Spied: Gauzy Plaid Shirt {+ thoughts on dressing to nurse}


I have been pondering my postpartum clothes probably more than I should. {I might be incredibly sick of my limited maternity wardrobe}. But I am way more focused on trying to flatter my body than I am on nursing access, which I know should be a pretty big consideration.

Mary said a few months ago she thought a wardrobe of button up shirts would be ideal for nursing, and I think she was right.

I spotted this top, and think it could be a fantastic light weight option for the summer.


Gauzy Plaid Shirt - Forever 21 - $12.50

I have been wondering about nursing tanks and tops. Do any of you have thoughts on them? I saw this one and thought it might be a good option:


Crossover Nursing Cami - Gap - $18 (Orig. $22.50)

So tell me your thoughts on nursing wear? What worked for you, what didn't? Leave your thoughts below.

32 comments:

  1. I'm excited to read these responses, I'm struggling with the nursing wardrobe! Pretty sure I need to go shopping...

    The only advice I have so far is loose fitting things... tighter shirts only highlight my postpartum tummy and my freakin huge boobs {do women really pay money to get big boobs?! they are impossible to dress!}

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  2. oh man, what a topic! there's so much discrepancy amongst moms. I personally wore a regular stretchy camisole under all my shirts and a nursing bra under that. That way, when I lifted up the hem of my shirt, and pulled down the top of the camisole, the camisole still covered my belly and back fat (which will show even with a nursing cover, especially if you're sitting on a backless chair or bench) I found that I had to wear a camisole and bra because the tanks with bras built in didn't do anything to control "nipping". And trust me, with a baby yanking on those things all day, you'll be nipping all the time. It's just not a look I'm comfortable with :)

    But I liked my set-up because I didn't need any special "nursing" wear, so I didn't have to spend a bajillion dollars. I also found that lifting up my shirt was easier than wearing something I could unbutton and pull down. There is just no way to hold your hungry baby, adjust the nursing cover, unbutton one-handed, and do that all in reverse without exposing boob or dropping your baby at some point. It just depends on how comfortable you are with nudity, or your level of dexterity I guess.

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  3. I lived nursing wear. I'm so self conscious about my body after birth that to not have to lift up my shirt and have to mess with multiple shirts is so nice. Milk smart mama has great options and mothwear has basics as well. You have to hunt for the affordable stylish wear but for me it was worth it

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  4. Targe has good nursing tanks that just recently started coming in extra long (yay). when i started nursing they only had the regular length which i always felt was too short. you can't beat the price either. i got 1 in white, black and grey. bravado makes nursing tanks that are thicker material that are nice for summer b/c you can just wear them as a tank top. for bras i had a bravado one that was nice, also nummies brand was one i liked. i think elle mcpherson makes ones that are supposed to be good but never tried them. i also got a glamor mom tank and hated it b/c the lining was very irritating to me. for clothes, things that button or are loose or move to the side are best. tanks and cardigans are a staple in my wardrobe.

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  5. I did basically the same thing crafterhours did - I just wore a stretchy camisole or a nursing bra under all my clothes (some I lifted up, like t-shirts, some I unbuttoned or parted, if they were wrap-style dresses or shirts). I liked having a cover some of the time, but didn't use it when I was with close family or friends or just at home.

    -Megan

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  6. My advice: Don't layer. You'll look cute for two hours and then have to take everything off on top and put it back on again when you're done, only to go through the same process again in another two hours. As far as nursing bras go, I like the ones that clasp in the front AND on the straps. They're so much easier to take on and off, and allow you to still be covered even while you nurse. Motherhood Maternity has some great, affordable options in this style. Whatever you do, try to maximize your comfort! Breastfeeding takes a while to adjust to, for you and your baby; the whole learning process will be much smoother if your wardrobe is one thing you don't have to worry about.

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  7. I LIVED in this tank:
    http://www.bravadodesigns.com/shop/the-essential-nursing-tank
    while nursing my second baby. The ruching in the front made it kind of pretty, and I just layered it under pretty much everything. I would totally recommend the nursing tanks - however I have a smaller chest size (I maybe made it up to a large "B" cup) so that might make a difference. But that Bravado tank made everything feel secure.

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  8. I also agree with crafterhours. I just used those old navy ribbed tanks underneath everything because they are easy to stretch down.

    Also, I would strongly suggest a hooter hider. They're super easy to make and there's tons of tutorials out there. I made mine extra long so I wasn't Janet Jackson-ing everywhere.

    I do have to add, unless it's a cross top..don't wear a dress to church. Nobody warned me about this and i suddenly realized I couldn't feed her and had to leave when my baby got hungry! ;)

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  9. Here's my two cents after nursing *5!* kids (although, of course, everyone is different):
    To nurse, I prefer to lift my shirts from the bottom, not pull them aside from the top. By doing so I can leave my shoulders and chest looking normal, just cover up the baby and the goods, and it is much more discreet. Nursing covers or blankets are great, but you might as well wear a sign that says, "Hey! I'm feeding my baby with my breasts over here!" I love belly bands while I'm pregnant, but even more when I'm nursing! I layer them under my shirts and they keep all that extra baby flab under wraps, but also keep your unmentionables covered when you have your shirt pulled up to nurse!
    I stick with knit tops as much as I can because they seem to wrinkle less and it's quick to pull them up and down. Blouses with buttons usually wrinkle a lot and are a pain because they take two hands to button. Along those lines, try on nursing bras and only buy ones that you can fasten with one hand!
    One more thing, my sister does this and I think it's clever: She uses old layering shirts (Shade, etc.) as "nursing" tops by cutting holes for each breast in the front. Yes, you read that right. It sounds freaky, but just think, then you can still layer your tops but have easy access, and keep everything covered!

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  10. i skipped the nursing bras/"special undie tops" and went with those spaghetti strap sports like bras. i always pulled my shirts up which meant i missed wearing most of my dresses because they were not nursing friendly. man, i really hated dressing to nurse and i did it for 13 months. so fun ;)

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  11. I just wore button-ups and a nursing bra for a long time. I made an emergency Target run right after my baby was born for lots of loose fitting button-ups and that's what got me through the first little while. As nursing got easier and the baby got better at latching I was able to branch out a bit.

    Kayla
    Freckles in April

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  12. i have some nursing experience under my belt :) here are a few of my favs: tshirts with cardigans- easy and covers your sides. i also like to wear button up shirts. also a good nursing bra is essential. i loved my bravo, $60, but worth every single penny. another funny thing i have done is cut off tanks under my bust and worn them under a vneck t, sounds funny but then you can pull your vneck t down and pull up your tank and voila- coverage + it totally works. Also henley tees work really well. Dresses are hard- I really like skirts and tops when nursing. Its sometimes awkward to pull down a dress and nursing dresses are usually not cute. good luck! love your blog. thanks for sharing.

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  13. nursing clothes are super important. target has a fantastic nursing cami that i wore EVERY SINGLE night to bed. it worked great under all my tops too.

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  14. I invested in a lot of nursing tops when I was still pregnant, and it ended up being a big waste of money. I found most were ill-fitting, and got wet or stretched out while nursing. Cardigans over regular camisoles or tank tops worked well for me, as did button-down shirts (the baby really covers you from the front, and no one is the wiser from the back). We used a nursing cover for several months, but as my son got older, he wanted to be able to look around while nursing, so that went into storage (still very worth it in the beginning, though, when you nurse frequently). Also, if you're considering a pump, I used my Medela Swing pump a few times a day, every day, for 13 months with NO problems at all.

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  15. Get a good nursing bra and you are golden. I didn't buy any nursing tops and I always felt fine. But, definitely do skirts and tops to church, because dresses DO NOT work. Or at least they don't work very easily. :) I found that out the hard way!

    I bought two nursing bras from Target, they are the Gilligan and O'Malley brand, and I loved them. You can't beat the price either, $12! But, everyone has their own preference. Find what works for you. Trust me, we can give you all the advice in the world, but when it all comes down to it, it's all about what you are the most comfortable with. With my baby, my milk didn't come in very well at first too, so I was supplementing with formula and that was really nice for when we were at church for 3 hours or when we were out and about running errands. Don't feel like you're a horrible mother if you give your little one a bottle every now and again. It's ok, I promise. :)

    Also, the best nursing pads, in my opinion, are Lansinoh. They have lots of sticky on the back so they stick to your bra (or garment top) and they absorb a TON of moisture. They're not terribly expensive either. And, for the first few weeks, I recommend Lanolin for your breasts. It's safe for baby and it helps with the pain. After a few weeks, you'll get used to nursing though and be fine. Good luck with all the nursing. It's such a special thing between a momma and a baby; I loved every second!

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  16. I didn't invest in expensive nursing wear because I didn't see the point. I bought 3 cheap yoga bras from Old Navy and wore those to pieces (just pull them down to nurse) and I also bought 3 Gillian & O'Malley nursing tanks from Target to wear under shirts b/c they had more support in the cups for when I was going out than the yoga bras did.

    I also just got to the point in nursing where I didn't really care and started wearing my regular t-shirt bras and just pulled the soft cup down when I needed to nurse and just trashed them when I was done b/c they were inexpensive and served their purpose - plus my boobs evened out and they no longer fit!

    I STILL wear my G&O'M tanks even though my babe is 16 months and hasn't nursed in a few weeks. I will wear these bad boys to pieces when babe 2 arrives in November I suspect. :)

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  17. Target.com has some great nursing bras and tanks for super cheap. LOVE the tanks to hide the post partum belly. The pregnancy
    belly bands plus a regular nursing bra do the same thing. I didn't use nursing bras with my first two. With my third, I like them. Except for one piece dresses that don't button up the front, most clothes can work. I have even worn leggings and a one piece dress and I was fine. The first couple of weeks I just stay home in giant men's pajamas and lay in bed and get to know my baby.

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  18. I agree with crafterhours- knit shirts are the best. My little one hated being covered so blankets/nursing covers didn't really work for us. I preferred lifting up my shirt rather than buttoning down. If I have another baby I'll probably try a belly band (didn't buy one with the first) and/or a cardigan when nursing.

    I have a target nursing tank but don't like that it's pretty much a shelf bra with minimal support. I always had to wear a regular nursing bra underneath it. A wireless bra was important for me b/c I got mastitis a bunch of times. Yuck. Also, one of my good friends warned me I'd be wearing a bra all the time, even to bed. I know that's not the case for everyone but it was for me and I appreciated the warning.

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  19. LOVE all these ideas. Just had twins and desperetely need clothes to cover the leftover belly. SICK. Keep them coming!!!

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  20. I don't have any kids, so I don't have any personal advice, but I did see this at Making it Lovely a few weeks ago so I thought I'd share.

    http://makingitlovely.com/2011/02/08/nursing-fashion-guide/

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  21. Loving plaid at the moment!

    I am a new reader! Just found your blog! So glad I did!

    Monique xx

    misszuman.blogspot.com

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  22. What great ideas. Really, it is whatever works best for you. I only have one "nursing" top, and that's because it's a pregnancy and everything in-between top too. I do sort of wish that I had a nursing tank so I could be able to nurse in wrap dresses. I think I'm still going to get one or two :) For the nursing pads...I use homemade ones that are amazing. Kristen Messina made them for me our of soft flannel (that sticks in place on its own). I just wash them in the machine. So much cheaper than buying nursing pads all the time!

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  23. Good nursing bras are key!! My chest is on the large side so I really needed the extra support. It's worth it to splurge a bit to get a couple of really great bras that will help you look and feel great for the duration of your nursing time. Just don't run out and buy them in the first couple of weeks while you are engorged! Wait until things "settle down" a bit.
    I never bought nursing clothing per say, except for a couple of tanks for night time. The belly bands are really great though, to help hide what you want hidden! I preferred lifting up my shirt like some of the others, but be careful with fabrics that are too stretchy and tend to lose shape after being lifted a few times!
    Good luck nursing! Just stick with it through the first several weeks and you'll be fine. I'm two weeks into nursing my second baby so I'm right there with ya! Loving your posts about post partum wardrobe!

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  24. I love using undercovermama nursing tanks. They're especially nice if you have other layers you need to contain or cover! I wore them with a cardigan and belt for months!

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  25. Let's see... I have only 1 official 'nursing top' from old navy. It's the shirt I save for when I know I won't be able to find a secluded spot; for instance, airplane travel with a 2 month old. The rest of the time I use a belly band and a shirt I can lift.

    I bought a couple of different nursing bras from different places. The ones from Motherhood Maternity fit in the store, but after about 4 hours started to HURT! They just weren't sturdy enough. The best ones are the G&O that I got at target. And as a bonus, they were also the cheapest by a fair margin.

    For covers, a nice wide scarf or shawl is the easiest thing to manage. And they're easier to carry with you than those silly 'nursing drapes'.

    The thing you have to realize is, no matter how covered you are, no matter how cooperative your baby is being. Everybody knows what you're doing.

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  26. I know how you feel about the postpartum clothes. That was one reason why I couldn't blog for most of my pregnancy. It was just so completely depressing for me. Dressing a baby bump isn't too fun for me because I did not want to buy a whole bunch of clothes that I was never going to wear again.
    My baby is 8 weeks old now. I didn't not worry about buying nursing tops. I don't think it's necessary. I just use a nursing cover or a blanket. Works just fine.
    So happy for you. Enjoy your little one.

    Method Clothe

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  27. I went nuts in the nursing top/bra department too, because I just didn't know what to expect and wanted to have lots of options to figure out what would be best. Turns out, I wasted a lot of money... The nursing tops from Gap and Old Navy aren't that great, I've sent about four back and lots of nursing bras out there are just poorly made. I'd go the button up/cami route - easier, more affordable and not as dorky looking. Also, they're not online, but my Super Target had Bravado Basics (read not as expensive as regular Bravado products). I got a couple of stretchy bras (no underwire) for home and the hospital (it's key to have a comfortable bra for the hospital, I think - it's when your nips are going to be the most sore) and a tank that I wear almost every night (I wash it, promise!). Those totaled about $100 all together, but it's all I've really needed so far (my little guy's almost five weeks). Also, beware of nursing camis that have lots of extra belly room. Somehow, magically, I don't have a lot of postpartum belly business and the tanks I bought had so much extra room that they just made me look bigger and lumpier. Weird, I know. Good luck! Oh, also, remember childbirth and postpartum business isn't pretty and you're not going to care too much about what you look like for a few weeks. Promise.

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  28. During my nursing year, I wore a nursing bra, a cami and then a flowy t-shirt. When I nursed I would pull my t-shirt up, pull the cami down from the top and then undo the hook for my nursing bra. I liked that my stomach was covered by the cami and the t-shirt covered me from the top.

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  29. It is hot in AZ so I just wore a sports bra that had thin straps like a cami instead of layering a cami AND another shirt. It worked so well!

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  30. I didn't have time to read all the posts, so I hope I'm not repeating information but here 'tis: I'm currently nursing my third baby and dressing can definitely be a challenge. I suggest buttons for easy access (think shirtdresses) and structure to hide the tummy (as in darts and seaming). The more structured the clothing the less work your body has to do to look good! Trust me :)

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  31. Target has a GREAT dress right now by Mossimo. Kendi Everyday wore it a few days ago in her "Olive Juice" post. It is $24.99 and the BEST nursing/postpartum dress!!! I wore mine to church this morning. Love it!

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  32. Cute shirt!

    I'm cheap, so take this with a grain of salt, but I bought two target nursing tanks and wore them under everything for an entire year! Wow. They are actually still in pretty good shape. I'm also petite on top so I got away with just the tanks (w/ the built-in shelf bra). So then all you have to do is make sure you can pull up anything you wear on top. The part that stinks about that is NO DRESSES.

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