Why are they essential for breastfeeding Mums?

To breastfeed in normal clothes, you need to undo the buttons or lift up your clothing to access your breast. This can be both inconvenient and awkward since it often exposes more skin than you would like including post partum tum!  Often the clothing gets in the way of the baby accessing the breast and can make you feel uncomfortable feeding in public. Not to mention dresses. You either have to take them off ( not such a good look!), lift up the entire dress over your breast, or select a style that buttons down the front - never that easy.

Whilst not necessarily an essential, specially designed nursing wear makes feeding your baby in front of other people easy and discreet. The clothing is designed so that you can access your breast through a hidden nursing opening incorporated into the clothing. The sign of a quality garment is when you cannot see these openings or indeed it does not even appear to be a nursing top. Another wise investment is a nursing wrap which is similar to a poncho but is designed to allow you to see your baby through the top opening and made from a fabric which is not too thick so that baby does not overheat.


Below are examples of feeding without a specialist top and then with a nursing top.
          
        Without                                 With

Nursing wear enables you to feed your baby whenever he or she is hungry, wherever you are, because you do not have to seek out a bathroom or secluded spot to nurse - not that you have to do this anyway but sometimes it can feel uncomfortable. Breastfeeding tops makes life so much easier.  There are a number of different openings and attached are basic pictures not necessarily the items for sale which will give you an idea of how these openings work:-

• All-around double layer

Lift a top layer to access 2 openings. Under layer goes all the way around the back to keep your stomach, back and sides covered.

• Double layer in front only

Lift a top layer to access 2 openings. Under layer is in the front only, and the top fabric keeps you covered while nursing. Your back and sides remain covered as in the example below.
    (This item in for sale on our Scrummy-Mummy website)

• Inverted pleat

Move aside the front fabric for easy access to nursing openings on each side. Outer fabric keeps you covered while nursing.

• Wrap-style

Move aside the wrap fabric for easy access to nursing openings on either side.
(This dress is also available to purchase on our website - Beautiful fabric - Brazilian made, Imported from the US)

• Move aside

Move aside the top layer. Outer fabric keeps you covered while nursing.

(This top is designed by Olian in the US Fabulous Fabric - Imported)

• Vertical princess seam

Access a single center slit through vertical openings camouflaged into princess seams.

• Empire

Lift empire layer and push down on the criss-cross under layer to nurse effortlessly on either side. Ideal for nursing in a sling.

• Dropdown cup:

Unclasp either side to expose nursing holes in the shelf-style bra under layer.
(Available on Scrummy-Mummy)

What to look for in a nursing top.

• Openings should be well-disguised. There should be no obvious nursing flaps, as in traditional nursing wear. It should not scream "nursing clothes".
• Make sure it is fashionable. Look at current styles and pick a nursing top that reflect that style. You should not have to sacrifice style just because you are a Mummy.
• Think of the occasion! There are styles for all occasions offering beautiful dresses and career styles as well as causal everyday items.
• Make sure your clothes are machine washable and ideally non-wrinkle.

Click here for the current selection of tops listed on ebay

Here is an excerpt from my online shop which lists ALL my stock and sizes available and some pictures of new stock available for Winter 07!

"Welcome to Scrummy-Mummy – the only breastfeeding website with an emphasis on stylish and practical clothing for breast feeding Mums. A wider range of designers are represented here than on any other UK based breast feeding clothing boutique. Breast-feeding is good for you and your baby and that is why we aim to encourage Mums to feed or express milk for their little ones for at least a year. The specialist nursing tops are designed to breastfeed in comfort, discreetly and without exposing too much postpartum tummy! Our collection includes many well known maternity brands including Annee Matthew, Blissful Babes, Bravado Designs, Expressiva, Olian and Japanese Weekend and the BusyBaby Nursing Wrap. By offering you a fashionable range of clothing in which you can feed your baby with ease, we hope to be able to be able to help with your decision to nurse your baby for longer!
                 
This is the first guide I have written and I  hope you found it helpful. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss any part of this article.

Best Regards

Margaret
Scrummy Mummy Ltd