You made it through pregnancy, and your new little babe is here — congrats! Becoming a mother is one of the most exciting and also totally stressful things you can experience. From all of us, we are so proud of you — and we’re here to help.
Navigating the new rhythms of your life after pregnancy can be an adventure in and of itself. Getting used to a 24/7 feeding/napping/feeding/diaper changing/napping schedule, recovering from delivery, and figuring out your post-baby body style are all part of the process. While we might not be able to help you with those 3 am feedings, we do know our fair share about post-pregnancy style.
You’ve spent so long shopping exclusively for maternity clothes that it might be a bit of a pivot to think about what you need now that baby has arrived, so let us do the work!
Keep reading for our full guide to styling your body after baby below.
It’s All About Comfort
First things first, we need to talk about comfort. Your body has been through the wringer the past few pre-baby months — aka the fourth trimester.
First, when preggo, you have your belly booming and relaxin throwing your joints and ligaments out of whack and causing back pain. Then, add in the tenderness and discomfort you might experience during the postpartum period. Basically, finding clothes that make you feel comfortable and at ease is priority number one.
Loungewear is everywhere these days (and we love it), but we prefer clothes in high-quality fabrics and luxe materials, such as bamboo blends, Oeko-Tex-certified cotton, and gorgeous cashmere. You just delivered a whole human being — you deserve to look AND feel good, and that starts with the fabric of your clothes.
Some of our favorite fourth-trimester looks include an insanely cozy cashmere sweater dress, lounge pants in a super-soft no-rubbing fabric (read: C-section friendly), and an organic Pima cotton long-sleeve tee.
One of the benefits of loungewear and clothes designed for comfort is that they’re also perfect for all the lifting, bending, and carrying movements needed to care for your little bundle of joy. When your wardrobe is full of comfy pieces, you don’t need to think twice about what you’ll wear all day long — after all, you’ve got more important things to worry about.
Breastfeeding Essentials
One of the first things you’ll need to consider when building your new mom wardrobe is whether or not you’ll be breastfeeding. Breastfeeding can be an incredibly intimate experience, but it’s not right for everyone — and that’s okay!
If you aren’t planning on breastfeeding your little one, you won’t have to worry about incorporating those needs into your wardrobe (hey, that’s one less thing to worry about!). However, if you are giving your baby breast milk, you’ll need to invest in some good-quality nursing-friendly tops.
Trust us: Nothing is worse than finally making it out of the house for the first time with your new baby only to realize you’ll have to take apart your entire outfit to feed.
With the right nursing tops, though, that won’t be necessary. Sit back, and we’ll walk you through everything you need to breastfeed your babe in style.
The Essential Nursing Bra
If you only invest in one nursing-friendly item, let it be a high-quality nursing bra like this Everyday Nursing Bra.
With a wireless structure, luxe feel-good fabric, and a one-handed clasp at the front, breastfeeding has quite literally never been easier. The fourth trimester is full of ups and downs; your clothes should make your life more functional, not more difficult. A high-quality nursing bra can go a long way during the postpartum period.
And if the thought of wearing bras for postpartum care at all makes you want to vom, there’s always this no-hardware wireless Skin-to-Skin nursing bra. It’s so comfy that you could sleep in it. (Our testers did!)
For those who are breastfeeding and/or pumping, you might want to grab a pack of nursing pads. In three colors, these OEKO-Tex® certified cotton, these anti-leakage pads can hide drips, slips, and nips if you need it.
Postpartum Underwear
You might experience stress incontinence — peeing when you laugh, sneeze, or exercise. Ask your healthcare team if you find yourself irritated by the number of undies you’re going through.
Shopping for postpartum underwear can be fun, but doing laundry all the time? Not so much.
Stylish Feeding Looks for Every Occasion
Just because you’re breastfeeding doesn’t mean you can’t rock your usual pre-pregnancy style. Luckily, there are a ton of clothing options out there with exactly the blend of function and fashion that you need.
For example, this 24/7 Feeding Jumpsuit in super-soft cotton is giving exactly what we need from our postpartum wardrobe. With a pretty pointelle pattern and huge pockets for all of your new mom essentials, this jumpsuit is the perfect marriage of comfy, convenient, and stylish.
Or maybe sweatshirts are more your speed. In that case, consider a luxe nursing sweatshirt you can wear both around the house and out and about.
What Other Changes Should You Expect After You Have a Baby?
You already know that your body changes after you give birth and that those changes are totally normal and worth celebrating. But what specific changes should you expect?
Here’s a rundown of what your body after baby might look and feel like:
- You might experience some incontinence or constipation. This is because your baby’s weight puts some strain on your pelvic floor muscles. Doing some pelvic floor exercises (AKA kegel exercises) after a vaginal birth can help a ton.
- You might deal with a bit of postpartum depression. The baby blues are real. They’re often the result of changing hormone levels, such as estrogen and oxytocin, after your baby is born. For any new parent, taking care of your mental health is key. Do whatever you need to promote mental and emotional wellness.
- Gradual weight loss after birth is normal. Be kind to yourself if and when your body holds onto some weight after birth. Every body, every baby, and every birth is totally unique.
- Just like hormonal changes, postpartum body changes are perfectly normal. They’re more than okay, actually. Stretch marks and pregnancy weight gain are a sign of the miracle of life, and that deserves to be celebrated, always. If you do want to minimize stretch marks, the plant-powered Belly Oil can help soothe and nourish.
- Your abdominal muscles might need some re-strengthening. During a vaginal delivery, the muscles in your abdomen endure some serious strain. As a result, you might feel some pain in this area when you cough, sneeze, or move too fast.
New Mama Wardrobe, Complete
Navigating your body after baby can feel overwhelming at times. Nearly everything in your life has changed, and re-finding your sense of style as a busy new mom (with much bigger priorities!) can feel difficult. But investing in a few functional and fashionable pieces doesn’t have to be hard if you know what to look for.
Quality, nursing-friendly design, and comfort will be your sartorial best friends during the fourth trimester. And if you ever have any questions, you know where to turn to – we’ve got your back. You can do this!
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