Friday 6 April 2018

What To Wear When Breastfeeding: Easy, Affordable Nursing Fashion!

It can seem a little daunting at first trying to figure out what to wear when breastfeeding. You need to find clothing that works for your rapidly changing postpartum body, that's practical above all, that's affordable, and still makes you feel like yourself and true to your personal style. Oh, and machine washable!


To solve that dilemma, I wanted to share one of the popular videos off my YouTube channel with some different outfit ideas you can wear while breastfeeding, including some of the must-have breastfeeding accessories. The video shows you 6 outfit formulas, and I've included almost 30 outfits below that I've made from the formulas to show you how easy it is to come up with breastfeeding outfits!





The detail is in the video above, with a couple of demos of the pieces. I've also summarised the key points below for people who prefer to read rather than watch a video.


what to wear when breastfeeding ultimate guide with outfit ideas | away from the blue blog



Breastfeeding Singlet


Breastfeeding Singlet: nursing outfit staple | away from blue

This is a staple! Find them on sale and stock up. Make sure to get ones with adjustable straps and that aren't tight, you want room for things to expand when your milk comes in! In the early postpartum days they are won so much, with an extra layer on top if you want to look more pulled together.




4 ways to wear a breastfeeding singlet | away from the blue blog





Dedicated Nursing Pieces


breastfeeding outfits with Dedicated Nursing Pieces | away from the blue

Yes, these are a splurge, but the two specific breastfeeding pieces I had came in so valuable I'm glad I had them. I didn't add more to my wardrobe as I felt those two covered all the bases. You don't need many. For more outfit inspiration, see 30 ways to wear this pink Mothers En Vogue maxi dress.




Outfit inspiration with Mothers En Vogue bamboo nursing pieces | away from blue







Regular Dresses


Regular Dresses from your wardrobe that work for nursing | awayfromblue

You can breastfeed in your regular dresses! Just consider the kind of dress - wrap, button or jersey with a scoop neck gives you access and opportunities for breastfeeding. Halter neck dresses can work too! See more button up dresses for breastfeeding here.




4 dresses you can breastfeed in without buying anything new | away from the blue





Wrap and Button Up Tops


Two Breastfeeding Outfits From your regular wardrobe: Wrap and Button Up Tops | awayfromblue

Like the breastfeeding singlets, I stocked up on wrap tops too. The best thing about wrap and button up tops is that you can get them from any of your favourite stores or brands, you don't need to pay the premium that you get charged when buying a specific nursing friendly piece.




nursing outfit ideas wrap tops and button up tank and shirt | away from the blue






V-Neck Tees


Breastfeeding outfits: V-Neck Tees | awayfromblue

If you have a slouchy or stretchy v-neck tee, it's easy to pull the neckline down more and get access. Although this wasn't my preferred way of breastfeeding, this is a favourite for many. I preferred to pull the top up for feeding, see below.




breastfeeding outfit ideas: slouchy v neck or scoop tees | away from blue





Layering Trick For Any Top


Layering Trick: Turn Any Top Into A Breastfeeding One! | away from the blue

One of my favourite ways to breastfeed! Get any top, layer a breastfeeding singlet underneath, and just roll the top up and unclip the singlet when it's time to feed. I've seen people discuss using this for wearing dresses too, but it felt like a little much for me. I prefer doing it with a top. Loose flowy tanks are perfect for layering on top of a singlet.




4 Breastfeeding Outfits With tanks and jeans | awayfromtheblue





Must Have Breastfeeding Accessories


There are a few pieces mentioned in the video that were must have accessories to breastfeeding, and I've included a couple more essentials here too. You can see them pop up in the outfits above. Blanket scarves and kimonos double as breastfeeding covers. Silicone teething necklaces are something safe and fun for baby to tug and pull on while feeding (better than tugging on your hair!). And of course, do not forget the breast pads!





Honourable Mention: C-Section


If you've had a C-Section, you might be staying away from the pants and shorts pictured in some of these outfits. Stretchy elastic waists like maternity denim or jersey maxi skirts could be outfit possibilities!


Where To Buy Breastfeeding Friendly Pieces


I've included some links to places above to purchase the kind of items I was demonstrating in the video. First thing to do is go through your wardrobe with this post as a guide - you'll be surprised how much you already have! Next thing to do is to head out to your favourite store. You'll feel much more confident if you're wearing similar things while breastfeeding as you did before it. And of course, feel free to shop this post if you're struggling for ideas.


My breastfeeding days are over but I was glad I had so many pieces in my wardrobe that I could make work for breastfeeding, so I could use the pieces I loved so much pre-pregnancy. I hope this video comes in helpful for yourself or is something you can share with a friend. You can find more outfit inspiration in my blog archive: breastfeeding outfits.





If you need breastfeeding advice and support, look to the Australian Breastfeeding Association (AU), Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (UK), or La Leche League (in quite a few countries). You can also look up a local lactation consultant. You can contact your hospital, doctor or midwife for more recommendations.




Linking up with Friday Faves, Lizzie In Lace, Shoe & Tell, Mix It Monday, On Mondays We Link Up, Hello Monday, On Trend.


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48 comments:

  1. Such a great post! These are some wonderful options! Have a lovely weekend and I hope it stays rain free! Gemma x
    www.jacquardflower.uk

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  2. Great ideas. Being comfortable and wearing clothes that made breastfeeding easy is essential for keeping going as long as possible.

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    Replies
    1. Very true! it makes a difference if you're comfortable!

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  3. This is a helpful and complete guide to breastfeeding mums, I wish I read something like this when I was still nursing hehe. It's gonna be another hot weekend here, we're planning to go to the pool this time. Wishing you a great and fun weekend for you.

    www.busyandfab.com

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    Replies
    1. The weather has been so hot lately, it's crazy! Not like autumn at all!

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  4. I don´t plan on having a third one, I just wish I had this advice back when I was breastfeeding myself. It was such a struggle to figure out what to wear!

    Anne - Linda, Libra, Loca

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    Replies
    1. It is such a struggle! I'm glad you think it could be helpful :)

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  5. Your ideas are very practical for breastfeeding moms. Anyone can definitely get some inspiration here

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  6. Hi Mica! Great post as always! I pray you have a wonderful weekend

    Tiff
    Http://www.dashoffashandfinance.com

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  7. This post is very interesting and helpful to all women who is planning on breast-feeding! Have a wonderful day!
    xo Yvonne
    www.aproposh.com

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  8. It is great that today they are special breastfeeding clothes available to buy. However, you're also right, in the sense that it is possible to breastfeed in regular dresses as well, especially if they are wrap or button up dresses. I remember my mother breastfeeding when I was little and if I remember where there wasn't special clothing options back then, so ladies just improvised.

    I think you gave your readers great options, suggestions and breastfeeding outfit proposals here. I love all of your outfits btw, they are not only practical, they're very cute as well.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Ivana! It's surprising how many non-nursing pieces work for breastfeeding! I'm glad I could share some of them :)

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  9. All of these outfits look so comfortable!!
    http://sugarcoatedbears.blogspot.com/

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  10. Great helpful post, I am sure it is going to help many a new mother. And the snap on the singlet is so helpful!

    Allie of ALLIENYC
    www.allienyc.com

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    Replies
    1. It is the best invention ever for breastfeeding! I wore these so much!

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  11. i am not a mom but i do find these outfits functional and very stylish! great job, mica! :) re your comment on my blog, thanks, mica! i just can't live without hats. hope you'll have a fun weekend! From here, it's super hot!

    xoxo, rae
    http://www.raellarina.net

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  12. This is such a great post! I do feel like it was a challenge to make sure everything I wore was breastfeeding/pumping friendly when I was feeding Violet and I think sometimes people forget about how hard it can be. The focus is so much on maternity clothes and then being done with them, that this stage often gets forgotten I think!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is a difficult stage, that you need a lot of clothes for, especially in the early days with milk everywhere! I found breastfeeding pieces worked well for expressing/pumping too though, that was a bonus!

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  13. I struggled to breastfeed my kids, my body was not producing enough milk. I had no milk for my eldest but thankfully managed to breastfeed my second for 5 months and then I couldn't breast feed anymore.

    Shireen⎜Reflection of Sanity

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    Replies
    1. 5 months is an impressive time! it's hard when there ins't enough milk produced, you did well to overcome that for so long!

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  14. i love this post, trying to figure out what to wear so breastfeeding can be easy can be very difficult
    The Glossychic

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  15. I love that you create looks that are stylish but, also, functional :)

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  16. Hello Mica
    You give such interesting tips unfortunatly i dont have kids. But i understand thats a huge problem for women thinking about what to wear when they are breasfeeding.
    Hope you had a lovely sunday here it rains a lot and i dont know where i m going to shoot.
    Kisses

    marisasclosetblog.com

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  17. You look so lovely! I had no idea there was so many cute options :)

    findyourownhope.blogspot.com

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  18. This is such a helpful post. I like what you're doing Mica. Great work!

    amakamedia.com

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  19. I don't have kids so I can't fully appreciate the guide but it's definitely super helpful for ne mums xx

    |Elegant Duchess|

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  20. I'm not surprised this is one of your more popular videos, it must be such a tricky wardrobe dilemma! In particular finding those that are machine washable haha. Have a lovely week ahead babe!

    aglassofice.com x

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    Replies
    1. haha yes! There should be more pretty, machine washable things!

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  21. I wouldnt know where to start with this, not sure I could stay stylish as a new mum!

    Corinne x
    www.skinnedcartree.com

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  22. Thank you for this post! I'm due baby number two in 5 weeks and I'm planning on breastfeeding again but I can't for the life of me remember what I wore first time around!

    Rosy | Sparkles of Light Blog

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    Replies
    1. I'm glad this post could give you some ideas, and congrats on your upcoming arrival!

      Delete
  23. I don't have children at the moment, but breastfeeding has always been something I've wondered about in terms of how easy it is to dress ready for feeding time! It's reassuring to know there are lots of different options out there!

    Musings & More

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    Replies
    1. There are more options than you'd think at first!

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  24. Bookmarking this post for the future Mica, its so helpful! Would love to know how you approached maternity style as a whole. I am fascinated by it!

    x,
    S | Je M'appelle Chanel

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    Replies
    1. Thanks! I have a few pregnancy posts on my blog, this is the best place to start: https://awayfromtheblue.blogspot.com.au/p/pregnancy-outfits.html

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  25. This is very helpful and wish it came when I gave birth eight years ago. Ha!! The struggle was real. Lol!! Thank you for sharing these helpful tips. -And you surely look wonderful in these outfits too.

    https://www.missymayification.co.uk

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    Replies
    1. haha yes! I couldn't find a lot either!

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  26. You show us so many cool and wearable options! I can see you chose each item because of its practical sense but never giving up on fashion <3 The wrap tops would be my favrote because like you said, you can find them in your favorite store which means they can still look quite trandy. Button up tops and dresses are also a go-to option because of the buttons obviously. And they can be like yours, with cool patterns or solid colors. Loved this roundup!
    xx

    www.stylebydeb.com

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Deb! :) I really loved that wrap tops were everywhere, they made it so easy!

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  27. This is very informative! Dressing to accommodate breastfeeding can surely be tricky but it’s great that you’ve mastered it and are passing your tips along!

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  28. That's so impressive that you give all of these options, Mica!!!
    Great job!!
    XOXO
    Jodie
    www.jtouchofstyle.com

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  29. This post is really helpful and great advice! I am done with breastfeeding but I have friends who are getting ready to welcome their little ones soon. I will pass this on to them.

    Maureen | www.littlemisscasual.com

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Maureen! I'll be so happy if this can be helpful for your friends.

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  30. These are such great tips! I definitely will have to remember these in the future!

    <3 Shannon 
    Upbeat Soles

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  31. I'm attracted to your video, dear! Wish I had such tips those days...... xoxo

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  32. You presented so many excellent options Mica. It's really something to consider.
    http://www.averysweetblog.com/

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  33. Thank you all for your kind comments - the post is a little different from my usual but I'm glad you found it informative :)

    ReplyDelete

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