Things I Love ~ Postpartum Wardrobe

Third in my series of favorite things (click to see Part I and Part II) is about postpartum clothes. I know everyone who's had a baby just groaned when reading that. It's HARD to dress yourself right after you have a baby! Your body a freaky shape and you feel tired and can hardly find the time to shower, plus when you finally do get an outfit together, baby poops on you. Right?

For me, the perfect postpartum outfit (1) is comfortable enough to nap in, (2) is nursing-friendly, (3) hides the pooch enough that people aren't constantly asking "when's your baby due?", and (4) makes you feel pretty. #4 is important - recovering from birth and being sleep-deprived are downers, feeling pretty lifts you up!

My #1 momiform right after having Wyatt was the Dria Cover + maternity skinny jeans. I have never used nursing covers, because I think they draw more attention to the fact that you're nursing and I've just found them awkward. But the Dria is different, because it's a poncho you can wear anytime. It is SO comfy. Plus, having a toddler around changes things a little - I can be nursing discretely and suddenly have to get up to keep the toddler from throwing all the bags of Starbucks coffee in their trash can. Not that that ever happened.

Oslo Dria Nursing Cover $59; Three Seasons Maternity Skinny Jeans - Amazon $50;
Mossimo Supply Slouchy Boots - Target $29.99

I am so happy those skinny jeans don't fit me anymore, because I wore. them. out. after I had Wyatt. Here I am one week postpartum - same jeans:

525 America Hoodie Poncho - on sale now Amazon $50

Also prominent in my postpartum wardrobe has been leggings. When your belly is all poochy and you have porn star boobs, showing off that your legs are still somewhat normally shaped is a good thing. Plus - SO COMFY! My favorites are American Apparel, in lots of colors. Pair with a nursing cami (favorite is Glamourmom long with a built-in bra) and a loose t-shirt, tunic, shirt dress, or sweater, and you're ready to go! 6 weeks postpartum:

Cardigan - Target sale $19; Blouse - Old Navy sale $7.99; Flexees Fat Free Dressing Tank Top - Amazon $38; Matty M Leggings - Dillards $48; Boots - Target $24.99

Here's an outfit I've put together with cheap, versatile pieces that can be remixed. I'm not a fan of spending lots of money on postpartum clothes, since [hopefully] they won't fit for long!

Leggings - American Apparel $32; Flowy shirt - Old Navy $32.94; Boots - Target $29.99; Earrings - Etsy $18
(pair with white Glamourmom Long Bra Nursing Camisole)

I do believe in investing in one nice dress that makes breastfeeding easy. Low-cut, stretchy non-nursing dresses work well. Like these

Electric Plum Bell Sleeve Dress - Isabella Oliver $159;
Suzi Chin for Maggy Boutique Dolman Jersey Dress - Nordstrom $138

Everyone feels prettier in a dress, right? And pretty = happy.

I actually bought a nursing dress for the first time ever, and I love it - I wear it to work or church at least once a week. It's as comfy as a nightgown, but looks adorable with boots and is easy to dress up for church or pair with a jacket for work:

Japanese Weekend D&A Bamboo Twist Front Nursing Dress - Figure 8 $96

Now that I'm back to work, and working hard to loose the belly pooch, my wardrobe is shifting again, but those were the pieces that carried me through my first eight weeks. I just can't stress enough how important it was for my happiness to wear clothes that were comfy AND made me feel pretty. I'm proud to say I only wore yoga pants out of the house one time :)

I need to give a shout-out to my absolute FAVORITE fashion blog right now, aimed squarely at mamas like me. Ain't No Mom Jeans is full of fabulous ideas. Check it out - they have of lots of great tips and are much more adorable-er than me!