As a new, first-time mom who breastfeeds and had a C-section, these are my top 5 postpartum clothing essentials that made my quality of life better after birth. There are only five because I truly rotated these five pieces of clothing (of which I had multiples of everything) during the first two months postpartum.
I may love fashion, but I’m also a realistic human…and my priorities in the first two months of learning how to care for a new baby were comfort, functionality and versatility. Some of these pieces can be worn beyond postpartum, so you can get the best bang for your buck, and others can be saved for round two.
1. The Perfect Nursing Bra
My best friend gifted me the Little Milk Bar’s Allie Bra during my pregnancy, and I now own six of them. As someone who went from sleeping without a bra every night to needing to sleep with something to support my breasts after a surprising amount of growth (to an H cup!) in my second trimester of pregnancy, I’ve been thrilled with the comfort, functionality and look of this bra.
This bra is completely unobtrusive. It’s the perfect amount of support without feeling uncomfortable for sleeping, and it’s so easy to pull down for breastfeeding. There were many days (and still are) that I just wear this bra without even bothering to put on a shirt.
The fabric is also gentle for sore nipples and is super stretchy. For reference, I am a size 32 G/H and I wear the 2XL/3XL. It does shrink a bit in the dryer, so air dry if you want to keep it perfect!
2. The Perfect Postpartum Leggings
These Lululemon Align Leggings are my HOLY GRAIL for both postpartum and maternity clothing essentials. Truth be told, I never owned a pair of Lululemon leggings before getting pregnant, and I am now officially a convert. These leggings were the ONLY bottoms I wore for probably six out of nine months of pregnancy, and are still my go-to pants in postpartum.
First off, they are magically stretchy–I got a few pairs of size 6s that stretched with my growing body and bump from three to nine months pregnant (literally right up until I gave birth!), and they always stayed sleek, comfy and fitted to my body.
The most miraculous part? They shrunk right back down to fit my postpartum body now, and have stayed extremely flattering. They provide a slight compression, keeping me looking a bit more snatched while not being too restrictive or tight, which I really needed after my c-section.
3. The Perfect Nursing Tank
Yes, while there were many days that I don’t get out of bed or leave the house (and therefore live in my Little Milk Bar Allie Bra), there are also days when friends or family come over to visit or I go out for a coffee walk with my husband and baby and want to look presentable. That’s when this amazing nursing tank comes in.
I own three of these Kindred Bravely Sublime Bamboo Hands-Free Pumping and Nursing Camisoles because I am so obsessed with them. They are super comfortable, with soft stretchy material that is also really flattering on my postpartum tummy. It definitely sucks you in a little bit while not being tight or restrictive, which upped my confidence leaving the house as I got used to my new postpartum body.
It’s also incredibly functional–super easy to unclip and breastfeed without exposing too much in public, and also enables hands-free pumping which is really helpful. I never realized that pumps weren’t designed to be hands-free to begin with!
I have paired this tank with the two pants listed in this article for lounging at home or leaving the house, keeping me looking more put together and feeling more confident and comfortable.
4. The Perfect Postpartum Lounge Pants
Mamas, buy these pants and don’t look back. I wore these Kindred Bravely Bamboo Wide Leg Maternity & Postpartum Lounge Pants every day for the first month postpartum after my c-section. I really couldn’t tolerate anything tight or lower-waisted because of the pain while recovering, and these pants were perfect for that.
The stretchy, soft high-waisted band provided enough support that my insides didn’t feel like they were falling out, but was also gentle enough that it didn’t cause me any pain on my incision. I had a couple other pairs of pajama pants I couldn’t wear because the band was too tight and thin, so it would trigger pain around my abdominal region.
The flare style pants were also super flattering on my incredibly swollen legs (if you know you know), and the pockets were surprisingly useful.
5. The Perfect Postpartum Underwear
Last, but not least, I present the perfect pair of postpartum underwear: the Kindred Bravely Grow with Me Maternity and Postpartum Brief. Admittedly, I didn’t try these during pregnancy because I preferred low waisted underwear that went below my bump, but these have been a godsend for postpartum, especially after a c-section.
These are hands down the softest underwear I have ever felt. To be honest, I will probably continue to wear these past postpartum because I’m so obsessed.
They are SO comfortable and gentle on my c-section incision and feel like I’m wrapped in a cloud. While they are thin and stretchy, they are still strong enough for heavy-duty pads.
I hope this was helpful to any new or expecting moms that are looking for affordable, high-quality postpartum clothing pieces that prioritize comfort and functionality. It’s so important to take care of ourselves during the first few months of recovery, and having the right clothing items that don’t make you look as crappy as you often feel do make a difference.
