Posts Tagged ‘nursing in public’

Dressing up for the season

Monday, December 5th, 2011

We understand that it can be hard to get dressed in the morning, let alone dressed up for a holiday party or other celebration. Instead of dreading “that night” when you have to nurse in public, seize the opportunity to feel refreshed and dazzling in one of Milk’s nursing dresses.

Here, we have shown you how to impress in a few of our best sellers.

The black Keyhole dress is beautiful and basic, so you can pair whatever accent color and accessories you prefer to spice up the overall look. We love this red fascinator and oversized ruby ring. The red flats pull it all together, but the black suede heels are luxuriously feminine and sexy (if you’re ready to attempt the three inches again!). Whichever you choose, this style is perfect for those dressier holiday parties.

Our Everyday dress (shown here in purple) is just that – - perfect for every day. We love that it can take a working mom from the office to a dinner party with just a few accessory changes. Here, we’ve paired a beautiful Missoni print scarf (which can be worn around the neck or draped as a shawl) with glittery purple flats (oh-so-comfy!) and a great-looking bracelet (super chic).

Turquoise is an awakening color in the greys of winter. We have paired our Tiered ruffle nursing dress in that hue with a grey boyfriend cardigan (wear it open!), aquamarine chandelier earrings and grey booties (heels or fringed flats: you choose!). We love the feminine but somewhat casual look of this outfit. It would definitely work at a house party or out for a special dinner.

Don’t delay ~ shop today to take advantage of our holiday dress sale, where all nursing dresses are marked down by up to 45%. And send us your photos so we can see how you have wardrobed your own Milk Nursingwear dresses!

Musings of a working mom

Friday, September 23rd, 2011

Thanks to Ann for emailing Milk to share her experiences of being a working, nursing mom!

Have a story to share? Email it to us at CustomerCare{at}MilkNursingwear.com, and click here to read what other moms have to say about Milk.

I am a working mother of two. With my first, I went back to work and she (went) to daycare at less than 3 months old (!). I actually went back to work with her after 4 weeks. I had meetings in my office when she was just 4 weeks old!

I would have out-of-town meetings, so I would pump while driving. I used a poncho over my clothes, hooked up the pump before I got on the road (or stopped to set it up) and then pumped while driving. I used a hands-free nursing bra to do this. I had both a summer and a winter-weight poncho.

I pump at my office every day – lucky to have an office with a door that closes and locks – and I continue to work (sometimes). With this baby there’s Facebook (there wasn’t with my daughter) to divert my attention.

With my son, I nursed him at 5 weeks old, in a sling, during a new-client pitch meeting with one of my staffers next to me. It was interesting. The meeting ran long but when he got fussy I simply said “I’ll put him in my sling” and then proceeded to latch him on under it. We got the client. I wore a jersey wrap dress with nursing tank to the meeting – it was my only ‘good’ outfit for that stage of postpartum size.

I practiced a week earlier at a coffee shop with a friend and found my cover up scarf was insufficient, so I used my sling for the meeting (with a long tail so I draped it over him). If you’re lucky enough to take your baby to work, it’s important to practice in public but in the presence of friends, so you can feel confident that you can continue to carry on the conversation at work with a new baby.

My go-to dress is a turquoise blue “knotted waist dress” from Milk (I think I wear it at least once a week). I also have a jersey wrap dress worn over a nursing tank that I can also nurse in easily. I find nursing dresses to be the most comfortable, second would be a nursing top under a business suit jacket which offers excellent coverage.

My favorite working mom pic is of the Italian U.N. representative in her suit, with a Moby wrap over it, her sleeping daughter in the wrap. A UK newspaper ran the story last year.

Tell us your favorite nursing stories! You may email them to us at CustomerCare{at}MilkNursingwear.com. We’d love to post them here and share them with our readers.

Expressing yourself in the office

Sunday, July 24th, 2011

Breastfeeding and Work. It seems that these two words muster up all sorts of thoughts and emotions for us women. Yes – breastfeeding IS work. (A lot of really, fulfilling, hard work.) But breastfeeding AT work – well, that’s a whole different story.

For those ladies who work outside the house, balancing the desire to breastfeed and remain involved in one’s career can prove challenging. Some US States are more supportive of breastfeeding moms than others.  The more supportive states may require that employers make allowances for breastfeeding mothers.  For example, in California, employers must allow time to pump and a private space to pump that has a sink and no toilet in the room – so, not a bathroom stall (in short).

And some of those companies that aren’t mandated to provide lactation rooms or break time are slowly catching on. But not all of them are making it easy for women who are reluctant to speak out and stand up for what they need and want.  Some women are still faced with the challenge of where to express milk at work, and how to negotiate break times to do this.

We asked some of our Facebook friends to share their experience of breastfeeding at work, and here are just a few of their responses:

We finally got a room here (which doubles as a meditation room). Before that the best option was the handicap accessible restroom. –Mark (chiming in on behalf of his female co-workers)

We have a room at {work}. I have a sign I put on the door that says, “Please do not disturb. In a state of dairy.” – Margo

I used to have to pump in a closet, on my lunch hour, with everyone else eating their lunch right outside the closet! – Vicki

I got walked in on while I was pumping…by my male boss…. that was fun! -Melanie

I would sit on the floor under my desk. I was lucky enough to have offices to do it in, but one of them had a glass panel you could see into, and the other a huge window that looked into another building. -Aviva

I would sit in the bathroom and use a manual pump. It was gross. I ran out of milk so much faster because I could not use the electric one (no outlet)…. -Regina

At first HR told me to pump in the bathroom/handicap stall – just terrible – I cried. I tried to make the point/fight for – “Would you make your lunch in a bathroom??”  -Stacy

Here is our recommended checklist of things you’ll need to breastfeed at work – no matter what level of support you receive:

>your pump (a double-electric breastpump works best) and accessories
>anti-bacterial soap, a soft cloth for washing and soft cloth for drying
>ice packs and a cooler (if refrigeration isn’t available) to store expressed milk
>a 3-prong adapter (just in case the electrical outlets aren’t fit for your needs)
>a bottle of water (just for you!)
>a photo of your baby/babies or family
>breast pads (We recommend LilyPadz or the Moisture Wicking Bravado Nursing Pads!)
>while not essential, wearing a nursing bra, and nursing dress or nursing top can make pumping more convenient and make you feel less “exposed” even if in a private space at work

We’d love to hear your stories of breastfeeding at work. Send us an email to customercare{at}milknursingwear.com!

Fashionable Nursing Covers, Bibs & Burp Cloths

Monday, April 11th, 2011

Breastfeeding tip #1: If you haven’t ventured into the world of chic nursing covers, now is the perfect time. Our collection, designed by Bebe au lait, is fresh and fashionable, offering you a cute cover-up solution when nursing from home or on the go – - because no one wants to look frumpy or be exposed when spending that precious time with our little ones.

Our diverse selection has wide appeal with both modern and classic prints and colors. And like mom, like baby – we even carry a selection of fashion bibs and burp cloths that match our privacy covers, allowing you to coordinate with your baby during feedings. (How precious is that?!?)

Some perks of our privacy covers?

  • Sizing is generous to keep you completely covered while nursing
  • Unique neckline allows for ventilation and unobstructed eye contact with your baby
  • Cover can double as a sunshade over a front-carrier or stroller to protect baby from harmful UV rays
  • Terrycloth pocket for storage of pads or pacifiers
  • 100% cotton and machine washable

Privacy covers ($35), burp cloths (sale, $18.99) and fashion bibs (sale, $15.99) make great gifts, too. So, keep your girlfriend or sister in mind for her shower or baby gift!

“My pants won’t button… HELP!”

Friday, April 1st, 2011

Pants won’t button? Shirt’s too short? Belly bands to the rescue.

If you’re pregnant or post-partum, you’ve probably experienced that exposed belly so many of us face during this time. Or you just can’t find a pair of pants that fit properly.

Belly bands have become must-haves for countless women. It is an incredible product that is both functional and chic, offering that oh-so-fashionable layered look without the added bulk. During pregnancy, it virtually extends your wardrobe, allowing you to wear non-maternity pants unbuttoned, while the belly band covers the gap between your pants and your top. Or it works after baby’s birth to help you transition back into your pre-pregnancy wardrobe. A great investment or a great gift at $22-$24, it’s wearable from the early months of pregnancy through post-partum until your pre-pregnancy clothes start to fit. And it has the added bonus of providing extra coverage under any non-nursing top when breastfeeding, so the staying power is long-lasting.

Belly bands will transform your wardrobe in a way that will leave you wishing you had purchased them sooner. So, don’t delay… shop today!

Finding a dress for your baby’s christening, baptism or bris:

Sunday, May 9th, 2010

Nursing mothers may find it challenging to find something to wear to your baby’s christening, baptism or bris.  You want to look beautiful for pictures and for the event itself, but your body will still be changing, and you need access to breastfeed your baby.  What to do? 

Here are Milk Nursingwear’s top 5 recommendations for summer nursing dresses, nursing sundresses, and nursing tops for that will make you look beautiful for the occasion, while enabling you to breastfeed your baby discreetly as well:

1.  Smocked sleeveless sundress in 4 colors ($49):  This style is ideal for a new-baby occasion because the fit is forgiving (you can even wear this dress during pregnancy), the style flattering, there are many color choices available – and breastfeeding your baby in this nursing sundress is so convenient and discreet!  Customers love this style, click here to read customer reviews of our most popular nursing sundress.  You can add a cardigan or wrap to this style to make it more modest.

2.  Smocked floral print nursing sundress ($49):  This is the same style as our best-selling Smocked sleeveless sundress mentioned above, but in a colorful floral print!  Great for the spring and summer, for all of the reasons mentioned above.

3.  Everyday dress ($52):  But not just for everyday!  One benefit of this nursing dress is that it can be dressed up or dressed down.  It is a nursing dress that you will get a lot of wear out of and you can truly enjoy wearing it even after your baby has weaned.  The fit is generous and can be adjusted with the ties.

4. Radiant nursing top ($39):  This nursing top is generous in the stomach area, but flattering because of the v-neck and cap sleeves.  It works well for post-partum moms (and way beyond!) so ideal for a baby celebration.  It can be dressed up easily and breastfeeding your baby in this nursing top is discreet, because there is an all-around under layer.

5. Nursing privacy covers ($35):  Nursing privacy covers can be a nursing mom’s best friend!  Our nursing privacy covers come in a range of colors and fashion prints, and provide total discretion while nursing.  Ours have a rigid neckline that enables you to see baby while nursing and also provide ventilation for baby while breastfeeding.  Wear your regular, non-nursing clothes underneath, pack a nursing privacy cover in your diaper bag, and you are ready for your special occasion!

Milk Nursingwear wants to help you feel relaxed, beautiful and comfortable nursing your baby at your special occasion.

Stress-Free Nursing in Public

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

Read my guest blog post for Mommy News and Views about stress-free nursing in public (reprinted below).   Click here to enter to win a free win a free Milk nursing top  from this same blog!

Stress-free nursing in public 

Mastering breastfeeding takes patience.  With time you learn proper latch-on, positioning, and how to gauge your baby’s sensitivity to external stimuli while nursing. 

 But once you have that down and are ready to hit the road with your baby, how do you get comfortable nursing in public?  Inevitably your little one may need to nurse when you are out at the mall, in a restaurant, at a wedding, or in the park.

Stress-free nursing in public can be as simple as:  scoping out a spot, dressing for it, and feeling confident about what you are doing.

Scope out a spot:  Some moms and nurslings are comfortable nursing out in the middle of all the action.  Other babies are distracted by outside activity while nursing, and some moms need a relaxed spot in order to let down.  It is almost always possible to carve out a private space.  If you are in a shopping mall, an empty dressing room is ideal for privacy and quiet.  Or try one of the comfortable lounges before the entrance to ladies’ rooms in department stores.  In a restaurant, positioning your chair away from the activity will create a personal space for you and your nursling.  If you are at a wedding or party, find a separate room to escape to.  If you cannot, moving to a quieter corner towards the back can work as well.

Dress for it:  Anticipate your outing when getting dressed.  Make sure that your clothing provides nursing access – for example, having to lift one’s dress up from the bottom to nurse would not be conducive to public breastfeeding!  Make sure your top can lift comfortably or that your dress has buttons or another type of opening at the top.  A light blanket or loose scarf can provide additional discretion.  Wearing a baby sling is ideal since your nursling can breastfeed peacefully and discreetly while you are going about your day.  Wearing a nursing camisole or nursing top makes breastfeeding even more discreet by keeping your body covered while you nurse.

Feel confident about what you are doing:  The most important thing is to feel confident about nursing your baby.  While it’s true that some people may not be used to the sight of a nursing woman, if you feel good about what you are doing, you will project that image to others.  They in turn will feel more relaxed too.  In short, people will take their cues from you, and when you give off the signal that you are comfortable with what you are doing, others will be too.

As an extension of the tips above, try to nurse your baby before leaving the house to give yourself more time before the next feeding.  You can also nurse in the car (not while driving of course!) right before getting out.  Finally, read your baby’s cues and nurse them before they get too hungry, to minimize fussiness while breastfeeding in unfamiliar places.  

Enjoy nursing your little one – no matter where you are – knowing that you are giving him the best possible nutrition, and helping to create a very special bond.

Elisa Minsk Hartstein earned her MBA from Columbia University, is the mother of 4 breastfed children, and is the founder of Milk Nursingwear www.milknursingwear.com.  Prior to founding Milk, she created the Expressiva Nursingwear brand, which she sold in 2007.