21 Types Of Postpartum Clothing To Help You Feel Stylish
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After you’ve had your bundle of joy, it’s only natural to want to get back to feeling and looking like your normal self. But if this isn’t your first baby, you know that your body doesn’t bounce back overnight. That is where postpartum clothing comes into play.
Finding flattering postpartum clothing is one way you can feel confident and comfortable after birth. Since most likely your regular clothes still won’t fit, post-pregnancy clothes can do wonders to help you feel comfortable and look your best.
The Best Stylish Postpartum Clothing
Here are some tips for how to dress postpartum:
Reuse your maternity clothes
Don’t be in a hurry to get rid of those maternity clothes right away. Maternity bottoms can be a great item of clothing to have on hand. This is one way of dressing postpartum belly especially right after giving birth. With my babies, I’ve worn my maternity pants until about 3-4 weeks postpartum.
Clothes that stretch
Stretchy clothes are a godsend for moms postpartum. You can get basic yoga pants that give a good stretch that will allow you to fit in them and not feel restricted compared to your regular jeans or trousers.
Yoga pants are flexible and you can pair them with different tops. Maternity leggings are also another option. You can never go wrong with the elastic waists and you can also pair them with dresses or tunics.
High waisted compression leggings are flattering and can also smooth out your midsection. A simple pair of black leggings goes with practically everything so it’s a no-brainer!
Nursing Bras
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You need something that is comfy and at the same time, supportive. Make sure to have at least a few nursing bras since you will change them often due to the leaking that is frequent in your first few weeks postpartum.
These ones were personally my favorite nursing bras that I tried out of about half a dozen brands.
Related: The Top 10 Breastfeeding Essentials For Nursing Moms
Underwear
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After you are done with your mesh underwear phase, you can start wearing regular underwear. Cotton is still the best kind of fabric to get and don’t be afraid to get a size up so that you can feel more comfortable and not restricted. Dark colors are great while you are still bleeding.
Related: The Best Postpartum Pads For After Birth
Nursing tops/tanks
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These tops are great to wear especially if you are on the go and need to feed your baby. The key to these tops is easy-access. You can pair them with comfy bottoms or wear a cardigan over them.
Choosing Flattering Postpartum Clothes
T-shirts
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Soft and oversized shirts are comfy options to have as an alternative to your nursing tops. They are easy to throw on for when you are doing errands or are hanging around the house and are comfy enough to sleep in as well.
Flowy shirts are also great in balancing out your post-baby bump.
Sweaters, ponchos, jackets
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An oversized sweater or knitted poncho is great for colder climates and winter months. They can be paired with leggings or jeans for a flattering look. These are stylish and hide your postpartum tummy well and which is why they are a go-to for most moms.
Cardigans
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They are a staple to have to not only keep warm and cozy during cold weather but also for an extra layer of style, comfort and look.
Dresses
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There are many styles of dresses that can fit your postpartum body. Sometimes, dresses are the best type of postpartum clothing to have especially if you had a c-section (tight waistbands rubbing on your incision = ouch!)
These can either be t-shirt dresses, flowy ones, maxi dresses or even dresses that are specially made to flatter your postpartum body. I find that t-shirt dresses are super quick and comfortable to put on while being stylish and cool at the same time.
Spice up your look
You can find other ways to spice up your wardrobe without having to worry about fitting in it. For example, great colorful cardigan or stylish necklace can go a long way in giving you that extra flare to make your look more interesting and chic while boosting your confidence.
Even a bright and bold red lip is something that you can add to your overall look/outfit and that can make all the difference.
Accessorizing
Jewelry is a go-to when it comes to dressing up your look. Long necklaces are great because they can distract from your belly and also elongate your torso. A great pair of statement earrings can also take a neutral basic outfit and add the extra pop.
Sunglasses
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Realistically, you may not get enough sleep during the first few weeks or months postpartum. When you are out and about, sunglasses are an easy and fashionable way to hide those dark circles or puffy eyes that are all too familiar during this time.
Scarf style nursing covers
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These fashionable nursing covers can be worn like a scarf to wear as a fun accessory as well as being a functional piece for nursing. You can also get regular scarves that can pull your look together and also draw attention away from your postpartum belly.
Vests
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This is another type of clothing that is great for covering up your belly area. You can also wear it with shirts, leggings, tees, and others to add another dimension to your outfit. They are also comfortable to wear and still allows you to move around freely.
Tailoring and alterations
It’s all good wearing loose and comfy clothing but if you need to pull off a more professional look a well-tailored piece can do the job.
This can be a tailored blazer over your favorite nursing top, or you can even take your maternity clothes to be tailored in order to make it a little bit fitted but still loose enough to accommodate your postpartum body.
If you need to go to a fancy occasion and require a dress, instead of buying a new one, you can save money and just have your old dress let out or rent one for the evening.
Shapewear/slips
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These are great for when you are attending an event or special occasion. You can wear these underneath your top or dress in order to keep everything in place and give you a more smooth look. Things like the Belly Bandit are soft, easy to wear, keeps everything in place, and also gives you that extra boost of confidence.
Related: The Best Postpartum Girdles For New Moms
Comfy shoes
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Slip-on shoes can be a lifesaver for on-the-go moms. You can also get comfy sneakers/tennis shoes that are stylish and quick to put on when you need to go some places with baby, go to doctor visits, or to pick up something from the store.
A bit of heel
If you are not just going out for a quick run to the store, wearing shoes or boots with a bit of a heel, can flatter your figure to make you look more slender and taller.
Of course keep it sensible, whatever you feel comfortable in. I know there are some mamas out there that can handle high heels every once in a while and if that makes you feel more confident then go for it!
A great pair of jeans
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During the first few weeks after giving birth, your uterus is still in the middle of the shrinking process and so your maternity jeans will most likely be your go to.
If you need to buy new ones though, make sure they fit well and don’t force your body to fit into a size that you once were before you were pregnant. A muffin top is never a good look!
If you have a long torso, you can wear high waisted jeans that can keep everything tucked in. Getting jeans with back pockets that are positioned higher up will also flatter your backside to give it a perkier look.
Stretchy jeans or jeggings are also a good option and are more forgiving for your postpartum body. You can also get those jeans with a lycra waistband to feel extra comfy around the midsection area.
Harem pants
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These pants are great because they are soft but still loose around the crotch area and it tapers around the ankle to fit. It’s another option to jeans or your regular yoga pants and they are flexible enough that you can also wear different tops with it.
Cotton fabric clothing
In general, fabrics made of cotton are easier to wash and clean. This is an important consideration when picking out your postpartum clothing since you will be dealing with a lot of stains, leakage, baby spit up, etc. Let’s just face it. Postpartum is a messy time and you want easy to wash postpartum clothing.
Just after you have given birth, your body will most likely normally still look around 5-6 months pregnant. While your body is still slowly healing and your uterus is shrinking (doctors usually say around 6-10 weeks), there are ways that you can use clothes to hide your postpartum belly.
It’s not always easy to dress postpartum but it can be done with the right postpartum clothing and accessories. Learn to dress to compliment your changing body and still feel comfortable and stylish at the same time. Once you feel good, confident, and comfy in your clothes, you can take on whatever postpartum hurdles you face along the way.
What is your go-to postpartum outfit?
P.S. Bonus tip: Stay positive – I know this can be easier said than done but it is important to know that your body has gone through a lot and fixating on your weight is not a good thing to do. Having a healthy body image is all about nourishing yourself and eating the right foods.
When you have that positive mindset, you can make the most out of the situation and feel confident in whatever you are wearing.
