FASHION: My Breastfeeding Friendly Capsule Wardrobe Outfits

As I explained in a previous post I have found finding suitable outfits for both breastfeeding and my changed body pretty difficult. So, after lots of searching online I have finally put together a capsule wardrobe of items that can be mixed and matched to create an array of breastfeeding friendly outfits. As part of all of these outfits are the H&M nursing vests, which I wear underneath tops. This means I lift up the normal top and unclip the nursing top, resulting in the minimum amount of skin is exposed! I loved wearing dresses before giving birth, so the there's a lot of skirt and top combinations, as it's the next best thing to dresses! To see what the whole clothing item looks like and it's price check out the previous post.   

Which is your favourite outfit? 

Feel free to leave me a comment :)

Helen x

FASHION: Breastfeeding Friendly Capsule Wardrobe

I have found finding suitable outfits for both breastfeeding and my post birth body very difficult. Before pregnancy I was an avid dress wearer, pretty much my whole wardrobe is dresses! So when it came to getting a bump I had to but some slightly different style dresses, which wasn't a problem. However after giving birth was a completely different story. Finding outfits that looked ok on my swollen, wobblier and just generally larger breastfeeding body was a daily struggle. My wardrobe of dresses became useless because I couldn't breastfeed in them and most of my tops were too tight around my tummy area. All of these issues didn't help my already lack of confidence about what pregnancy and giving birth had done to my body. 

After lots of online searching and shopping I finally have a capsule wardrobe suitable for breastfeeding and my changed body shape. As I'm sure I can't be the only one struggling to find suitable breastfeeding outfits I thought if share my capsule breastfeeding wardrobe with you. 

In this post I'll show you the items in my new breastfeeding capsule wardrobe and in another post I'll show you how you can mix and match these items to make many different outfit combinations. 

Cream Textured Scallop Hem Top - New Look - reduced to £5

Rose Printed Button Dress - New Look - reduced to £9

Navy Crepe T Shirt - New Look - reduced to £5 (now only available in cream)

Paisley Printed Tube Skirt - New Look - reduced to £5

Maternity Skinny Blue Jeans - New Look - reduced to £7

Blue and White Patterned Tube Skirt - New Look - reduced to £6

Black and White Patterened Tube Skirt - New Look - reduced to £7

Pale Pink T Shirt with Lace Detailing - H&M - £7.99

Black Crepe Jacket - H&M - £14.99

High Waisted Blue Jeans - H&M - were reduced to £7 but now £14.99

White Loose Fitting T Shirt - H&M - reduced to £6 
(similar here)

Blue and White Stripy Loose Fitting T Shirt - H&M - reduced to £6 (similar here)

Jacquard Skirt - H&M - reduced to £10

White and Black Nursing Tops (pack of two) - H&M - £14.99

I'm still very much on the hunt for dresses suitable for breastfeeding, so if you know of any please leave me a link below. 

Did you struggle with what to wear after having  a baby? 

Feel free to leave me a comment :) 

Helen x 

MOTHER: How do you know what is best?

When we found out we were expecting our first baby I hadn't anticipated the changes in which others interact with me.

Stroking my tummy without being invited somehow became okay,

Asking when/how we conceived our child somehow became okay,

Asking constantly about personal choices like whether we're going to find out the gender of our baby somehow became okay,

Then frowning upon YOUR choice or decision somehow became okay,

 Whilst sharing every piece of unwanted advice with you somehow became okay,

Insisting you breastfeed because 'breast is best' somehow became okay,

Reeling off the negatives of giving your child a dummy somehow became okay.

I know that everyone has an opinion, that's fine. But when your about to become parents (or already are parents) you are constantly bombarded with advice/opinions/pressure - it can all get a bit too much! I'm naturally a worrier, it's in my nature, so being faced with all of this helpful advice has become very overwhelming at times. How am I supposed to know what is best for our baby? What is best for US?

Midwives, family members, couples at antenatal classes, work colleagues, friends, even the next door neighbour will have invaluable pieces of advice for you. Talking about raising children seems to be a discussion that everyone likes to get involved in, everyone has an opinion on what is best. As someone who is a new parent, this terrifies me. I don't want to ignore all of the advice - after all Mum's have been there and know what to expect.

Parenthood is new world for us at the moment. But at the same time our decisions aren't going to please everyone, yet somehow I do feel a certain pressure to try and please everyone. A pressure I wish I didn't feel and it makes me upset that I do. I know we should just ignore everyone else and go with what is best for us, but how do I know what's best? We are on the learning journey every new parent goes on and that excites me just as much as it scares me. I think that's natural, parenthood is life changing after all.

Has anyone else felt like this?

Feel free to share your experiences below!

Helen x