Hellllllooo, nurse!

As you all know, nursing is one of the most important things a woman can do to nourish and bond with her newborn child. It’s also a time where your boobs swell, your nips want to commit suicide, and the inside of your bra is usually damp and smells like cheese.

If you’re clever like me, you plan to do the bulk of your nursing in the spring/summer to avoid the annoying multi-layered strip-down to get at your gourds. Easy-access is key!

While I think it’s perfectly acceptable to yank your whole shirt up wherever you damn please – be it on line at the DMV or aboard a cruddy Southwest Airlines aircraft – you might desire to pull off feeding time with a bit more style and panache. One of *my* New Year’s resolutions this year is to add 35% more panache to my life by the second quarter.

Here are some outfitting options for those who are nursing, or anyone who wants to be able to easy whip out their boobs (I’m lookin’ at you, South Padre Island! SPRING BREAK!!!)

Wrap Nursing Sleep Bra - $16.98

First of all, get a bunch of these. They are comfy, not constrictive and you’ll find you’ll wear them for way more than just sleeping. At least I did. I don’t think I went back to “hard bras” until I returned to work (with a few exceptions).

Now, if you are going to be wearing any solid colors, or silk, or going to business meetings, or chaperoning any cotillion dances or really anything where you’d rather not have big wet blotches on your chest, get your self some of these. Sure, in a pinch, a wad of tissues or a paper towel will do – but then you have the aggravating and painful task of trying to de-fuzz your nips which is an activity to be approached delicately and with as little friction as possible, much like defusing a roadside bomb.

Nursing pad set - $25.50

These made-to-order pads consist of three pieces of fabric for ultimate nursing comfort: an outer layer of recycled wool (lambswool or merino), an inner layer of cotton fleece, and a layer against the skin of organic bamboo and organic cotton velour.

Donna Morgan Belted Surplice Jersey Dress - $118

I think orange is just fantastic and this dress looks perfectly comfortable without being “pure hobo” – my mom’s (admitted) signature style. The gold belt is a nice touch and could probably almost make up for pumping-at-work (world’s most depressing task).

Stiped Intersection Top - $98 at Anthropologie

I like how this one has stripes moving in all directions as well as a bandage-y effect around the midsection – both will help to camo the lingering “sad bag” where your abs used to be. (Don’t worry! You can TOTALLY get them back. Like, 90% anyway. I’ve seen it in real life! Not MY real life, but someone’s!)