by maipham

November 17, 2021

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Buying clothes for breastfeeding is expensive and sometimes is not necessary. This stage only lasts an average of 6 months to 1 year (if you are patient with breastfeeding), so it will be a bit of a waste of money to invest in a new wardrobe.

Some moms (small to medium chest size and not very busty) can wear normal clothes during breastfeeding. They need to buy a few necessary accessories and can easily go through this period.

If you are on a budget and really don't want to invest in new clothes but only wear them for a few months, how to breastfeed in normal clothes?

How To Breastfeed In Normal Clothes?

Using The "Two-shirt" Method

If you're looking for more coverage while nursing in regular clothes, you can try the "two-shirt" method. This method is simple to do and potentially savessave money for moms.

This method is effective by wearing a casual shirt outside and a pair of panties or cami underneath. 

Pull up your regular shirt and pull down the tank, that is all you need to do. In this way, your belly, back, sides and breasts remain covered, and breastfeeding in public is easier than ever!

Moreover, it is very easy to do and takes no time at all. With the "two-shirt" method, you no longer have to mess around with props like blankets, covers, hooks, or bra hooks. 

On the other hand, this must be a very reasonable approach for a mom on a budget. You don't have to buy anything else, what you need is already in your wardrobe. Or even if you don't have them, you can still find them very easily with an appropriate price.

Although there are many highlights, it still has some disadvantages. 

First, the "Two-shirt" method can become hot in the summer since you have to wear many layers at the hot temperature. To overcome this, you can choose lighter materials to wear in the hot season instead of thick sweaters.

Besides, it is pretty difficult to lift the bottom of a shirt while baby-wearing (the baby is essentially lying on top of your shirt). 

Also, when you pull up the shirt, all the fabric bunches on top of the breast, making it difficult to nurse (especially with heavier fabrics like sweatshirts).

How To Breastfeed In Normal Clothes: DIY With A T-shirt

The second method we recommend for you is that you make a nursing shirt with your T-shirt. Sounds interesting? Here's how to both save you money and help you feel comfortable breastfeeding.

First, you need to try on the T-shirt that you intend to transform. Then, mark it about two inches below your busts (since you will be cutting a line across the chest, folding it, and stitching except for the bust).

And now, cut along the line just marked, but remember to cut only on the front of the T-shirt. When you've finished it, cut the seam about ¾ inch, then fold the bottom in half and hem it again.

The purpose of doing this is that the top of the shirt will fall to cover up the cut, and you will pull it off whenever you need to breastfeed.

This method is quite simple and anyone can do it, so why don't you give it a try? Just a few twerks and you know how to breastfeed in normal clothes.

How To Breastfeed In Normal Clothes: DIY Breastfeeding Check Pocket

If you are a DIY person, you can even make yourself a unique set of nursing clothes to save money and make this period even more special. All you need is a few shirts and some pieces of cloth.
How To Breastfeed In Normal Clothes

The third method will make a creative transformation for your shirts!

How to do this? 

First, you will cut two vertical lines on your shirt (the green line). Make sure the cut parallel to the breast to facilitate breastfeeding. 

Then, make your fake bra pocket sewn on top to cover the cut (this DIY is very diverse, you can sew an extra layer or add a small bag) so that you can unbutton the pocket when you need to breastfeed.

This way is not only easy to do but highly applicable. You can comfortably breastfeed without exposing anything.

Some Breastfeeding Outfit Tips

In addition to the above instructions on how to breastfeed in casual clothes, we will also give you other great tips related to this topic on some indispensable accessories for you while breastfeeding. Even though you might want to know how to breastfeed in normal clothes and you might not want to buy anything extra, it is useful to get you through the items you might need.

Bra

During pregnancy and lactation, women will have breasts that grow larger than normal (also known as lactation). Therefore, in this period, choosing a nursing bra is very important. 

Not only does it make breastfeeding more convenient than a normal shirt, but it also prevents sagging due to the stretching of the ligaments when the baby feeds.

Hence, when pregnant and breastfeeding, you should consider choosing the right bra size and under the following criteria:

  • Choose a light and soft bra: when you are pregnant, the breast milk tissue expands and is more sensitive, so it needs to be protected by a gentle, gentle "film" for the skin.
  • Choose a bra with a dedicated underwire or without a frame: the underwire of a commonly used bra is not suitable for the further growth of the mammary glands during pregnancy. It is made of rough material, which can make you itchy and sore. Besides, rubbing for a long time will cause a bad impact on the shape and size of the breasts.
  • Has good absorbency: Leaking milk is inevitable when you have a lot of secretions. Therefore, you need to choose a good absorbent fabric to avoid getting wet and dry all day long.
  • The cup part has buttons to remove: this will help you open it easily without taking off the shirt completely.

Milk Absorbent Pads

In this period, there is one more problem that will always make you feel confused if you do not know how to control milk flow. 

These activities often result in milk leaking out even after the baby has been fully fed. 

That's why you should need breast pads. Breast pads are a great support tool to help you feel more confident and comfortable with the following uses:

  • Good absorbency: the breast pump will ensure the amount of milk does not leak and avoid wet stains appearing on the shirt.
  • Breast protection: Breast pads prevent the nipples from rubbing too much and create a barrier between the nipple and the bra. 
  • Fixed shape: Due to the suckling activity of your baby, your breasts tend to lack elasticity. Even with supportive shaping bras, it's hard to keep breasts looking as firm and full as they used to be. Breast pads will help your breasts stay in one position as well as create a more compact feel.
  • Support pain treatment: After several days of breastfeeding, your nipples tend to become softer than before. When your outerwear rubs against your body, you will feel pain and discomfort in the nipples. 

To prevent such situations, you should use breast pads, which help create soft support in the breast area, thereby supporting pain relief.

With the above uses, you should also pay attention to the following things when choosing to buy milk absorbent pads

Material test

The material of the breast pad should be made of soft material to create comfort and softness for the user's breasts.

It would be better if you searched for those designed to fit your breasts' size and should not choose pads made of flexible plastic because the moist air inside the breasts will not escape, from which you will feel itching and tightness. 

Absorbency of the pad

The absorbency of pads should also be emphasized because they have to suck milk quickly, not let milk back out and help keep breasts dry.

Besides, give preference to products with soft cushions or woven from bamboo. These materials are more absorbent when compared to cotton absorbent pads. 

You should not choose a plastic breast pump pad because it is not breathable, so bacteria will easily grow and cause sore nipples. Moreover, the sole made of plastic has very poor absorbency compared to other types

Depending on your economic situation, you can alternate using disposable pads with reusable pads.

Choose anti-spill pads

Usually, when milk comes out, the woven cloth pad will not absorb it completely and often leaves moisture stains on the shirt, which may make an unclean feeling after breastfeeding. 

To prevent such a situation from happening, look for pads that are resistant to spills.

The anti-spill pad can also trap moisture inside your breasts and still have space to let air in so you do not feel hot in your chest.

Possibility to improve breast shape

Recently, there are many manufacturers creating pads that improve the shape of the breasts.

If your breasts tend to sag while breastfeeding, this absorbent pad will give you extra confidence. A small note is that when using pads, you should choose outerwear with non-thin materials, so that the pads are not exposed.

Conclusion

Breastfeeding is a special and unforgettable period of your life, not only because you can create a wonderful bonding with your little one, but you can feel how amazing your body is, when it can produce food and nutrition to feed a little human being.

Because of its importance, you can easily get confused with all the accessories that seem necessary, but they are actually not. One of which is special nursing clothes.

If you are not very busty, and you are on a budget, you can do a little something to your current clothes. Now you know how to breastfeed in normal clothes comfortably!

About the author 

Mai Pham

Mai Pham discovered her passion for writing a few years ago and she never stop thinking about it ever since. She finally took the leap and created Live a Worthy Life to brag about her smart ass (mainly just for fun). Enjoyed the fun writing brings, now with her new interest in everything-baby-related, she created Mommy Instinct, to tell mamas that it's ok that they mess up, that they don't know what the hell they are doing, and that it's okay to sit back and relax for a while.

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