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Lisbet
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| Posted: Jan 21 2008 at 6:15pm | IP Logged
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Has anyone else notice that every single nursing dress offered by Motherwear is now knee length or less? They used to carry some nice comfy/sporty long dresses.
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mellyrose
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| Posted: Jan 21 2008 at 6:44pm | IP Logged
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I found that their quality has gone downhill as well. I had 4 or 5 pieces that I LOVED after Colin's birth (7 years ago now!), but when I purchased a nursing top and a *dress* (ugh, it was USELESS as a dress, and barely adequate as a nightgown) I was shocked at the poor quality. The sizing was off from before, and the material was cheap. The nursing top was completely ridiculous - there was no way to wear it and not expose my side after nursing in it once.
Very disappointing :(
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Jan 21 2008 at 6:45pm | IP Logged
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Oh no!!! I was counting on them!! My last two nursing dresses are quite stretched out of shape now, and Motherwear did used to have the nicest long dresses!! Not them too!!! 
Have you checked Expressiva? I haven't browsed either Motherwear or Expressiva yet, but I was planning on it before too much longer.
I'm anxious to hear if anyone has found any nice nursing dresses? Is it back to ebay then?
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Jen Mackintosh
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JenniferS
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| Posted: Jan 21 2008 at 7:39pm | IP Logged
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Yes, I have noticed this. In fact, I was just thinking about how disappointing it was this morning. UGH!
Jen
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SallyT
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| Posted: Jan 21 2008 at 8:48pm | IP Logged
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I'm so sorry to hear that! I have a Motherwear dress I bought when my 14yo was not quite 1 -- beautiful dark-blue velour, really heavy and soft and wonderful-feeling -- and even though I haven't had a nursing baby in 4 years, I STILL wear that dress. It's long, too, almost ankle-length, but then I always found their sizing to be a trifle large for me (their smalls swallowed me, even when I wasn't, to my mind, all that "small").
The only other dress I have of theirs is a denim sheath-type jumper with deep armholes -- it was one of their "basics" about, um, 6 years ago (so maybe they don't still carry it). It too is long.
I'm not currently in the market for more nursing clothes -- though I'd love to be -- but I am disappointed to hear that one of my favorite companies is turning out inferior products. Makes me wish I'd kept all the clothes I invested in when my two oldest were small.
Sally
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SallyT
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| Posted: Jan 21 2008 at 8:53pm | IP Logged
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Oh -- I'm too sentimental to part with the velour dress, but I'm not currently wearing the denim one, if anyone's interested. I guess it's sort of a stereotypical homeschool-mom jumper, but it is comfy, long (it's a small, I think -- I'll have to check -- I'm 5'4 and it's long on me), and in reasonably decent shape after some years of hard wear. The corner of one front patch pocket has a little tear right at the top -- one of the kids grabbed me, or put their foot in it when I was carrying them, I forget which. I'm a procrastinator, which is why it's still torn, but the tear is small and a seamstress could fix it in a flash.
Anyway -- all that to say that if anyone out there would like it, I would be happy to give it away. PM me if you're interested. I am not wearing it, and it would do a lot more good being worn by a currently-nursing mama than folded up in my drawer.
Free to first taker!
Sally
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SusanJ
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Check out Nursing Mamas
I bought a dress from them last Easter. It is so beautiful and comfortable and flattering and the design is fantastic. These dresses really do not look like nursing dresses. That said--I can't nurse in these dresses as discreetly as I can in regular clothes so you'll want a shawl or sweater or side room to go along with a special occasion. I'm really hoping that I can afford a couple more of these before too long.
Susan
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Dawnie
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This is exactly why I switched to just buying two-piece outfits after my 3rd baby was born. Easier, cheaper, and the quality is better.
Dawn
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teachingmyown
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The original owners of Motherwear sold out a few years ago. Things have gone downhill ever since. The clothes are no longer made in the US. They no longer have their wonderful guarantee. And the quality, not to mention the styles, has really gotten worse. I used to love their clothes and felt confident buying something knowing that if it just didn't work out I could return it at any point.
I do like Expressiva better. Their two piece dress is nice. But their other dresses are all so short. I would just love to find something that doesn't reveal all when I bend over to tend to a child. I just don't get it!
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Lisbet
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| Posted: Jan 22 2008 at 7:08am | IP Logged
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Susan, Thanks for that link, those dresses are beautiful!
I was so disappointed in the new Motherwear catalogue when it came the other day. I have a few of their simple nursing dresses they used to carry (I think they were part of the 'essentials' line?) I was thinking aobut replacing my black one because after 8 years of wear it's begining to fade. Guess I can't now...
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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SuzanneG
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Here are some nice nursing dresses fromModest Apparel USA that was mentioned on another current thread about maternity clothes. I wish they'd make these in a STRETCH KNIT instead of RAYON !!! Rayon means it has to be ironed! (which I actually LOVE to do, btw  but just have no time for when you have a newborn  )
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SuzanneG
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Dawnie wrote:
This is exactly why I switched to just buying two-piece outfits after my 3rd baby was born. Easier, cheaper, and the quality is better.
Dawn |
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Yep. It's looking like we sort of don't have a choice. To help with the "lift up the shirt, expose the belly" thing....there is always the Bella Band. Or cutting up/adapting camisoles.
But, I so love the feeling of a nice nursing dress. There aren't many on ebay anymore either.
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: Jan 22 2008 at 12:03pm | IP Logged
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I have this top from Expressiva and really like it. It is long enough to cover some maternity panels, or just minimize your leftover baby bulge, and it is very easy to nurse in.
The only problem is the buttonhole on the shirt I got is too big, so it comes undone. Not a hard fix.
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Molly
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mary theresa
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SuzanneG wrote:
To help with the "lift up the shirt, expose the belly" thing....there is always the Bella Band. Or cutting up/adapting camisoles.
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I have been meaning to ask you all if there is a brand of nursing camisole that anybody would recommend. I wear them all the time because I haven't investing in nursing clothes.
Target's camisole I'm not so happy with. It's too short in the waist and too low up top. Is there any that you've found to be modest up top and long enough to cover bulging?
ETA: Sorry! Is this hijacking?
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: Jan 22 2008 at 3:49pm | IP Logged
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If anyone is a size XL, there is this dress on ebay right now. I have this exact dress and wear it A LOT in the spring/summer/fall with a cardigan over it. I have another that is red/rust. The company that makes them is here in Seattle and I got mine before they started making and selling to Motherwear. It's a GREAT dress! There is a "sitting picture" of it at the end of this post. Tencel/rayon - doesn't need 2b ironed. Lots of room. Straighter cut, but lots of room for movement. Doesn't show your tummy.
PM me if you're interested and have specific questions about it.
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Suzanne in ID
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SuzanneG
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mary theresa wrote:
I have been meaning to ask you all if there is a brand of nursing camisole that anybody would recommend. I wear them all the time because I haven't investing in mursing clothes.
Target's camisole I'm not so happy with. It's too short in the waist and too low up top. Is there any that you've found to be modest up top and long enough to cover bulging?
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About a year ago, a neighbor and I went on a search for more modest camisoles for her teenage daughter. I bookmarked these sites and never deleted them, so here they are:
Blair
Orvis - underwire, but hi-cut
All camisoles from Orvis
Not for nursing, but maybe for other modest-issuesModes-tee
I'm pretty short-waisted, so the cheapie-camis at Sam's club have worked for me OK. I can see how they wouldn't be long enough for some.
I've also cut off camis, to use only the torso part for a make-shift "belly sleeve" like the Bella Band.
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Suzanne in ID
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Dawnie
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mary theresa wrote:
I have been meaning to ask you all if there is a brand of nursing camisole that anybody would recommend. I wear them all the time because I haven't investing in mursing clothes.
Target's camisole I'm not so happy with. It's too short in the waist and too low up top. Is there any that you've found to be modest up top and long enough to cover bulging? |
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I've been wearing my dh's undershirts lately...the A-shirt style (more commonly called a w*** beater, I think? ) They're long, and the armholes are big enough that I can just pull them to the side when I need to nurse. My belly stays covered that way, too.
I recently bought a camisole at Wal-Mart that was low enough that I could just pull the top down when I need to nurse. It was fairly long, too.
I wear one of the above under a regular shirt. The regular shirt provides the coverage I need up top (I am rather well-endowed) and the undershirt provides coverage over my tummy.
I used to save my pennies in order to buy nursing clothes, but now I mostly shop the clearance racks and thrift stores. I spend a lot less money, don't have to deal with mailing clothes that don't fit back, and don't have to guess at the sizing when buying online. I'd much rather spend an evening or two shopping in town and have clothes to wear when I come home than spend time online, then wait for the clothes to get here, only to try them on and find that they don't fit/aren't the right color/etc, then have to mail them back and wait for an exchange.
Really, nursing clothes are not neccessary! I've even found several very gently used, good-quality skirts (two Eddie Bauer, one Talbot's) at a thrift shop nearby. Finding a nice shirt or sweater to go with them was easy!
One time, I bought a nice dress at a department store and made it into a nursing dress. It was a sleeveless dress paired with a short-sleeved jacket. I just cut slits in the front of the dress, finished the edges so they wouldn't fray, and wear the jacket buttoned up over the dress. I sang at my brother-in-law's wedding 3-weeks postpartum wearing that dress!
Dawn
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SuzanneG
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| Posted: Jan 30 2008 at 4:55pm | IP Logged
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I talked with one of the gals at Expressiva the other day and asked when they would have their Spring dresses up on the site. She said probably by the end of February.
THEN, I asked if they were going to have any LONG dresses for Spring/Summer and the answer was, "No, they will all be knee-length." No long ones. <<sigh>>
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Suzanne in ID
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Marie
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I don't understand why they can't carry longer dresses! I have had this with when looking for Maternity dresses as well. I really need to become a better sewer.
As for undershirts, I bought a Belly Hugger that I saw recommended here and I love it. You could easily make it though and I will be making them next time because they're kind of pricey. It covers your stomach but nothing to move out of the way. 
~Marie
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SallyT
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It's also possible to find "regular" jumpers that work fine as nursing jumpers. I have several in different styles with deep armholes (helps if you have buttons up the sides, but you don't have to), so that when I was nursing I could pull up my shirt inside the jumper and position the baby through the armhole. Shopping thrift stores, as Dawn mentions, is a great way to find longer dresses when they're not what's on the rack in the "style-season" stores. I'm not nursing now and still wear the jumpers, too.
Sally
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Topic: Motherwear
