It can be difficult getting your style back when you’ve just had a baby, we know. Not to mention finding postpartum wardrobe essentials that make you feel both comfortable and attractive.
As a new mom in the fourth trimester, your body feels completely different — and embracing your new image and your new figure can be hard. For starters, many of us still look pregnant in the weeks after childbirth — our mom tums don’t just magically disappear once the baby is born (we wish).
And this can have a big impact on both our confidence and on a practical level, the wearable clothes left in our wardrobe. You’re left in a weird post-birth limbo where nothing quite fits.
If you’re wondering what you should be wearing as a new mom — or you just haven’t got around to thinking about it yet — we’ve got you covered.
We’ve compiled a list of seven postpartum wardrobe essentials for new moms: pieces that will help you through this challenging and exciting time, whether it’s down to their flattering nature or practical logistics.
Read on for a little postpartum fashion inspiration…
7 Postpartum Wardrobe Essentials
1. A Stylish Diaper Bag
Our first one is an essential for every new mom — a stylish but practical diaper bag.
If you’re going to be leaving the house at any point with your new baby, whether it’s to pop over your mom’s house or meet a friend for coffee — you’re going to need a LOT of stuff throughout the day. Diapers, baby wipes, pacifiers, fresh clothes, bottles, a changing pad… trust us, it quickly adds up.
The problem is, many purpose-made diaper bags look frumpy and boring, or (at the opposite end of the scale) downright childish.
And as much as we know we need to take a diaper bag with us, we wish they were a little more subtle and cute. We don’t need it to scream “diaper bag!” at everyone we meet.
Invest in a stylish diaper bag that you’ll actually want to carry — you’ll love your new partner in crime, and you won’t feel frumpy and mumsy every time you wear it out. This is a true postpartum wardrobe essential.
2. The Right Nursing Bra
We cannot overstate the importance of investing in a couple of good nursing bras! When you’ve got a baby and a million and one things to think about, your bra shouldn’t be causing you any grief.
Realistically, your maternity bras probably aren’t going to fit you anymore; postpartum boobs can get pretty large because of the milk your body is producing (not too mention sore, achy and leaky, too!).
This is why a decent nursing bra is critical — it provides support as well as making nursing easy.
You’re going to want to be as comfortable as possible, so stay away from underwire, and restrictive material. Aim for something soft and comfy, but with plenty of support for your new nursing boobs.
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Removable absorbent nursing pads are also essential to prevent any leaking mishaps and embarrassing t-shirt stains when you’re out.
3. Stretchy Basic Tees
We love a good stretchy tee when it comes to building a mom outfit.
These are a staple for your postpartum wardrobe — great as a base layer, over which you can pair all sorts of lovely comfy and stylish wrap-around cardigans and slouchy jumpers (more on those next).
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A stretchy tee will help you to feel more snug and supported as you get used to your postpartum body, and they make nursing easier. You can just pop out a breast when your little one needs feeding.
You can get plenty of functional, specially-designed nursing tops and sweatshirts too.
4. Loose Tops (like wrap-around cardigans and ponchos)
Getting used to your new mom body — and how different it looks and feels — can be tough, and many of us struggle with this in the fourth trimester.
And while ideally, we should be celebrating our postpartum bodies, our mom tums and weight gain can make us feel self-conscious.
(If you need some empowerment, check out the Life After Birth Project from underwear brand Knix, which celebrates the strength and beauty of postpartum bodies).
There are all sorts of lovely loose tops you can use to top off your stretchy basic tees and create a cute layered look that is both stylish and comfortable — and that makes you feel covered.
Wrap-around cardigans, v-neck slouchy jumpers, and even ponchos are all great additions to your postpartum wardrobe. You might have a handful of these lying about already!.
Plus, they’re good for nursing discreetly when you’re out and about, and will keep you and your baby warm when you’re meeting friends for coffee or lunch.
5. Maternity Jeans
Don’t put away those maternity jeans just yet…
As optimistic as you might be about losing the baby weight and fitting into your fave jeans again, this isn’t going to happen overnight.
Remember, it took nine months to grow that baby inside you — so be gentle and patient with yourself! Don’t resort to any extreme weight loss plans to try and squeeze into your pre-baby jeans.
This is the perfect time to get some more wear our of the maternity jeans that were so great and comfy during your pregnancy! They still provide plenty of support for your tum, while making your outfits look cool and effortless.
6. Button-Down Shirts
Button-down shirts work well as part of your postpartum wardrobe as they pair well with jeans and leggings.
Try an oversized checked shirt for a cute and casual mom look; the loose-fitting style will make you feel more relaxed and covered-up.
They also work well for nursing. All you need to do is unbutton the first few buttons and you can feed your little one without feeling too exposed.
Definitely a new mom essential.
7. Leggings
Leggings are another postpartum wardrobe essential, so stock up!
They’re perfect for lounging around the house, or pairing with a cute tunic or slouchy jumper if you’re going out.
Leggings are the perfect combination of cute and practical at the same time.
Get a pair that feels comfy — you may need to try a few pairs to make sure they fit well and aren’t too tight on your belly. High-waisted or maternity leggings may be the best option during your fourth trimester.
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Finding your fashion feet as a new mom can feel like a struggle, but it doesn’t have to be.
It’s totally possible to look stylish and feel comfortable at the same time, while still covering the practicalities of feeding your little one.
Use these seven postpartum wardrobe essentials as the foundation of your fourth trimester wardrobe, and you won’t go wrong.
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Guest Blogger Hollie Jones is a lifestyle blogger who lives for writing. You can read her latest blog posts on Hollie and the Ivy, where she shares tips and advice about her passions, while having a lot of fun along the way.
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