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teachingmyown
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| Posted: March 26 2006 at 7:46pm | IP Logged
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I know there is a thread currently going on about maternity clothes, but I am about done with that headache (for now at least  ).
I was wondering if any of you had a source for nursing clothes that I have missed. And I don't mean anything that I would have to sew myself! 
With this baby coming in Spring, I will have no choice but to be running around to baseball games with a brand new baby. Usually, I get the winter to nurse in private before spending hours in public with a baby.
I have shopped Motherwear.com for years. Their clothes are high quality, but pricey, and they tend to either be too close fitting or too thick.
WIth my last baby, I found Expressiva.com. A couple of their tops were wonderful and I got a nice Christmas dress, but a number of tops I sent back because they just didn't seem put together right. They do have a small selection of "transitions" tops that are cut generously for that post-partum period when we are trying not to still look pregnant, but nothing fits!
Any other resources out there? I can't afford much, I just really need something light and versatile.
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Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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Rachel May
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| Posted: March 26 2006 at 7:51pm | IP Logged
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I've given up on breastfeeding tops for exactly the reasons you describe.
This time, I am planning on using the maternity t-shirts from Gap that I have and just pull them up. Motherhood makes a nursing cami if you want that tummy coverage, but I usually haven't needed to worry about that since either a sling or a blanket provides modesty.
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Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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MaryM
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| Posted: March 27 2006 at 3:01am | IP Logged
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I'm with Rachel - I don't tend to use nursing wear at all and I nursed a lot of years (and at LOTS of baseball games). I find that loose fitting tees or blouses worked best to pull up. Like Rachel mentioned you can get a nursing cami to wear under, but an even cheaper solution is to just get some sleevless tank tops and cut two slits in them. Then wear those under a loose-fiting top. When you pull the top up you still have the coverage. Another idea is to wear a lose-fitting vest over a regular tee with slits cut in the tee. It's easy to get cheap tees that you wouldn't mind cutting. Then slip the vest up or unbotton it when nursing.
Ponchos are still in style this spring - another great way to get some coverage in a "fashionable" way.
Another good idea for discreet nursing is a blanket - and I'm not talking about one to put on your shoulder to cover baby. There is a clever way to wrap from behind and across your side where you lift up the shirt, so no skin is exposed and it doesn't call attention to the nursing. I wish I had a picture to describe what I mean.
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Becky Parker
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Hi Molly,
I don't use nursing clothes either. I have always just worn a simple knit top or t-shirt with a blouse over (unbuttoned usually). In the summer of course these have short sleeves. I see them described often as camp shirts but I'm not sure why. Anyway, it looks nice and the over blouse gives me a little extra coverage.
It doesn't help that I'm (ahem)"top heavy" - especially when I am nursing! It's been difficult for me to find something I am comfortable in but this 2-layer thing seems to do the trick.
Becky
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mary
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| Posted: March 27 2006 at 6:47am | IP Logged
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i have a lot of hand me down nursing clothes, but none that are really 'pretty' or stylish. i hear target carries a nursing tank that provides tummy coverage and you can wear it under your regular clothes. i don't think it goes past a D cup though.
i'd love to hear of good source of pretty nursing clothes. i get tired of feeling so frumpy.
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Rebecca
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| Posted: March 27 2006 at 7:37am | IP Logged
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MaryM wrote:
| I'm with Rachel - I don't tend to use nursing wear at all and I nursed a lot of years (and at LOTS of baseball games). I find that loose fitting tees or blouses worked best to pull up. Like Rachel mentioned you can get a nursing cami to wear under, but an even cheaper solution is to just get some sleevless tank tops and cut two slits in them. Then wear those under a loose-fiting top. When you pull the top up you still have the coverage. |
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Mary, this is what I have resorted to also. I but myself two 3 packs of men's undershirts (Hanes or similar brand)with each baby. I cut vertical slits in them (just like a nursing shirt), tuck them in and wear them under any sweater or shirt. The nice thing about this method, as I'm sure Mary can attest) is that your tummy stays completely covered (keeping your warm and modestly dressed). It is a cheaper solution to nursing clothes.
I never had much luck with the nursing shirts with vertical slits because it seemed like you could see under that front panel if you turned the wrong way and see everything that was supposed to be covered up!
I like your idea of using the tank tops because they are probably less bulky under summer fashions.
God Bless,
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amiefriedl
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One exception to the 'nursing tank tops' would be that for a really flattering fit you basically HAVE to iron them because otherwise they are very crumpled and bulky under another shirt. This isn't always possible when new baby is home. (Nursing tanks do have too low of a scoop neck for my taste as another basic drawback, but sometimes they are just the best option for a particular situation.)
I do iron mine though and am always thrilled to have them ready for mostly modest coverage when dressing to go out somewhere.
My other challenge is I MUST wear thick nursing pads to manage leakage all the way through our nursing season (about 2 years for my children) so there is extra bulk for those.
Ahhh, the challenges! But soooo worth it for those little cuties. 
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Amie
Blessed with an awesome hubby and Mom of ds10, dd7, dd3 and dd 10months.
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Elizabeth
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What about Motherwear? With the exception of the one brief season when they carried petites, the dresses have never worked for me, but I've always been able to find a few tops that are great for public nursing on ballfields and sometimes, I've found something dressy to pair with a skirt for weddings. They are a little pricey but I'm sitting here wearing a Motherwear shirt that is now 13 years and seven babies old. Not bad a for a denim "investment!"
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Rebecca
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| Posted: March 27 2006 at 11:28am | IP Logged
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Elizabeth wrote:
| What about Motherwear? .... They are a little pricey but I'm sitting here wearing a Motherwear shirt that is now 13 years and seven babies old. Not bad a for a denim "investment!" |
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Does anyone know whether Motherwear still has their outlet? When I had my first child, you could call the outlet number in the back of their catalog on Tuesdays and they would personal shop for you over the phone. For example, if you called and said, "I need three or four nursing t-shirts in a medium." They would come back to the phone and say "We have a red, blue and black in that size". Many of their standard nursing t- shirts were 4 or 5 dollars and EVERY nursing bra at the outlet was $5! They could not resell them if somone returned one after trying them on or if there was the slightest flaw during manufacturing. I have not gotten their catalog in years so I am not sure whether the still do this...anyone?
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LisaD
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Motherwear has changed ownership in the last few years. I personally don't think the quality is as high as it used to be, nor are many of the styles as modest. They do still have a factory outlet, but now it is an eBay store: http://stores.ebay.com/Motherwear-Factory-Outlet
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Elizabeth
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| Posted: March 27 2006 at 1:21pm | IP Logged
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I went to the ebay site. Can someone tell me what the size means here:
Motherwear Nursing Bohemian Top, LS XS White 2632
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Rebecca
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Elizabeth wrote:
I went to the ebay site. Can someone tell me what the size means here:
Motherwear Nursing Bohemian Top, LS XS White 2632 |
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LS=long sleeved
XS=extra small
2632 is probably the catalog item number?
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MicheleQ
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teachingmyown wrote:
I was wondering if any of you had a source for nursing clothes that I have missed. And I don't mean anything that I would have to sew myself!
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Molly,
Expressiva has some really nice stuff (I've ordered from them) as does One Hot Mama though some of their stuff is a little TOO trendy for me. 
If you Google "Nursing Clothes" you'll actually get quite a few hits.
Locally our Motherhood store sells some very nice nursing clothes.
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Michele Quigley
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MicheleQ
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Whoops you already mentioned Expressiva! Try Motherhood, I've found some really nice stuff there at decent prices.
God bless!
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Michele Quigley
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JennGM
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I'm probably old-fashioned, but I still use light blankets to cover myself up when nursing. I used the cotton blankets from Gymboree...the blanket then became the signal when ds wanted to nurse. My sisters do this, also.
I found it interesting that here's a fashionable nursing wrap
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: March 27 2006 at 5:17pm | IP Logged
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I get embarrassed just looking at some of the stuff at One Hot Mama!
Michele, have you bought anything from them? What is their quality like?
I love nursing clothes. I can't do the vertical opening type because I am "top-heavy" as Becky put it. When it 100 degrees at a baseball game, I need something as light as possible, but modest enough that when I have to jump up to chase someone, I don't end up exposing myself!
I have had one or two tops from Motherhood, but the quality doesn't seem as high, and this season the styles are ridiculous. They are so revealing that I wonder why these women are concerned with discreet nursing in the first place. The clothing is certainly not meant for anyone who doesn't regain their perfect figure immediately after giving birth!
Well, I guess I will stick with Motherwear and Expressiva. I am grateful that both have a liberal return policy. I just hate to pay all that shipping to end up sending half of it back.
Thanks for the ideas and tips!
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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Elizabeth
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teachingmyown wrote:
I love nursing clothes. I can't do the vertical opening type because I am "top-heavy" as Becky put it. When it 100 degrees at a baseball game, I need something as light as possible, but modest enough that when I have to jump up to chase someone, I don't end up exposing myself! |
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This is exactly why the blanket doesn't work for me. I've never had a baby who likes to nurse without wriggling "under the tent," so to speak. But even more importantly, I've never had a toddler sit quietly by while Mommy nursed the baby and the soccer team went into overtime  . I love my Motherwear clothes, though I admit I'm a little nervous about the ownership change. Give it a go, Molly and let us know how it is!
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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Sarah
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| Posted: March 28 2006 at 9:04am | IP Logged
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I put a small blanket on me, over my shoulder so it comes down to their face, instead of over the baby. It could get hot, though, but the trick is to have a small manageable blanket or burp rag over one shoulder. Mine won't stay under a "tent" either.
I use knit tops and pull up. I don't care if people know I'm nursing. But if I'm with men who could feel funny about it, like a group of seminarians or something, I excuse myself briefly.
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SaraP
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I bought a dress for Natalie's baptism from www.milkface.com (they are in Canada) and it is far and away the nicest piece of nursing clothing I have ever bought.
It fits normally and the opening is different that I have seen before, but I really like it . . . and I'm 'top heavy' and often having to jump up and chase little people, too. Their stuff is NOT cheap, but they seem to have good sales so maybe if you started looking now you could find a few things when they are marked down.
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Topic: Breastfeeding clothes
