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Not sure if this belongs here!
I am keen to find a dress for breastfeeding that's not a maternity dress - anyone know of any? I have lost all my preg weight and don't want swathes of material around me to "hide any bumps", but love wearing summer dresses and am finding my normal ones don't have enough bust room or are impractical for breastfeeding.
Subbing cos I wanna know too :)
Jay jays had maxi dresses that have heaps of room. Only thing with feeding I found u had to slip your arm out of the sleeve as it didn't allow u to pop ur breast out easily
I recently adapted a singlet just by cutting where the strap bit met the bodice and sewing a snap bit on each end. You could definitely do this with a maxi dress or other dress as long as you could then pull it down below breast to feed.
I bought a maxi dress the other day from Dotti which is lovely. My only issue is that I have to feed by dropping the top down, rather than lifting the dress up :D to feed, which does flash more boob than I'd like.
I've got the same issue as you, I'm really sick of breastfeeding tops and dresses that are made with a pregnant woman in mind. Unless I'm pregnant AND breastfeeding, I don't want them! FWIW, I bought a lot of generous-sized tops from Target and Kmart when I was pregnant which covered the belly but are not maternity tops - and I still wear them for BFing. They don't look maternity, but they have lots of room for big boobs :D
the singlet i adapted i actually wore under another top to a wedding, the singlet covered my tummy and the top covered the top of my breast but it didn't look like a breastfeeding- or maternity top. There are a few light cardies around at the moment, they wouldn't take up much room in your bag, and you could wear it while feeding to cover more of the top skin.
I would really like to know also! Think I might take up Kate's idea about sewing some fasting clips on the straps. Never even thought of it..
Just had a quick look on ebay too and there are loads of cute nursing dresses on there!! Thinking about getting a couple :)
I've never understood the whole maternity tops for bfeeding. Hello! We've popped out the baby, we no longer need maternity clothing & even if we do we dont want to admit it! :)
I have a good dress from dotti too where the straps unclip, but yes you do flash most of the boob.
Just cant believe how much bfeeding clothing is, for a simple plain singlet......its crazy. Even the bonds singlets are through the roof.
I'd also love to know! I have a couple of crossover shirts and dresses that pull down easily and boob tubes are ok too (with a little cardi for modesty if you like). But I only have teensy weensy bb's so not sure how they'd go for bigger girls...
I have had huge trouble finding bfing friendly clothes that didn't cost the earth and come in size 6-8. I'm sure DS will have finished BFing before I do.
Think someone could make some money out there like this. Pity I am an abhorrent sewer.
For BF singlets, I have the ones from KMart (bub2b?) - they are still maternity ones, so do have the ruching thing around the stomach, but are good for everyday wear, especially at $12 each!
Bub2b in general is the best! Cheapest and best maternity and I agree the singlets are cheap and comfy and the built in bra doesnt make you look like you have pyramid shaped boobs like the target ones!!!
In 12 months of feeding I have not worn any BF clothes. I just choose things with straps that can easily be dropped or things lower cut. Depending on what you like I've found the maxi dresses from Supre (with shoestring straps and gathered front) to be awesome. Super comfy and easy to feed in. Also the dresses that are high waist with singlet type top (IYKWIM), again super comfy and just drop a strap of the shoulder. It's actually super easy to find things to feed in.
I don't understand the belly room either!! Angel maternity has a few tops on their website that seem to not be quite so maternity. I think I'll be doing the layerying thing, with a singlet I pull down with a top I lift up over it.
ABA's Mothers Direct has quite a few things that are for BFing and not maternity (as well as maternity). Ripe has quite a few items.
I find that they are very expensive, just to have some flaps and things that I don't use - I end up just pulling down, anyway!
Stretchy v-necks, scoop necks and singlets are what I used. Cross over designs are great - ruching is even better because it is flattering and if you don't have a bump it makes you look flat ;)
I love my Vigorella gear. I did find that with Vigorella, and probably Metallicus, if they have a binding hem it tears and becomes unstitched, so stick to the overlocked hems because they are forgiving in their stretch. My Vigorella long sleeve wool mix tops are my winter staples for layering - quick drying and very versatile. And Australian-made :)
i liked Nuvo Maternity. They have a different style of breastfeeding clothing. Instead of the straps that drop DOWN and expose you heaps, they have tops with "double layered" fronts, so you lift up the second layer (from the bottom of the top) and the first layer has a cut out circle at nipple height. You wear your maternity bra under the top.
So the result is:
the part baby needs access to, is easily accessible (nipple)
the top part of you is still covered, your stomach is still covered
Before i found this site, i thought ALL breastfeeding clothing, was the "drop down" style, just like maternity bras really.
I initially thought "cross over", or "wrap around" dresses would be good for breastfeeding in. I ended up using those for when i was at home, as it didn't work out (for me), to try and bf in a crossover dress, whilst out. I would forget to tie it back up, or not have two hands free to do that, have to "open up" the dress a bit, in order to do it up right therefore flashing more than i wanted to, in public.
i got a brilliant breastfeeding dress from a Singapore maternity site, also same concept (lift up the 2nd layer, at the waist). Their sizing was TINY, i had to send it back for an XL, when i thought i was a M (from their sizing chart).
Almost Mum was a site i got some nice winter weight bf=ing tops from (reasonably priced e.g $30 per top).
i did come across heaps of very exxy maternity wear sites. it's very dispiriting.
breastmates (a nz site) - i just looked it up and they have bf-ing dresses.
you'll need a money conversion site (like xe). The price is cheaper when you work it out in Aust dollars.
ask HOW the clothes work, before you buy. Some sites have a little video that shows you, how the feeding part works. i got caught out a few times, by not doing this. Doesn't matter how nice the item looks, if the way it works, when you are actually breastfeeding, doesn't suit you, you won't use it.
I just feel like a bondage queen in those flap systems :o Not minding the drop down, I've saved my bucks for stretchy neck lines ;) Otherwise, I would have a top I lift up, with a microfibre tank or cami that I can pull down, so not much shows (do this mainly for warmth around here in winter, esp if I'm going to be caught up the top of the hill with a girl who wants a feed up there!).
I found anything with a loose enough v neck was not too bad to BF from. I just shopped in target or kmart
Target's got some great stretchy scoop and v necks this season!! I've been finding my tops at the op shops this season, but tempted to bump up the collection with some Target staples - anything that will layer with the Vigorella tops and some of my more neutrally coloured summer tanks.
I just wore V necked tops and popped the boobie out the top!!!
I found that the brand Mooloola (at City Beach) was AWESOME for dresses and tops that I could easily breastfeed in AND looked nice. I also lived in their maxi dresses when I was pregnant :)
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