when a woman has a baby, her body changes

when you feed, in normal clothing, you show more tummy than you normally would

at the start, you're trying to get baby positioned right, trying to get attachment happening, so clothing can go in all directions.

it's easier to do the learning at home, naked or partially dressed if possible.

i did early feeds out, showing quite a bit of skin, cos i was totally focussed on my baby, getting the bf=ing to happen

once we had settled into it, knew what we were doing, i was more aware of feeling embarrassed e.g my tummy showing, my breast exposed.

so i started looking for better bf-ing clothing.

some of it is REALLY expensive.

there are various opening styles in the clothing for bf-ing

some sites show you how the opening works
some sites leave it a mystery, so you only find out once item is bought and arrives in the mail

i ended up liking the bf-ing opening that meant a double layer of fabric on front side of teeshirt. One being a false layer to lift up, one being a layer that stayed (to cover your tummy). The false layer has a cut out circle at boob level, so then (with your maternity bra on underneath) that's how you feed your bub.

i found items more in my price range, and more flattering (discreet) with helpful openings to feed, at nuvo maternity. the flowy fabric tops size larger. the polo tops there i was a XL in, being a DD.

i also got some good tops at Almost Mum. (functioned well, looked nice, easy to bf in, not too exxy).

i found it very hard, even in my city of one million, to find anywhere to try bf-ing clothes on, in real life.

most normal shops like kmart (bubtobub), target, big w, sell maternity singlets, which are also good to wear under normal tees. so when you feed, you lift up your normal tee, and at least the bf-ing singlet hides your tummy. the bf-ing singlets don't offer AS MUCH support as maternity bras, so i found them better after the first year.

and i know women bigger breasted than me, who use a combo. e.g they wear the maternity bra PLUS the maternity singlet over the top. so yes, it's two things to undo, but at least the tummy is covered.

coming from underneath, you expose less breast, and after having a baby, i was very confronted by having to show my tummy in public - i have never worn a bikini, always had my tummy covered. it sounds silly, but therse little things make a difference when you are hormonal and anxious about all the new things you are learning in the school of "learning to look after a newborn 101".

hope some of that helps you wife. all things no-one told me in pre-natal class either! i had to find out as i went.

i worked out, if i was wearing clothes easy to bf in, then i did bf.

i put away (in a box) the clothes i COUDLN"T bf easily in, so when i got dressed, i was only choosing from "bf-ing friendly " clothing.

simplified things. i was so shy with my body prebaby, but it really hit me, how crucial and important bm was for my baby, so that took top priority. but i still had to find a way to do it, where i didn't feel so exposed. (and i coulnd't spend heaps on each top).