Sunday, March 5, 2017

Motherly Comforts

Here are a few threads, for outer AND under garments, that I thoroughly enjoyed throughout my pregnancy and beyond!

photo from Storq.com


NURSING BRA

I looooooove this bra made by Storq!
It is SO incredibly soft, with no underwire and no clips and tags.  When your milk first comes in, your boobs get pretty huge (a post about that experience coming soon).  I went to my local Pump Station to find a few 'typical' nursing bras.  They provided a lot of support and comfort at the time, and also had clips so that I could have easy access for feeding.  Easy access is important in the beginning since you're feeding almost constantly on what feels like an endless loop of naps, diaper changes, and 25 minute feeds.  But I never truly got the hang of the clips, and they were something I didn't want to deal with for the next x amount of months of breastfeeding.  Also, the extra support and padding of the 'typical' nursing bra started to feel bulky and cumbersome, and not needed as much once my milk regulated.  So I tried one of these Storq bras.  I felt so free, comfortable, and chic in it.  Instead of fussing with clips, you simple pull the bra cup over, or under, or above -- whatever works easiest for you and baby in the moment.  After trying it out, I immediately bought 3 more.  I've had them for about a year now, and they are still just as soft and comfortable as they were on Day 1.

UNDIES

A great tip another mom friend gave me when I was pregnant was to buy some underwear one size up from my normal size.  When you're pregnant, sometimes you don't realize your tush is gradually expanding (to help support that beautiful belly), and you don't want to wake up one day and realize all your underwear is stretched out and unwearable once you go back to your pre-baby size.

If you want to treat yourself, get a few pairs from Storq.  Made of the same material as the nursing bra above, they are so soft and comfortable.  They no longer sell them a la carte, but it looks like they are included in a pretty nifty Intimates Bundle.

FYI - I am not cool enough to be endorsed by ANYBODY.  These are just my recommendations based off of my own experience.

COOL PREGNANCY CLOTHES

photo from hatchcollection.com


I'm all about buying maternity clothes that I will also be able to wear when I'm not pregnant.  Since decluttering about 10 garbage bags full of unwanted (and even some unworn!) clothes, I've been very careful about what I bring into my wardrobe and home.  Some of the brands I've listed below are a bit on the pricier side, but their quality and wearability are worth it to me.

Hatch is definitely on the pricier side, but I've found a few pieces that were on sale that were my go-to's for most of my pregnancy.  I love their loose fitting shirts that I wear to this day, as a non-pregnant person.

Elastic will be your best friend as far as pants go.  But instead of wearing sweatpants every day, I'd wear my Ace + Jig Indian cotton pants I bought 3 years ago.  You get what you pay for as far as quality, style and comfort.

Boyfriend jeans were also in heavy rotation for me.  The pair that I liked were made by Zara.

POST-PREGNANCY DRESSES

photo from christydawn.com

I love Christy Dawn dresses.  All of their fabric is made from deadstock (leftover fabric from other designers) which means they're not adding to the 11 million tons of textile waste that gets sent to  landfills every year, or contributing to the 20% of the world's industrial water pollution caused by the fashion industry.  The fabrics are romantic and one of a kind.

The Dawn dress and The Lincoln are two of my favorites for post-pregnancy because their v-necks have a hidden snap closure allowing for easy breastfeeding access.  I wore both these styles while on tour in Japan last year so that I could breastfeed with ease in between promo and shows while still looking cute and fashionable.

Treat yo'self!  A little goes a long way when you're sleep deprived, haven't left the house in days, or just need a little pick me up every now and then.  You deserve it!  If you have some favorite motherly comfort go-to's, let me know in your comments!  

☆ Mama P