus nighttime feedings are so easy!
I couldn’t love this post more! I have had the weirdest time dressing myself. I feel like I’m in a really weird place. Before I got pregnant with Evelyn, I lost 40 lbs. So when I was pregnant, I never actually bought maternity clothes, because I wore all my fat clothes, up until the day she was born. But when I was losing weight, I wasn’t done yet, so I hadn’t really bought new clothes that fit. So now, nursing has helped me lost weight, which is AWESOME. I’m 2 lbs away from my prepregnancy weight, but my clothes don’t fit the same. The weight is coming off different. My pants are still too tight. But the fat pants are way too big. But I don’t really want to go out and buy new clothes right now because I plan on losing more weight. So basically what I’m trying to say is, I might as well just be naked. BUT, I agree with button down shirts. They are my best friend! I’m still trying to figure out the whole ‘going out’ scene and pumping. I really appreciate all the links and everything in this post. You are wonderful little mama.
First I hate you because you are only 2 pounds away from your pre-pregnancy weight. I dropped all the weight with Ramona before my 6 week check up, but apparently I’m taking my sweet time this round (probably all the Mexican coke I’ve been drinking). I had the same problem after I had Ramona that you’re having – weight was gone but body wasn’t back to normal. I think I bought a pair of jeans for that bridge time where you’re just waiting for your skin to tighten back up. Old Navy has some pretty cute but affordable jeans. Also yoga pants with buttons downs are totally acceptable, so rock that look too!
We did not do a whole lot of going out when Ramona was breastfeeding. We refer to that time as the year lockdown. It was really difficult since I was working and feeling guilty. Plus I hated to use the milk I stored. I like to hoard all the things. I still haven’t been away from Beckett which is wonderful, but I do need a break even if it’s just a little one. The right balance is different for everyone. You just have to find what works for you and Evelyn. All that being said breastfeeding just gets easier the longer you do it. Good luck friend!
Solid advice! None of my sisters nursed, and I’m the first of my irl friends to have a baby, so I haven’t been able to talk to anyone about this. Why can’t we live close and just go to lunch so you can tell me all your secrets?! Life is so unfair to bloggers.
Yeah Kenz move to Texas already!! I can’t handle the UT cold.
You can always talk to me about it. I’ll be your little cheerleader. Go Kenz! Pump those boobs…too far? Ramona introduces Beckett by saying, “This is my brother. He likes to eat boobs.” I guess I’ve just desensitized myself.
Hahaha! That Ramona, she’ll make a great sister-in-law.
And Aaron would actually love to move to Texas. He lived in Houston for 2 years. My half brother lives in Kyle, near Austin. He always tries to get us to move to Austin. I’m pretty dang sick of the UT cold, so TX is sounding pretty good right now
Do it!!!! We’d love to move to Austin, but Dallas is where the family is. I would come see you like every weekend if you lived here. What are you waiting for?!?!
Such great style! I wish I would have had stuff like that to wear after my kiddos were born. I was a cheapo and didn’t want to spend any money on clothes that I didn’t want to continue to wear for long.
It’s such an awkward stage! Most of my clothes are in storage too, so I feel like I have absolutely nothing to wear!
You’re so stylish. And I feel sort of guilty reading this in my pajamas at 4:30pm sans child. I’m going to blame my crappy sinuses even though my infection is mostly gone. Don’t tell.
Haha I only got dressed today because I had to take Ramona to school, so there’s that. I’m not a stylish person, I just play on my blog. 😉
V-necks with a little bit of stretch were my saving grace:)
Yes a comfy v-neck goes a long way especially as it warms up!
This is such a great post – I love several of those blouses. When I was working and pumping, I wore a lot of dresses + cardigans. Easy to pump and looked pulled together. And nursing tanks were a lifesaver, too.
It’s so weird to ask yourself “how easily can I pull my shirt down” every morning when you get dressed. It happens though. Every. Single. Morning.
Love this post. I’m still nursing my youngest! A nursing tank that I have used (that has a lot more support) is the Bravado brand. I think breastfeeding is much more accepted here in Canada (and even more so in Finland) and I chose not to pump at all with my second baby. We’re so fortunate to have a year of maternity leave here (I extended mine to 18 months).
Good for you! It’s such a sweet time with your child. I was really sad when Ramona was finished. She weaned herself at 13 months. I love that you are allowed to take a year for maternity leave versus our 12 weeks. There is so much happening in that first year! I had no idea how controversial breastfeeding is here until I had Ramona. Luckily I had a group of close friends who had babies around the same time. We all supported each other and breastfed at least a year. It was so encouraging to have them.
I was looking for nursing clothes inspiration on Pinterest and look who’s article popped up! They are all great ideas. And super cute. And I totally haven’t even thought about button ups! I’m having the hardest time with pants right now. I’m pretty sure I’ve only worn leggings and harem pants so far. I’m dreading trying on all my work pants! Maybe I’ll stick to dresses for awhile…
Lol! No one would judge you if you stayed in leggings and harem pants. It actually sounds wonderful! Glad I could help!!
so glad I came upon this. I’ve been in leggings for weeks. I’m using the bun maternity nursing tanks, which I just love so much, for easy breastfeeding and will be trying the work look suggestions along with them this week for something new. As a breastfeeding and pumping mom this was helpful. Thanks
So glad it helped! Good luck feeding your little one and looking good while doing it! 😉
Glad I found this on Pinterest! It is SO hard to dress post baby, let alone when you’re also breastfeeding! My first baby Was born in October and it was easier to dress in big sweaters. But my second baby is now 3mos. Born in April. I gained the same amount of weight each time, even though I said I wasn’t going to and I literally feel like I have a flat tire around my waist
I gained weight all over but the worst area is my lower stomach & all the way around. I had two c-sections & I feel like it’s split my stomach in half. No, I haven’t commited to exercising yet it’s hard with two kiddos & it being mid summer; holy hotness. Anyway, I find for me, I feel I look slim in a long T, a chambray button down & black leggings. Also I have been wearing dresses 90% of the time bc I have no pants that fit. I like T shirt dresses that have sleeves to cover my upper arms. And I have lots if cardigans, different lengths & styles. I gained 50lb and still have 20 to loose. Is like to loose 30 altogether. Good luck to all the mama out there who are having a tough time with post baby weight & breastfeeding! The benefits & rewards of breastfeeding outweigh any negatives about your body! I lost the weight with my first one and will do it again in due time. 
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There is something so different about the 2nd one!! It was so much harder for me to bounce back, and I truly still haven’t 20 months later! Ah!! Glad I could help you out a little!