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Clothes after birth: Comfortable & stylish through puerperal

Whether by caesarean section or naturally: Giving birth is an extreme situation and puts a lot of stress on you and your body. Therefore, we would like to tell you in advance: Take as much time as you need. Enjoy the days after birth in a frayed home look and just make yourself comfortable with your little miracle. The time for taking care of your appearance is coming sooner than you think! If you would like to receive your first postpartum visit with washed hair and in clean clothes, we would like to give you some advice for postpartum clothing. Learn how to combine maximum comfort and style in a modern lounge look that’s also ideal for a post-C-section and breastfeeding mom.

by CALIDA

13 September 2023 • 8 min reading time

Lady with bent legs and a top from the 'SweetDreams' series

Breastfeeding-friendly and fashionable clothes after birth: inspiration and useful advice for new mothers

The perfect tops for the time after birth

Let’s start at the top: There are a few things to consider when it comes to choosing comfortable tops for the time after birth. But you don’t have to buy new clothes to feel good.

Browse your wardrobe for cosy shirts, blouses, and jumpers you wore in and around the sixth month of your pregnancy. Those tops should fit well immediately after the birth since the little belly will not disappear at once.

Oversized looks conceal the belly

You are wondering which tops are particularly comfortable and fashionable and conceal a small tummy line after birth? You are in luck! The oversized look not only promises 100 % comfort but is also really trendy. Even for birth itself, but also for the first time in the hospital and the return home, oversized T-shirts should not be missing.

Make sure you use natural materials and that you spend most of your time in bed at the beginning. To allow you to turn and move freely in all directions, not-stretch fabrics like muslin are not necessarily the best choice. We therefore recommend natural, breathable cotton with a small amount of elastane.

Especially with clothes after a C-section, you should make sure that there is no unnecessary pressure on your sensitive scar. So that neither the top nor the pants cuffs rub against the area below your belly button, comfortable lounge dresses and modern nightgowns are also a good choice for the postpartum period. They also have the advantage that you can change your underwear comfortably despite possible pain without having to slip out of a pair of pants first.

Tops for breastfeeding moms: Airy & buttoned through

When you are breastfeeding your baby, choosing comfortable clothes after birth is especially important. Tops in particular should be cut in a way that you can always and everywhere put on your little one comfortably. Blouses with buttons are particularly suitable for this. They are ideal for breastfeeding moms in two ways: On the one hand, you can unbutton them wide and button them up again comfortably, and on the other hand, you benefit from the thin fabric.

Since many breastfeeding women sweat a lot due to hormonal changes, especially in the first time after birth, thin tops made of natural fabrics such as silk are more suitable than thick jumpers. If you don’t want to wear blouses, you can of course also go for wide-cut shirts or thin hoodies with zippers. Nursing tops are also a practical option. Always look for natural fibres that ensure the best temperature balance.

Not in the mood for a baggy look? Advantageous cuts & colours after the birth

Once the first days with your little miracle are over, you may already feel comfortable in your body again and feel like welcoming visitors in pretty clothes. Of course, modern loungewear is always a good choice. But if you like it a little more feminine, you can also choose loose dresses and skirts with elastic waistbands.

Flowered or patterned A-line dresses are particularly flattering on the postpartum figure. In addition, patterns ensure that stains are barely visible. Since many women are still a little pale after giving birth, it’s best to go for colours that flatter your type and make your skin appear rosy. Bright colours are not only a good choice to make your skin tone look healthier. Your child can also recognize bright primary colours, especially red, after just a few weeks.

Underwear in the postpartum period: Elastic, practical, good

If you are already looking for the right clothes when preparing for the time after birth, you will come across many questions when it comes to choosing pants. Especially with a caesarean scar, jogging pants with a drawstring waistband or jeans are not suitable because the tight waistband could press on the scar.

But also after a natural birth, you should use lounge pants or leggings with a wide, elastic waistband to help you get back into shape. Again, the size you wore in the sixth month of your pregnancy will usually fit.

For comfort, women often continue to wear their pregnancy pants after the birth, as they cover the entire belly and do not pinch. As long as they still fit and do not slip down, they are also ideal for recovery. With the combination of casual oversized shirts and maternity bike shorts or stretchy high-waist leggings, you create a modern, stylish and extremely comfortable post-pregnancy outfit.

Underwear: Bras & panties for the time after the birth

The right underwear in the postpartum period is also a topic in itself. Which bra size fits me now, do I need nursing bras, what should I consider when choosing underwear? We’ll tell you about the right bras and why your finest lingerie and thongs can stay in your wardrobe for a while after the birth.

Bras after birth: This is what you should consider!

Whether you are breastfeeding or not: The breasts usually change significantly after birth due to the milk production. You probably noticed these hormonal changes already while you were pregnant.

So that you can adapt spontaneously to all circumstances, we advise you to use stretchy cotton bustiers for the first time after the birth. They adapt best to the changes in size of your breasts and are gentle to your sensible nipples. Also, you can simply push up the bra to breastfeed your baby.

A few weeks after the birth, your bra size for the next period should have become clearer. In addition, you know now whether breastfeeding fashion makes sense for you or not. Because while some women swear by the easy-open nursing bras while others use bustiers or simply slide down the straps of their underwired bras for breastfeeding throughout their nursing period.

During your time at home, we advise you to take regular breaks from your bra. Particularly for breastfeeding mothers, the stressed nipples should be exposed to air from time to time. Black or patterned tops make any milk stains almost invisible.

Underpants & panties: No fear of losses

In the first time after birth, everything is new. Many women also have to get used to the postpartum flow. It’s completely normal that something goes wrong here and there despite thick inserts. For this reason, you should choose old, large, or worn-out panties for the postpartum period that offer enough space for the large, wide inserts and whose loss would not be tragic.

Here too, natural, breathable materials and comfortable fabrics are extremely important to support possible birth injuries in their healing. For caesarean scars, it’s advisable to choose high-cut, seamless panties with a wide waistband so as not to put unnecessary strain on the sensitive area.


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