World Breastfeeding Week
Happy belated World Breastfeeding Week! Perhaps it should be a whole month. Humans are mammals, and I am a practitioner and supporter of both research efforts and education efforts in this important aspect of human behavior. From talking with many people, it is astonishing the prevalence of challenges both with breastfeeding and with the medical system. Critical to point out is that any perceived “failures” can be felt very personally.
Something that helped me was talking with a La Leche League leader in my area. You can search for people on the La Leche League website, and the program is global.
Another is comfortable, functional, professional clothing. For me, the ability to stay in professional attire while getting skin-to-skin time with my baby has really helped me juggle work and mom life during the day. It can be hard to find though, especially because I am sensitive to synthetic materials. Between baby #1 and #2 it has gotten easier to find cotton clothing in breastfeeding styles (easier, not easy…), though it can sometimes be hard to figure out what might work or not. Here are three cotton (95%, with 5% stretchy stuff, which is helpful) nursing-friendly dresses I found that I like (and I am not getting compensated in any way) in case it helps someone else in their search!
Pact Fit and Flare Crossover Dress in organic cotton
While not marketed as nursing-friendly, this dress has a crossover top that is not fixed, making it work just fine for nursing. (Since it is one layer that pulls down, depending on how you feel about it you might want a scarf or jacket to add some coverage.) It has pockets and is made of organic cotton which is a great bonus and gentler on the environment. Comes in patterns and solid colors. ~$68 full price but they do sales.
Latched Mama Classic Cotton Nursing Dress
Cotton dress with pockets. Most of this brand’s clothing is not cotton, but this dress is. They change up the patterns and the good ones sell out quickly. ~$65 full price but they do sales.
Qinyi Nursing Dress
If you’re looking for something more economical, this is an oddly great dress at a lower price, available on Amazon. Unlike much of the “cotton” clothing on Amazon, this is actually cotton as advertised, and it has pockets. Currently available in this print and black. ~$34 but may go on sale.
Svaha USA used to have a “Grace” style crossover dress in organic cotton that was good for nursing. It might be available in resale groups.
I like to wear these dresses with leggings underneath so I’m ready for anything. Also I enjoy adding a large scarf. It’s a baby-safe accessory, giving a bit of polish to the look, obscuring postpartum figure challenges, while also being super useful (nursing cover, baby blanket, sun shade, etc.) and washable.
