Nursingwear

What is your postpartum self going to wear to that fast-approaching summer wedding? I know from far too much experience that your options are likely not very appealing. You need something that looks halfway decent, but also allows you to breastfeed and/or pump mid-event without having to disrobe and leak all over yourself. In my case, it also usually needed to be long, as after pregnancy, my legs took a very, very long time to return to a condition that was OK for public consumption. Over the nearly six years I have been writing this blog, one of the most frequent questions I receive is where does a nursing mom find something nursing-friendly that can be worn to an upcoming special event. Oh, and it would be nice if said dress is actually pretty and perhaps even flattering.

Mothers En Vogue’s Cloud Nine Black Silk Nursing Maxi Dress looks like a really great answer to this persistent dilemma. It’s obviously black, which is good. The dress’s outer shell is 100% silk and the lining is made from a bamboo/spandex blend. The description alone sounds comfortable, forgiving, and exactly like something I’d want to be wearing while my body is literally engorging with milk. The breastfeeding access is provided through the sleeve, with a black nursing camisole underneath. If you aren’t comfortable in all black during the height of summer, add a brightly colored belt at the waist or fun shoes and you are suddenly on trend for Summer ’13.

The Mothers En Vogue Cloud Nine Black Silk Nursing Maxi Dress retails for USD $159.

{ 0 comments }

Nursing in a bathing suit–there really is just about nothing worse. It never goes well. First of all, you’re in a bathing suit. After recently giving birth, donning bathing suits is really just an abysmal activity, don’t let anyone tell you differently. But having to sit and figure out how to nurse in a skintight piece of nylon clothing that is not actually designed for nursing and involves strings or hooks or buckles? That’s worse than the bathing suit itself.

Do yourself a favor and don’t try and make do with your pre-pregnancy bathing suit this summer, even those that have a seemingly easily accessible top. Buy yourself a real nursing bathing suit, i.e., a bathing suit specifically designed for nursing. The Boob “Fast Food” Nursing Bathing Suit comes equipped with Boob’s trademark under-the-breast drawstring top. It’s easy, it’s discreet, it’s perfectly attractive, and it evens comes in three lovely colors, including black. As for quality, Boob is always a reliable, wise choice. Use this suit as your go-to, practical suit for the upcoming summer and save that halter-neck, low-cut one piece for a day when you happen to be at a pool or beach without your baby.

The Boob “Fast-Food” Nursing Bathing Suit is priced at a very reasonable USD $85.

{ 0 comments }

Last week, when I praised Maternal America’s new Spring 2013 pieces, I completely forgot to mention the undisputable highlight of the entire collection, the new Summer Weight Cotton Nursing Scarf.

MA’s winter nursing scarves were introduced just a few years ago and they’ve been hugely successful. Now, MA has introduced a summer version, made from 100% cotton. The concept is simple, but extraordinarily practical–design a stylish-looking scarf with a head-sized hole in the middle so a nursing woman can simply slip it over her head to wear and then unravel the scarf when it’s time to nurse. No worrying about toting a “hooter hider” around with you or, for those of us who couldn’t stand those hideous hooter hiders, no worrying about having to figure out how to keep a baby blanket draped strategically over your private parts while you also deal with a flailing, hungry baby.

And all this practicality and style costs only a mere USD $28. Figure 8 Maternity currently has the summerweight scarf available in black, navy, watermelon, and white. And by the way, this scarf makes a perfect baby shower gift if you’re looking for something not too pricey, but sure to thrill the mom-to-be. I, personally, would prefer this scarf over another baby onesie any day.

I really hope Kimmy K reads this. She stepped off the plane at LAX yesterday in this see-through, lowcut tank top. What she is flaunting is certainly enviable, but does she want her future son or daughter to see photos like that? The Maternal America cotton scarf in white or watermelon would have the been the perfect dose of maternal modesty for her ensemble, don’t you think?

{ 1 comment }

Forget the royal baby. Forget Kimye’s baby. Forget Jessica Simpson’s pregnancy decolletage all over Twitter. Boppy has a brand new breastfeeding pillow with both a rounded side and a flat side and this, my readers, is the biggest pregnancy-related news of 2013.

If you haven’t actually started breastfeeding yet, you’ll quickly learn that second only to your baby, your breastfeeding pillow will be your closest companion once you give birth. There were a few days, especially when I was breastfeeding twins, when I never took the thing off and actually used it as a kind of table to quickly eat meals in between feedings. I know, so sad.

But whether you preferred the good old Boppy cushion (rounded top) to the trusty My Brest Friend Deluxe Pillow (flat top) was actually a very difficult new mommy question and it wasn’t easily solved. With the twins, I needed the rounded top of the Boppy so the twin who wasn’t feeding didn’t accidentally roll off the pillow and could rest against me comfortably. But with my fourth baby, I needed the firm, flat surface of the Brest Friend because he was so big and heavy, he needed a lower, more stable surface from which to feed. The new Boppy Nursing Pillow has both a flat side (covered in faux mink, no less) and the familiar, well-loved rounded side, and it also has a belt, another feature of the My Brest Friend which had until now been missing from the Boppy.

The new Boppy Nursing Pillow retails for USD $49.99 and is fully machine washable. I wonder if Kim will buy herself the new Boppy. I wouldn’t have thought she’d be the breastfeeding type, but you can click here to watch she and Kourteny discussing breastfeeding each other’s babies on the Today show yesterday morning.

{ 0 comments }

Figure 8 Maternity’s Winter Sale is always worth an extra mention, especially for any woman who is nursing or planning to nurse. The online boutique’s nursing collection is unrivaled, and a decent portion of it is included in the Winter Sale at discounts up to 50% off. Bras, pajamas, nursing scarves, nursing dresses, nursing accessories–you name it, they carry it. Don’t miss this sale.

{ 0 comments }

Take a careful look at your maternity and nursing wardrobe. If you are already well into your pregnancy or your postpartum phase, there are probably a few pieces that you look at and think, I simply cannot wait to throw that damned thing away. If you’re not there yet, you will be soon. But there are certain pieces that you will wear for months, maybe years, after your pregnancy regardless of how much pregnancy weight you lose–your pajamas. I always tell women to invest in maternity and nursing pajamas that you actually like, even if you have to spend a little bit more. Buy something comfortable yes, but also buy something pretty. A beautiful nursing nightgown will last you for years, well after you’ve shut down the breastfeeding.

With the holidays, just days away, I wanted to recommend my favorite nursing nightgowns and PJ’s, thinking that PF readers might want to forward these recommendations directly to their significant others. During one of my pregnancies, someone thoughtfully stuffed my stocking with beautiful maternity and nursing gowns and I could not have been more thrilled.

Peekaboo Lace Nursing Nightie

1. Peek-a-Boo Lace Nursing Nightie. This nursing gown is just plain pretty. Not to mention it’s cut from Peek-a-boo’s luxurious jersey and is equipped with the line’s convenient lift-and-feed nursing access. It’s priced at USD $67 at Figure 8 Maternity.

2. Belabumbum Ruffle Maternity/Nursing Dress. Love, love, love this nursing gown. It’s discreet and it’s luxurious and it looks good on everyone. I often give this as a baby gift for new mommies. It’s priced at USD $78.

3. Bella Materna Anytime Nursing Gown I sing the praises of this nursing nightgown very often, but I’ll give it one more plug here, because it is just that amazing. Flattering, supportive through the bust, quick-drying, and this thing will last you forever, no matter how many times you wash it. It’s now on sale at Figure 8 in limited sizes, reduced to $84 from $98. If your size isn’t available, it’s also available at Amazon.

4. Cake Lingerie Nursing PJ Set. Some moms-to-be just don’t like nightgowns. I get that. But Cake Lingerie’s Nursing PJ set exudes femininity while also keeping moms-to-be in a pair of comfy, cotton, lace-trimmed PJ pants. This set is priced at $105 and fits perfectly into mom’s stocking.

I own each of the pieces above and they are all suitable for both maternity and nursing. Significant others–you can all thank me later…

{ 1 comment }

Sartorially speaking, I find winter to be the best nursing season, as the need for layering makes it much easier to diversify your everyday wardrobe. Wearing your trusty black nursing top again? Just change your sweater or your blazer and suddenly you look like you may in fact not be wearing exactly what you wore yesterday.

Some days, however, you may be looking for something altogether different than your go-to maternity jeans w/ black nursing top combo. Investing in a Mothers en Vogue Dana Nursing Dress is a surefire way to spice up your winter nursing wardrobe and, let’s be honest, make you feel pretty and attractive during what might be a tough few months in the appearance department. Most importantly, this is a pretty dress with 3/4 sleeves and a full, feminine skirt. Almost as importantly, it flatters across the midsection with ruching that works wonders when paired with your Spanx. It’s also available in purple and black through London maternity boutique Blossom Mother and Child. The nursing access is convenient and it’s machine washable. It looks great with knee-high boots and a short winter jacket.

Sound like a no-brainer? It is. I have nothing negative to say about this dress, except that I wish it were easier to find in the United States. You can’t have everything.

I also want to mention today that starting today, PF’s favorite jewelry designer, Gemma Redux, is donating 30% of all sales to Hurricane Sandy relief when you use promotional code “SandyRelief” at checkout. The money will go directly to Mayor Bloomberg’s Fund To Advance New York City. Gemma Redux’s offices are currently closed due to the storm, so it may take longer than usual to receive your pieces, but that’s OK with us. I, like all of you, am in complete shock over the conditions my friends and family are living in throughout the tri-state area and am grasping for any way I can think of to help. Buying gorgeous jewelry seems an easy lift.

{ 0 comments }