Showing posts with label Nursing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nursing. Show all posts

Monday, April 30, 2012

PostPartum Mommy Makeover: Dressing for the Fourth Trimester


the pearl you grew cell by cell over 40 long weeks has finally emerged 
Postpartum is puberty‘s cousin.  Both involve high doses of hormones, manic emotions, and awkward body fluctuations.

Amidst the sleep deprivation and oxytocin throes, remember this truth: you are a mother, and unequivocally a queen. Every scar on your body is an imprint of the life you have born. Wear each mark as a badge of honor.

Your pre-pregnancy trousers will not magically latch as you exit the hospital, but if you're lucky your baby will.  And that tiny body should be your focus.  Postpartum like pregnancy is a process, and one that can be relished, if given fair opportunity and appropriate costume.

THE FIRST 40 DAYS
Immediately after giving birth, I declare that all mothers have the the right to a 40 day spa like retreat with their newly born.  Yet even during your span of sanctuary, you have to get dressed in clean clothes, everyday. A floral chemise and lightweight robe, yoga leggings paired with a cozy hoodie, select your lounge-wear with care.  Well wishers are going to visit and you want to look presentable.

BEYOND 40 DAYS
Tops(how to nurse in normal clothes)
  • The beauty of a button-down lies in its adaptability.  Expose the serving saucers and enshroud the rest.  It need not buttondown to hip, a handful of buttons on a henley is plenty.  
  • A criss-cross wrap top not only leaves your core under the covers, it will also allow you to unveil a single teet at a time.  Or opt for a draped cowlneck, the extra fabric cloaks you and your sweet suckling's business.
  • A knit's neckline may scoop, dive, or lunge but make sure it stretches to accomodate milk appointments. And you may desire to pair it with a nursing tank. Open neck jersey knits are especially graceful when ruched or ruffled as they cloak retreating remains of pregnancy. 
  • Because a swing jacket is cut fuller and wider than your core, your center instantly looks smaller and flatter by comparison. A  fintgertip-length hoodie cut straight or banded below the bust (at the empire) rather than along the hipline avoids the puffy snowman homage in favor of a long, lean silhouette.

Skirts & Dresses:
  • Skirts are guileless creatures on the whole.  An A-Line cut will simultaneously pardon and offer sequestered sanctuary to a soft center, an inflated thigh, a swollen bottom.  Elastic waistbands are of particular use as they will unquestionably follow the expansion and contraction of your own figure.
  • Wrap dresses offer similar loyalties.  As you abandon inches they can be tightened across your frame; they also outfit you as a gracious and efficient milkmaid.
  • Babies are clumsy creatures and sleep deprived mothers are equally messy, wash and wear is thus a requirement to avoid dry cleaning dependencies.   Jersey dresses with veils of ruching, ruffles, and other embellishments will offer a vague yet vivacious outline.

Pants:
  • When given a soft, delicious center, the waistband of denim should corset in the widest width with a mid-rise.  If the waistband is too low, muffin tops results.  Too high and you'll resemble a kangaroo.
  • Drawstring trousers allow you to adjust sizes sans tailor.
Unders:
Accessories
  • A lightweight scarf can be tied to camouflage bust and belly simultaneously.
  • A wide stretchy belt worn at your widest borders can corset in the remains of birth.  Just don't cinch it in too tight.
  • Just because you've had a baby, doesn't mean you are one.  Select a diaper bag with plenty of organization and sophistication.

Don't be shy to add your experience in the comments.  What's your favorite postpartum indulgence?


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Thursday, May 5, 2011

Dear Empress: How can I nurse in normal clothes?



Dear Empress:

How can I make a regular wardrobe acceptable for nursing?  I want to easily breastfeed my baby without completely undressing or buying an entire wardrobe of nursing specific tops that I can only wear for a limited period of time.

Lady Liz

::::::::::::::::::::

Dear Milking Mom, 

I can recommend four categories of traditional clothing that will allow cinchy chic access to la leche.

button-down:
the beauty of a button-down lies in its adaptability.  Expose the serving saucers and enshroud the rest.  It need not buttondown to hip, a handful of buttons on a henley is plenty.  Zippers and hook and eyes are just as advantageous, but my favorite alternative is a tie-neck blouse, the button-front's flirtatious cousin.

criss-cross wrap:

Not only will this option leave your core under the covers, it will also allow you to unveil a single teet at a time.

drapes & cowls

The extra fabric cloaks you and your sweet suckling's business.

wide neck
The neckline may scoop, dive, or lunge but make sure it stretches.  And possibly pair it with a nursing tank like Bravado's Essential Nursing Bra Tank.


Topshop, BB Dakota, Anthropologie, Anthropologie

ShopStyle

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Nursing Bra Review: Top Nursing Bra Choices


 
BC (before-children), I wrote a well-informed, yet strictly theoretical post about nursing bras.  Fortunately for my fashion reputation, the theories still apply.  

But this here post is a really-real, experiential review of mine and baby boyfriend's top selections for a nursing layette.  

Now not so fast my milk maid.  First measure. Preferably after your milk has unpacked its suitcases.  I've experienced first hand, the really-real reality of a three cup size increase in the lady eggs. 

This requires an entirely new collection of nests, and if you plan to order online and enjoy the diversity of sizes and styles available to the informed shopper, not to mention the convenience of ordering at home in your postpartum stretchy pants, you must measure.  

If you are shy of self applied measuring tape, go to a well-equipped department store or bra boutique and get a professional to calculate the nest size for you. However, I must warn you, my favorite department store only carried one style of nursing lingerie, and I had to button a pair of trousers and pack a double stroller to capacity to get there.

Elle Macpherson Intimates Maternelle Maternity Bra
Comfort: 10, Flexibility: 10, Support: 6, Prettiness: 7
Fits True to Size

In the first few weeks following your wee milk-a-tarian's arrival, when your lactation officials are sucked sore, not to mention incessantly shifting, this is the balm I recommend.  It offers an exceptionally soft cup and lace that ascends to a luxurious level of modesty, a strong contrast to the amount of exposure you currently endure.

Bravado Bliss! Women's Nursing Bra
Comfort: 9, Flexibility: 8, Support: 8, Prettiness:8
Fits True to Size

If I could recommend only one basket in which to place all nursing flowers, this would be it.  Bravado offers a soft cup with the strength of seaming and underwire.  It both calms and camouflages tender teats.


Le Mystere Sexy Mama Underwire
Comfort: 7, Flexibility: 6, Support: 10,
Prettiness:10
Once your milk supply has stabilized and pretty become a primary consideration, test drive this Cadillac of the nursing kingdom. Whether you're concerned with shape under a blouse or seduction sans buttons, both views are lovely.  And right now it is on sale for 50% off at Zulily.

Comfort: 6, Flexibility: 6, Support: 9, Prettiness:8
If you want an affordable effect similar to Le Mystere with only a slightly diminished amount of support and prettiness, I recommend this price sensitive compromise.

Simple Wishes Hands Free Breast Pump Bustier
Functionality: 10, Prettiness:0
While not even tangential to attractive, I adore the function of this nursing aid.  My hands prefer several activities to the banality of nursing pump support.


Pray tell, what succors your sucklings?  Share your wisdom in the comments.

Procure your own empire constitution. Your personalized fashion look book can include your own postpartum styling rules of conduct and much more.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Nursing Flowers, A Bra Guide for Maternity & Postpartum


After creating and delivering an infant, you are pretty much She-rah: teaming with superhuman pro-creative powers, one being your mother's milk. But this strength must be controlled to ensure that its mysterious strength is not squandered indiscriminately. Lily Padz are a progressive pad that prevents rather than just absorbing. The lillies act as a seal on your mammo-milkers. This keeps them cool, dry, and comfortable. These three qualities can predict happy breasts, free of clogs and infections.

Next you'll need a supportive guise. Exposing your super powers recklessly is uncomfortable, possibly embarrassing, and potentially dangerous. Choose carefully between these options, allow your unique strengths to guide you.

Front closure, full exposure: fastens between the cups at the front. This type is easy to open but doesn't leave a lot of mystery to secret identities.

Zippy: Zippers sit poised for action under each cup. Discreet, easy to open and close, but zip lines can show through a closely fitting spandex top.


Cross & Slip: Lightweight and very comfortable. This style has a crossover front design so you can slip your maid out on a lightening fast impulse.


The Stretcher: No clasps, no buttons, no fastenings. This one's strength is completely internal. Even when disabled with exhaustion, you can pull the cup up and over to serve power to your offspring.

Hooks or Buttons: Your holster is snapped, fastened or buttoned to the shoulder strap, which can easily be released to allow the cup down. Ensure you buy one that exposes the whole of the breast's power and not just the nipple. The bra fabric left pressing on the breast may cause blocked milk ducts.

Regardless of which style you choose, below are important guidelines to keep in mind:

  1. Avoid underwire: Underwires are like nursing kryptonite.  At least during the first few weeks following birth when the breats and milk flow are most volatile.  Underwire  can confine the growth changes in breast size and shape during pregnancy, and restrict milk flow during breast feeding.
  2. Quick Draw: Try it on and make sure you can unfasten, unzip, unclip, or slip as necessary with one hand.
  3. Soft Cottons: Even if the cup has some lace or alternative fabric on the exterior, the interior should be lined with seamless soft cotton. Anything else can chafe your sensipples and may not keep them cool, dry and free of infections.
  4. Perfect fit: Your getup shouldn't bind the breast in any way that will interfere with milk flow. This means wearing a regular bra or one that doesn't fit isn't an option. Not only because of the sad visual state it leaves your breasts in, but also because it can inhibit your milking powers all together, replacing it with crippling pain.
Eventually the power of wielding your mother's milk may begin to weigh on you. And it may be time to surrender the mantle for a season. At this point your lactical powers will retract leaving the skin somewhat looser and lower than before. Fear not, you are not defenseless, just a reborn heroine in need of a new costume. Something with a strongly supportive band and perhaps underwire.


Some super-moms find that one of their breasts was more powerful than the others. If you feel ill proportioned with power post weaning, fit the bra to your most vigorous side. Then if you choose you can add a "cookie" or removable pad to the cup of the less full breast.

In the mean time, explore appropriate uniforms for both Claketta Kents and Super Women.

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