The pospartum hospital stay is a rather humbling experience. At any given point in the day, some private body part is likely exposed and on display for doctors, nurses, lactation consultants, and whomever else happens to wander by your room, especially if you are sharing quarters with another new mom. Once they allow you to take off that unfortunate hospital gown and have your first shower, you will be so very grateful to have a pair of comfortable, discreet nursing pajamas packed in your bag to slip into. Not to mention that it just feels nice to put on something new and pretty after what you’ve just endured. I have a few nursing gowns that I love to wear at home, but in the hospital, l suggest a more modest pajama set–ideally, long pants with a very soft waistband paired with a nursing top that has a nursing-friendly neckline that nevertheless leaves little to the imagination.  I saw a little too much of the other patients in the hospital this time around, if you know what I mean. There are so many beautiful nursing sets out there to choose from at all price points, you deserve to be wearing something tasteful and well, something that offers proper coverage, after delivering your baby. And, like I wrote, it does feel nice to have something pretty to soften the blow of still looking at least six months pregnant the next day.

Figure 8 Maternity has the best selection of nursing pajamas online and the boutique is currently offering $20 off any two nursing loungewear items with promotional code “pjparty2011.” I am partial to Belabumbum and Milkstars, simply because I find these lines to be made from incredibly soft, forgiving, high-quality cotton that you can slip on easily over stitches, incisions, or swollen/engorged breasts. La Leche League also makes a cotton nursingwear line that is a bit less expensive. Figure 8 carries all of these lines and I strongly suggest perusing through the boutique’s superb nursingwear collection and finding something you might feel comfortable wearing in front of friends and in front of a good number of strangers. Do make sure you stick to cotton with a limited amount of spandex or elastane–the last thing you want to be wearing those few days is a pair of tight pajamas you need to tug over your aching body.

 And, by the way, I’ve been nominated by Circle of Moms as one of the Top 25 Fashion & Style blogs for moms. If you click on this badge at the right and vote, it would be tremendously helpful, as I am currently hovering around 37th place and there are only a few days left to vote. You can actually vote once every day, should the mood strike you. I never win these things, and I have no idea how some of these mom bloggers manage to garner so many votes, but I would like to at least make a better showing than 37th place.

I’m devoting this week to must-have nursing items to pack in your hospital bag. I’ve certainly had my share of postpartum hospital stays, but I was older and wiser this time around and knew right away what mistakes I’d made in packing my hospital suitcase (Packing the semi-sexy nursing negligee? Unnecessary). I also spent more time in the hospital this time having had a third C-section, so I was seriously stuck with what I’d packed. I hadn’t packed my own bag since my very first pregnancy (my past two deliveries were unexpectedly early), so this was a valuable learning lesson for me. I also canvased my hospital floor in an effort to find products that other new moms had with them and that I may have missed.

First off–I’ve written it before and I am going to write it yet again. The most crucial item in that hospital suitcase is going to be your nursing bra. And it can’t be just any nursing bra. It’s got to be one that is equipped to deal with engorgement, painful feedings, sore nipples, leaking, and sloppy first-time pumping, just to name a few of the unpleasantries associated with the first few days of breastfeeding. I’ve done this numerous times and it really doesn’t matter how much nursing experience you have, you are going to make a mess of yourself those first few days.

Hands down, the best bra to be wearing in those first few days is Bella Materna Women’s Adjustable Anytime Nursing Bralet #1155. This bra has no underwire, extremely easy nursing access, adjustable straps, it’s easy to sleep in, and Bella Materna’s trademark nylon/lycra fabric keeps this bra dry no matter how much you leak all over it. The bra comes in dual cup sizes, so it is particularly effective at accomodating engorged breasts in those first few postpartum days as your milk comes in. And it is best to handwash this bra, and you can do that easily in the hospital sink with a bit of shampoo. Because of the fast-drying fabric Bella Materna uses for all of its bras, the bra dries within hours so you can put it right back on again (this is definitely not the case with cotton nursing bras).

The bra comes in nude, black and bare, all basic colors that work underneath just about anything. There is also a full cup version of this bra, the Bella Materna Women’s Full Cup Adjustable Anytime Nursing Bralet #1266. And yes, this bra costs USD $54 ($64 for the full cup version). It is manufactured right in Seattle, where Bella Materna is based and it is, without a doubt, worth every single penny and then some. Buy one to wear before you deliver and you’ll immediately recognize how comfortable and supportive it is–it will only get better with time once you’ve transitioned from pregnant woman to nursing mom.

When I heard that model Molly Sims was pregnant, I was naturally curious as to what she would be wearing every day, so I signed up for a daily newsletter from her website, mollysims.com. I was hoping I would be treated to thoughtful daily updates regarding her maternity wardrobe. That has not been the case. There are a few scattered photos of her maternity style, but there are unfortunately far too many postings about what she likes to eat while pregnant, such as kale and veggie-infused water. Notiwthstanding the fact that I don’t necesssarily believe that is what she wants to be eating at five months pregnant, I really don’t care and would like simply to know what she’s wearing every day. Molly does mention that she is craving Girl Scout cookies, but doesn’t actually admit to eating any of them.

A recent paparazzi photo, however, showed Molly, who is about 5 months pregnant, wearing the maternity-friendly black Isabel Marant Bettyle Maxi Skirt. Maxi skirts are a great go-to basic during pregnancy and beyond, but one has to be careful when purchasing them. They must have elastic around the waist, rather than a zipper closing and the more elastic, the better.
This particular maxi skirt from the uber-hip French designer’s more wallet-friendly line, Etoile, is ideal because it has a wide smocked elastic waistband and also has a drawstring. The skirt is 100% cotton, is completely lined, and is available in black, as well as beige at MyTheresa.com and navy blue at Barneys.com.

Like most French clothing, Marant’s pieces tend to be small, so definitely size up from your pre-pregnancy size. The skirt is priced at USD $285.

Did you know that popular High Street retailer Topshop has a maternity collection? And that the British retailer offers free international shipping to the United States? And that the quality of Topshop’s maternity pieces far exceeds that of other mass high-street retailers?

No?  Well that is what PF is here for. I ordered a few pieces from Topshop’s Spring 2012 collection and they finally arrived (more on that later) last week, only days before I actually gave birth. Too bad for me, but not for those of you who are still pregnant, because these pieces are better quality than those sold by ASOS, H&M, and, dare I write, even Target. And the price point is just about the same. The highlights of the collection are basics–leggings in a range of unique colors, a very practical double-layered grey maxi skirt, and some very cute bathing suits. I was particularly impressed with the unique selection of delicate blouses with lace or chiffon detailing that are perfect for layering over your jeans or in the office.

PF has dabbled sporadically with Topshop’s maternity collection over the years, but I don’t recall having purchased anything I like as much as these pieces, so something has improved.

The Maternity Wet Look Leggings were hard to resist and though they are polyester and look nothing like the faux leather I was hoping for, they do add a bit of extra “oomph” to the typical black leggings w/maternity tunic look. Topshop’s maternity dresses are well-made, but do run incredibly small. I ordered one size up from my pre-pregnancy size and the dress was still a bit snug for me in those final days of pregnancy. No matter what stage of your pregnancy you are in , I would definitely order up one size from your pre-pregnancy size with Topshop’s line.

Here is the primary problem I had with my Topshop order–the customer service is just awful. When I ordered my new pieces, I opted for free international standard shipping, which means the package is shipped via Royal Mail and is supposed to take no more than two weeks, but is not trackable once it’s left the UK. It took a full month for the pieces to reach me and Topshop could not have cared less. I emailed numerous times, disputed the charges on my credit card, and their continued response was, “Please wait.” That obviously did not go over too well with a pregnant woman in her late third trimester who wanted her new clothing. If you are in any kind of rush for your package, just pay the $30 international shipping charge. It will save you a serious headache.

We are still waiting for Veronique Maternity to post its entire new Spring/Summer 2012 Collection, but the Upper East Side boutique did post just a few new pieces last week to whet our appetites for what’s to come. Among the new pieces are DL 1961′s Toni Crop Denim Maternity Jeans, which are now available in dark blue and in white, exclusively at Veronique.

DL 1961′s denim is neither comfortable, nor inexpensive, but you sure won’t risk looking like you’re wearing “mom jeans” when you have these on, because these Toni Crops are sexy jeans. Need proof? See the catalogue photo at right, which feature the Toni Crop in the designer’s mainstream spring campaign. Being that DL 1961 is now all over the fashion magazines and encasing the bodies of many celebrity fashionistas, I appreciate that they do always include manage to include a few new maternity pieces in their collections. The maternity version of the Toni Crop is priced at USD $165 in Veronique’s online boutique.

And I would like to introduce PF readers to my newborn daughter, Posey Elizabeth, who showed up a few weeks early, arriving Friday evening just before 530pm. She is doing well and we are both headed home from the hospital today. I’ll be devoting a full posting later in the week to the perfect nursingwear to include in your hospital suitcase…and which pieces are better left at home…or in the trash bin at the hospital.

What are you going to wear on Tuesday night? Perhaps you are going out for your very last childless Valentine’s Day celebration? Or perhaps you booked a babysitter weeks ago and have a well-orchestrated evening of non-alcoholic revelry planned with your partner?

Either way, plan to do so in Hatch Collection’s red silk maternity Dinner Party Dress. This dress is the ideal V-day dress, whether you are sporting a barely there baby bump or whether you could potentially give birth on Valentine’s Day. I have been wearing this dress virtually nonstop since I purchased it in the fall.

During the second trimester, it worked best with a belt over the bump, high-heeled boots or shoes, and an optional cropped cardigan or leather jacket. More recently, I’ve been wearing it loose with high, flat boots and a cardigan (bare arms are no longer an option). This eye-catching red dress is a surefire way to garner compliments from complete strangers about how much pregnancy agrees with you and I don’t know about you, but those seem increasingly hard to come by after 35 weeks.

This dress does have a low cut V-neck, so I took it to the tailor and had the spaghetti straps slightly shortened to prevent unforeseen exhibitionism. The dress also comes in navy, black, mushroom, and charcoal-colored silk, as well as a more casual striped jersey version. The navy striped jersey dress is on my spring postpartum must-have list. The silk renditions are priced at USD $348, the jersey at USD $248 in Hatch’s online boutique.

And, this very same dress was worn by Jennifer Garner at her InStyle shoot for the January cover of the magazine. I wonder if she’ll be wearing it out with Ben on Tuesday night. I admire Jennifer Garner for being a Hollywood A-lister, but not being afraid to look truly pregnant when she is expecting and donning real maternity clothing. I’d love it if Jennifer sent her hand-me-down maternity clothing over to Jessica Simpson once she is through with it, with a simple note attached that read, “For your own good, Jessica, please wear these.”

9Fashion’s “Tessa” Stretch Tulle Dress – Rents for $69

Here at PF, one of our most common questions from readers is, “Where can I find a special occasion maternity dress that won’t cost me a lot of money?” There aren’t a lot of good answers to that question. In exchange for a flattering designer maternity dress that you actually like and want to wear to a wedding or cocktail party or your  baby shower, you usually need to invest a substantial amount of cash. And then, it hangs in your closet for the remainder of your pregnancy. And though you will plan on wearing it again after your pregnancy…you won’t.

More of Me Maternity’s “Tres Jolie LBMD” - Rents for $59

Enter Marcelle Costello, a mom to young twins, a former Conde Naster, and the founder of RentMaternityWear.com. Marcelle’s online maternity boutique offers special occasion maternity dresses from some of your favorite designers, including Nicol Caramel, Olian, More of Me, and Maternal America. The dresses are, however, not for sale, they can only be rented. RentMaternityWear.com’s business model is unique among online clothing rental outlets and it’s obviously working, as the company has shipped more than 2,000 dresses to pregnant fashionistas since launching in June 2009. The dresses are purchased brand new, and then rented to customers for a limited period of seven days, with the specific intention that they are only worn once for the special occasion. RentMaternityWear intentionally limits the rental period in order to keep its dresses in pristine condition. When you place your order, it includes two sizes of the same dress to ensure you end up with the proper size. After the seven-day rental period, your dresses ship back for free, no need to dry clean.  Rental charges range from $35 to $69, with the majority of rentals coming in at less than $49.

Small spills are also considered typical wear and tear. Believe it or not, you won’t be charged for them.

*This is a sponsored blog posting from RentMaternityWear.com

If you have not yet taken PF’s advice and done a bit of maternity shopping down under, today may be the day to start. Egg Maternity, New Zealand’s premier high-end maternity line, is holding a 24-hour, 50% off sale today in its online boutique and the sale includes just about every item on the site, believe it or not. Almost all of Egg’s new arrivals are included, as well as most pieces from the most recent Spring/Summer Collection.

The sale began at 4pm EST yesterday, so I’m not going to waste time telling you what I like, being that you only have until 4pm today to shop it. Although, how gorgeous is this green Pleated Wizard Dress, slashed from USD $210 to USD $105? Or how about this red Pleated Maxi Skirt, now only $84.95, down from USD $169.90? And yes, these prices are for real. Shipping to the United States is only about USD $17, so don’t let that deter you from an international shopping adventure. And if you order $300 worth of merchandise, shipping is free.

One warning–my experience with Egg is that it runs slightly small for us Americans, so size up if you are unsure of sizing.

Isabella Oliver’s new vividly colored Spring/Summer 2012 Collection has landed in IO’s online boutique and is officially for sale as of this morning. There are definitely some new pieces to ogle over like the new IO Print T-Shirt Dress and the Azure Blue Urban Ruched Dress. But I am actually more excited about IO’s color palette than anything else this spring and they’ve taken a few of their tried and true basics and really brightened them up in new colors.

The always-reliable IO Ruched Cami is now available in black, white, and grey, as well as this lovely dusk blue color. And the classic IO Ruffle Wrap Dress, every mommy-to-be’s favorite baby shower dress, gets an injection of color, as it is now available in pink rose.
The weather has gone cold again here in DC and it looks like snow later this week, so a new piece from this fun, new maternity collection may be exactly what we all need to make it through the rest of the winter. At 37 weeks, I am now officially shopping for my nursing wardrobe, and I am going to treat myself to the new IO Essential Nursing Dress, which comes in the new azure blue color, as well as black. The new collection also includes a selection of clever new accessories, like the Extra Long Leopard Skinny Belt, which pairs well with the new color palette. There is animal print everywhere this spring and unless you feel like replicating Jessica Simpson’s animal-esque maternity looks, most of it is not appropriate for you–this extra long belt is a nice opportunity to nod discreetly to the trend without going overboard.

I’ve been watching the maternity section on zappos.com slowly shrink and shrink and while it seems clear that zappos.com is unfortunately doing away with its wide selection of maternity clothing, I did wonder where all of those items were going. It’s not as if the online retailer held some kind of blowout maternity sale.

Well, actually they are holding a blowout maternity sale–only it’s being held over on 6pm.com, zappos.com’s’ very own affiliated outlet site. 6pm.com is currently carrying all of the discontinued and overstocked styles from zappos.com (including kids clothing and shoes, by the way). The site also has more than 150 maternity pieces from designers like Belabumbum, Maternal America, Olian, and Paige Premium, to name just a few, and all of the pieces are discounted from 40% up to 70%. These are not current season pieces and sizes are limited, but as always with maternitywear, wearing of-the-season pieces is not necessarily a priority and you may get lucky and find your size in stock (or the size you are eventually going to need during the third trimester). Here are some examples of designer maternity finds you can pick up for very little money

1.  The khaki Maternal America skinny cargo pants are on sale for a mere USD $34.99, reduced from USD $116.

(Maternal America – Maternity Skinny Cargo Pants (Moss) – Apparel)

2.  Paige Premium Denim’s Cropped Twill Trousers are a full 70% off at USD $64.99, down from USD $179…and still available in all sizes.

(Paige Premium Denim – Maternity Twill Chandler Venice w/ Higher Panel (Wildlife Grey) – Apparel)

3.  There are basic, but very useful, Belabumbum nursing bras selling for under USD $20.

Belabumbum – Camille Lace Cross Nursing Bra (Nude) – Apparel
4. Maternal America’s basic bright red tank dress is only $39.99, reduced from USD $131. Suddenly, this designer dress becomes the perfect knock-around beach cover-up.

Maternal America – Maternity Twisted Dress (Red) – Apparel