Aug 13 2014

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Posted on August 13, 2014 by admin

Okay, I didn’t last spectacularly long breastfeeding my babies. Although 6 weeks felt like a lifetime, it isn’t. Because I knew it wasn’t working out for me nice and early, I didn’t spend a fortune on nursing lingerie. Heidi and I spent virtually our entire first month at home due to my c-section wound, so I just whipped out my boobs when she needed me.

So there I was, gleefully rubbing my hands together that my Victoria’s Secret bra still occupied the top spot in my underwear drawer - I guess I’ve always thought that nursing bras were ugly.

Seems I was wrong.

Hotmilk Nursing GIVEAWAY: Win a Nursing or Maternity Bra from Hotmilk (CD: 15/09/2014)

Hotmilk’s vision is to change maternity and nursing lingerie the world over by revealing the sexy woman inside the loving mother. Hotmilk continues to be the brand that is sought out and recommended by mothers, especially by those wanting lingerie that empowers and encourages them to feel fabulous, and to be decadent, at a time when they deserve it most! Hotmilk

Hotmilk proves that nursing bras aren’t always nude, plain and dowdy. Although I appreciate that you don’t always feel up for ‘couple time’ after having a baby (my friends were staggered when I confessed Craig and I were back to business as usual within a week), you can still remain flirty and feminine in Hotmilk’s nursing bras.

Not only this, but they’re still packed with the necessary features you need to nurse comfortably and discreetly.

Non-wired soft cup bra for maximum comfort and support
A frame support for the ultimate support and modesty cover
100% cotton lined cups for skin breathability
Designed with stretch on the top cup to allow for growth
Easy one handed drop down cups for breastfeeding
6 hook and eye extension for ribcage expansion
Cotton lined straps for added comfort
Wider straps on the larger cups for added strength

There’s also some seriously pretty maternity bras designed to grow with you throughout your pregnancy. These feature everything but the drop down cups, to ensure you stay perfectly comfortable up top whilst every other bit of you transforms beyond all recognition.

Hotmilk Maternity GIVEAWAY: Win a Nursing or Maternity Bra from Hotmilk (CD: 15/09/2014)

Given I’m no longer breastfeeding Heidi, I haven’t tried Hotmilk myself, but I have done a quick scour of some of my favourite blogs to see what my pals made of them:

This is by far the nicest bra I have ever owned both in construction and appearance Stand and Deliver

Really comfortable and pretty and I would highly recommend trying them out Life, Love and Living with Boys

My first thought on opening it was “wow, it’s so pretty”. It turned out to not only be pretty but fit really well too (pre and post birth) Motherhood Journeys

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Their nursing bras never seem to compromise between style and function Transatlantic Blonde

* GIVEAWAY TIME *

So, fancy a chance to win a nursing or maternity bra from Hotmilk? Of course you do! It’s another easy rafflecopter so best of luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

T&C’s – a.k.a – the boring bit!

Only 1 option is mandatory (leave me a comment) – the rest only improve your chances of winning so just complete as many as you feel like
UK entrants only – you must be over 18 too (sorry)
The winner will be contacted by email and must respond within 1 week of having been emailed (I’ll try all known avenues to contact them) or a new winner will be drawn
When the giveaway is closed, Rafflecopter will select the winner completely at random
The winners name will be published on this site

Win competitions at ThePrizeFinder.com

Jun 9 2014

Maternity dresses that will transition perfectly for nursing

Posted on June 9, 2014 by admin

I’m still in many of my maternity outfits. Not because I’m grotesquely fat, or want to excuse the fact I’m still lugging around baby weight. Not because I’m still in waddle-mode and miss my bump either. It’s because I’m nursing Heidi and picked my maternity outfits well so they gave me the easiest possible access to my boobs, without looking like I’m wearing Dexter’s teepee.

Me Maternity dresses that will transition perfectly for nursing

Me, PREGNANT. (above)

You see, maternity brands have wised up to the fact that we’re spending more throughout our pregnancies to make ourselves still feel sexy and confident. But, being women, we’re savvy enough to realise that our investment will only last the 9 months. True, maternity outfits hold their value well and will fetch a handsome resale value on eBay, but taking hundreds of pictures of bump-banded linen trousers and uploading them is the last thing we feel like doing when we’ve been up all night nursing our babies. So transitional outfits are definitely your best bet; Maternity dresses that will transition perfectly for nursing.

No, this doesn’t mean you’ll be wearing tops with a baggy midriff, or dresses so unflattering you have people speculating whether you’re gunning for a world record for the world longest pregnancy. If you buy well, you can still wear many pregnancy outfit for years to come, even when you’ve finished whipping out your breasts on-demand.

**Don’t feel that you have to buy from maternity ranges**

If you pick stretchy material that holds it’s shape well, you can get away with a variety of outfits that aren’t maternity. This is particularly true of t-shirt and jersey dresses that seem to be all the rage this season. You can always accessorise with some maternity jeans or leggings if you’re not feeling body-confident. Maxi dresses are equally forgiving - try big prints to minimise your bump and distract the eye. Finally, pick dresses that are fitted under-the-bust but with free-flowing skirts to make a feature of your bump. Heine Maxi Dresses Maternity dresses that will transition perfectly for nursing

(above) A selection of dresses from Heine

Spend a little more

Okay, you won’t want to hear this when you’re already remortgaging your house to buy nursery furniture, but you really do get what you pay for with maternity wear. I’m a little loathe to say it given I love charity shops and online auction sites for every day wear, but maternity wear that’ll last does cost a pretty penny. If you have an upcoming special occasion or you have a work wardrobe that is simply too tailored to accommodate a mini-you, sites like Isabella Oliver or Tiffany Rose do to-die-for maternity wear. Even better, there are many styles that will last you beyond your Bump Days.

For work wear, the trick is to avoid the tailored look as these will only work whilst you’re carting around baby. Instead pick wrap dresses and ruched styles that will still look fabulous on a smaller frame. These will also hide any legacy of baby if you decide to make the return to work before you’ve renewed your gym membership. Again, opt for materials with plenty of elastane and cross-over detailing at the neckline for easy access to your breasts for nursing / expressing. Isabella Oliver Dresses Maternity dresses that will transition perfectly for nursing

(above) Isabella Oliver dresses

For occasion wear you can afford to go a little more fitted. Shift dresses specially designed for maternity like these lace numbers from Tiffany Rose still look amazing post-baby. The neck lines are also surprisingly stretchy to accommodate fluctuating breast size in pregnancy so will withstand a bit of artful tugging when nursing. I speak from experience here as I have one of my own. Tiffany Rose Dresses Maternity dresses that will transition perfectly for nursing

(above) Tiffany Rose dresses

Buy nursing wear before your bump even appears

This is a trick I learnt inadvertently when I reviewed for Envie de Fraises. Many maternity stores will offer a nursing range alongside their maternity one. The truth is that most, if not all, of these clothes will accommodate a growing bump. This is because they’re designed to be worn immediately post-partum when you still have a sizable belly. All styles are therefore open to you and you can shop as though you never had a baby to consider in the first place! I love these ones from Seraphine which all come with integrated access to your breast for the most discreet feeding experience. Seraphine Maternity dresses that will transition perfectly for nursing

(above) Dresses from Seraphine

So there you have it! Any more tips for the mum-to-be? Leave them below.

Sep 13 2013

Clothes That Make You Fall In Love With Your Bump from KLM Maternity

Posted on September 13, 2013 by admin

I received a lovely treat from the girls at KLM Maternity yesterday, a lovely maternity cardigan and a really comfy nightie to accommodate my ever-expanding belly!

I’m a massive fan of KLM - for everyday, practical and affordable maternity wear, they’re pretty hard to beat. I first stumbled across them when I was pregnant with Dexie and fed up of the high street. When you have a huge belly, the last thing you feel like is hauling it around town and having a mass ‘trying on’ session. Add to this the fact that most high street shops have limited maternity ranges (usually unceremoniously dumped in a shady corner of the shop floor so you have to waddle past all the things you can no longer squeeze into) - there’s usually a few vests, shirts and the odd skirt… not much to get excited about!

Online shopping is definitely the way to go. You can’t beat a specialist maternity store that stocks lots of different styles and occasion-wear. I find you don’t have to try things on so readily when you are pregnant - if they are made well, with quality fabric, they’ll comfortably stretch over your bump anyway. You don’t want things to be really fitted and clingy so you tend to buy loose-fitting styles with less potential to make you look like you ate too many pies.

KLM are fabulous as they have such a huge selection to choose from. I literally have a huge wishlist as long as my arm. Here are some of my absolute favourite bits…

As you can see, the prices are beyond reasonable and there are things for work, play and special occasions. The sizes are great too as most styles go up to size 14-16 for the larger figured lady.

I was sent a lovely fitted cardigan from Mamma-licious in Limbo (a kind of red wine colour / mulberry colour). The material is beautiful and soft and there’s loads of stretch in it so cover the bump. I choose to tie the ties at the front to show off my bump, but presumably you can also tie them loosely at the back to accentuate your waist. It’s ridiculously comfy for everyday and a bargain maternity essential at just £24.99.

I was also sent the 9Fashion Lisa nightdress in grey - this will be perfect when my tummy is too big to fit in my usual PJ’s. Right now it’s slightly too big for me but very well fitted around my boobs (which have increased to a mammoth 36H with this pregnancy!). It’s fabulous for breastfeeding as the panel across the breast unclips from the pretty ruffled straps for easy access to your breasts. It would make a fabulous birthing nightdress as it’s lightweight, cool and very generously sized for the later stages of pregnancy. This is just £25.99.

I’d happily recommend KLM Maternity for speedy delivery, ease of ordering, and for having such a fabulous choice of maternity wear for the busy and style conscious mama-to-be. The only thing I can possibly think of that might improve the shopping experience is a zoom function on the clothes. For 99% of people this wouldn’t be a problem at all, but for those of us with big busts it helps to be able to see how if there is a under-bust seam that might not accommodate my boobs.

To top it all off, if you like them on Facebook you can unlock a 10% off your first order code, and they’re always available on Twitter if you have any questions! Well done KLM Maternity for making maternity shopping a less stressful experience!

DISCLAIMER: I was sent both the above products in exchange for my views. All thoughts and opinions are my own.