Working mom wardrobe and pumping help needed

[gldnbearz]

Our office dress is business casual. This translates to slacks, tops, cardigans, dresses, and skirts. No suit needed.

As I go through my wardrobe, I'm having to sort through tops that would be pump friendly. I don't have button down shirts in my wardrobe. I do have lots of pullover tops, cardigan/sleeveless twin sets, and v-neck tops.

Trying to decide if a cardigan over a nursing tank wouldn't be too frumpy.

What do N14 mommas wear?

[heatherbee]

I have been wearing a stretchy maternity cami under my shirts and that has been easy enough to move out of the way for pumping and still looks like a normal cami under things.

[calimomof1]

I wore a button down shirt yesterday that I love! Portofino by Express. Think I'm gonna buy a few more of those. Today I wore a tank/blazer combo and just pulled up the tank.

[ladybird]

Haven't gone back to work yet but I've been doing 2 stretchy tanks layered (Old Navy "Tamis")—I pull one up and pull the other down from the neck so everything's covered. I've found these to be easier and more comfortable than my nursing tanks with the bra-strap straps. With cardigans or jacket/blazer on top. I'm also planning on getting a few button downs—gap or h&m or something. Thinking the convenience might be worth it. And good for hiding my poochy belly. Boo.

[momof2boys]

wrap style tops.

Although, this time around, I keep a cardigan and a nursing cover in my little room and a hands free bra and I basically change my top and get dressed again and it's not too cumbersome and I think I'm getting better supply than last time when I jimmied with tank tops and tried not to get half naked to pump.

[gldnbearz]

@heatherber I've packed away my maternity tanks. And they don't fit well any more.
calimomof1 I might need to poke my head into an Express. Is the Portofino wrinkle free?
ladybird I have those ON Tamis. Love them over the ribbed tanks which are much snugger and don't stretch as much. I will need to try doubling them up as you describe.
momof2boys Oops, didn't think of a nursing cover for work. I don't even own one.

[moonandback]

I wear a nursing bra instead of a nursing tank when working. I bought several Undercover Mama tanks that attach to my bra, making it a cami without the bulk of all those extra layers on the chest. They are nice and long, too. Then I just wear my regular work clothes. I pull everything up to pump.

[aluzitano]

The Freemies have helped me a lot in this department, since they can just go in your bra under any top...I never even have to think about "pump friendly" anymore!

[kaimee27]

I'm a nurse-and I start back to work today. Wardrobe options are pretty limited for me, so I'm just planning on wearing my normal scrubs with a nursing bra. I would think that anything you can lift out of the way easily would work though.

[zengal]

I'm a regular clothes wearer also. I just pull everything up and cross my fingers that it doesn't wrinkle too much!

[pixie523]

I work in a very casual office, so I'm not help here. I just dress normally and add my hands free bra when it's pumping time.

[rosieb0514]

We are business casual as well. I normally wear a cardigan and jazz it up with a scarf or something. I usually rock a nursing bra/tank combo (both from Target)and just pull up my t shirt. For extra privacy (you know, when people just ignore the pumping sign and walk right in!) i'll toss the scarf over to cover me up!

[wicked22]

Business Casual as well. I interchange between nursing tanks and bras, it all depends on the shirt I wear. I prefer to wear the tanks though so I don't feel so exposed plus it gets cold in my office.

[jax1182014]

I wear scrubs and I always wore sports bras to work so I have a few nursing sports bras. I also have a hands free bra

[karleenie]

I've been wearing nursing bras and nursing tanks under my regular work shirts. I have a few flowy button down shirts (Nordstrom rack- I'm not a tailored button down kinda girl) that seem to be the easiest to take off and on. I'm paranoid about spills so I just take my top off and snap down my bra and tank. I also use a hands free pumping bra which for me is a must have so I can multitask while I pump! My favorite nursing tanks come in a 2 pack at h&m. They are great for nursing and fit great as a cami under all my tops. They also help me feel a little more "smoothed out" since I'm still carrying a few baby pounds

[calimomof1]

gldnbearz, Good question about the Portofino. I'm not sure. According to all of the reviews, it washes easily and doesn't wrinkle. When I first got the shirt, it was folded (ordered it online) and I washed/dried it, and those wrinkles from the folds remained. I ended up having it washed & ironed by the dry cleaners. I haven't washed it again, because I didn't wear it while I was pregnant. I'll report back, if I remember! But according to the reviewers, it's "easy care."

[gldnbearz]

Mar 4, 2015 1:43:31 GMT -5 moonandback said:

I wear a nursing bra instead of a nursing tank when working. I bought several Undercover Mama tanks that attach to my bra, making it a cami without the bulk of all those extra layers on the chest. They are nice and long, too. Then I just wear my regular work clothes. I pull everything up to pump.

I forgot I have an Undercover Mama tank. Need to look for it.

[ladybird]

Also want to recommend the Rumina nursing/pumping bra. It's an all-in-one solution—nursing and hands-free. Just got one this week and it's making pumping less tedious. One less thing to put on and take off. www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00L49L1TK/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1425492444&sr=8-1&keywords=rumina+pumping+bra&pi=AC_SY200_QL40&dpPl=1&dpID=41uEe8p9pzL&ref=plSrch

Got another one that is an all-in-one solution and less sports bra like from The Dairy Fairy. It's more expensive (and I hate that name!) but I think it will also be effective.

[Libby]

kaimee27 it has been helpful for me to wear plain black shirt under scrub jacket with matching pants and a nursing bra under that. I've actually been wearing a black maternity shirt because I can stretch it over the pump stuff. I just put on hands free every time. Our hospital allows jacket but don't know if yours does!

[songbirdsinging55]

I wear cami or tank underneath regular tops. Well I should say maternity tops lol. Non of my tops fit from pre pregnancy. Too tight :-(. I also wear a cardigan or sweater. When I pump I just lift the top and pull down the cami. I do use a nursing bra. It is so convenient to just unclip.

[zengal]

ladybird I ordered that bra. Thanks for the recommendation! I'm already tired of pulling up my nursing bra to put on the pumping bra umpteen times a day.

[dsp2013]

I mentioned this in the pumping thread, but freemies and a la leche league pumping/nursing bra. It's made working and pumping so much easier.

With the freemies I can wear regular tops. I just need the collar to stretch enough to put one cup in at a time. When I use the la leche bra, I'll wear a cheap tank that can pull down and another top that pulls up. Target and ON have lots of cheap tanks that work.

[jjh1119]

another one for the freemies. It was super helpful. I only work one day a week now though and I started weaning to just two times a day. I was able to wear whatever I wanted and was able to stay in the breakroom and chat while I pumped, half the time the girls didnt even notice I was pumping. (I also work in a very close knit environment and we've seen more of each other than I care to admit lol)

[spikesmom]

I pump while driving a lot so I needed a hands free bra that I could wear all of the time. I tried a sports bra with hole cut in it but it didn't work well under most of my work clothes. I recently bought a nursing bra and cut holes in it and then I wear a nursing tank over it and just unclip the tank and pull it down to pump. It works really well and I don't have to worry about putting on a hands free bra and it is pretty easy to get set-up to pump in the car.

[turtles7]

My workplace is business casual. I have not changed my wardrobe for pumping. I wear a nursing bra and regular blouses. I lift them up and put on the hand free bra when it's time to pump.