Advice on Buying Maternity and Nursing Clothes

Published by Savannah Lloyd,

Being pregnant and carrying a baby is one of the best and most beautiful experiences in the world. But all those changes that happen to women's body can make some of the simplest things more difficult including finding the perfect clothing. No matter how beautiful they look, women often can find themselves being not so attractive and less confident. And with the popular belief that shopping is the best therapy in moments when we feel bed for ourselves, maybe it's time to start looking for new, stylish nursing pieces and boost your confidence.

If you are a first-time mum, then everything is new for you so it's quite normal to not be sure when is the right time to start shopping for new nursing dresses and other clothing. Most women will need maternity clothes around the 16th week of pregnancy while others may need early as 11 weeks. It's all personal and varies from one woman to another. There are a lot of factors that play an important role here like body type, height, weight gain, is it your first pregnancy, etc. Usually, when you came to the third or fourth month, most women start their new shopping experience for maternity clothing. If you are a first-time mum it's natural to get excited about buying maternity clothes and showing your belly, but try to weight until 12 weeks. Buying anything earlier is too soon as you still don't have an idea of how your body will start to change.


When looking to buy pregnancy clothing it's a good idea to look for pieces you can wear it after birth. Pieces that can help you for an easy breastfeeding your baby. Although most of the clothing is designed for this purpose still it's a good idea to check before buy. Once you start looking to purchase clothing made for nursing mother you will get surprised from the wide range of designs and styles available. They are designed to be stylish but also do make breastfeeding easier and more discreet.

Things you should consider are comfortable nursing tops, nursing dresses or wraps, nursing tank tops and nursing bras. On the other hand, you should avoid rompers or jumpsuits, dresses without buttons, excessive lawyers, regular bras, flimsy or tight tops.

Tips for choosing nursing clothes


  • First, keep in mind that darker colours, prints and patterns can help you hide any unexpected leaks much better than light colours. You can also consider wearing breast pads which can help in soaking up any breast ilk from beaky breasts and prevent stains on your clothing. Some women find them very useful while others tell that they help only to a degree.
  • Second, whenever you are going make sure you always carry with you a jacket, sweater or vest. They can help you to quickly cover an embarrassing stain. Also, you can use them as a nursing cover that will help you to breastfeed your baby more discreetly. Shawls and scarves are also a great accessory that can help you in such situations.
  • Last but not least, try to away from tight-fitting blouses, tops and bras. The pressure they can cause on your breasts can be uncomfortable but also can lead to more serious problems like plugged milk ducts, mastitis or sore nipples.

Types of breastfeeding clothes


Today you can find literally anything in the section of nursing clothing, from formal wear and professional outfits to variety of shirts, blouses, dresses tank tops and sleepwear. You can find all this and more in maternity shops, department stores or online.

  • Nursing dresses and formal wear - Whenever you need to go on a dinner or to a family party you want to dress up a little and look stylish but also comfortable. Fortunately, this is not an issue because there is a vast array of flattering and stylish nursing dresses and formal wear available on the market. Wrap dresses are definitely a nursing mama's best friend. Most of the regular dresses are awkward and uncomfortable to ear when you are nursing, so whether you need something for a night out or work, the wrap dress is here to rescue the situations.
  • Nursing shirts and blouses - There is no question that nursing fashion has come a long way so with this nursing blouses and shirts come in many different colours and styles. They may be button-down, pull up or pull over. Some styles don't even look like they are nursing pieces at all so you may even continue to enjoy them wearing even after you wean your baby.
  • Nursing bras - They are simply a must. They come with panels or flaps that pull down or move over so you can comfortably breastfeed your baby without having to take off your bra. A good bra should be well-fitting and comfortable and should also provide support for the heavy, milk-filled breasts. Choosing one made from natural, breathable material is always a good choice.
  • Nursing sleepwear - Enjoying a good night's sleep is very important for both, you and your baby. And wearing the right sleepwear will definitely help. You should be waking up often during the night because your little one will need to be breastfeeding. So, sleeping in something comfortable that allows easy access to your breast will make nighttime feedings more easy and comfortable.

Breastfeeding clothes have become more stylish and many women enjoy wearing them long after the baby is weaned. With this in mind, spending a couple of dollars for quality, modern nursing pieces is definitely a good investment. Moreover, they will come into help if you decide to have more than one baby.