Seraphine | My Mills Baby

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.

I’m not sure there’s anyone in the UK that doesn’t know I’m pregnant again - I’m literally so excited I haven’t shut up about it! For the last month I’ve been spending all my time making lists and daydreaming. Every day I’ll scour Twitter looking for cute maternity outfits and moses baskets! I’m obsessed!

It should therefore come as no surprise that this tweet from fellow blogger Mirka at All Baby Advice sent me into a frenzy yesterday…

How have I only just seen this?! Seraphine is my all time favorite maternity brand! I had even planned to give birth to Dexter in this red-spotted halterneck maternity tankini in the birthing pool. My old work colleagues bought it for me as a maternity leave present but unfortunately, as Dex was born my emergency C-section, it never made it out of my drawer.

I still have it though! It’s coming on holiday with me in a few weeks time, and I’m crossing my fingers for a natural birth this time so I can wear it again. Hey, if it’s good enough for Sienna Miller, It’s good enough for me!

But what about everyday maternity wear?

The perfect maternity outfit should be timeless, versatile and great quality. Of course, you won’t need many as you’ll only be in them for a few months. So what you do buy needs to tick a few boxes. As this is my second time around, I’ve picked up a few tips and thought I’d share them with you:

Try to buy versatile outfits that will suit a variety of occasions. Use necklaces, bags and shoes to dress outfits up and down - these are great investments anyway as you’ll still be able to wear them long after your bump has disappeared.
It’s all about quality - as you’ll be practically living in just a few outfits, you’ll want to make sure they wash well.
Don’t be afraid of spending a little more to buy something special. Pregnancy is hard enough without feeling frumpy and unattractive. Buy one dress you really love to mark the experience and keep in the wardrobe as a memento. Maternity outfits also really hold their value so if you do overspend you’ll be able to recoup much of the money if you sell them secondhand on eBay.
Stick to classic prints and cuts so you can recycle them for the next pregnancy. Try not to opt for catwalk styles or seasonal trends that might not look so wonderful in five years time.

As I still have a few staple bits leftover from my first pregnancy, I only really need a few new bits. I have some very forgiving over-the-bump jeans and a few highstreet dresses. But it would be lovely to have something new that I can dress up with accessories for dates with Craig, and dress down for shopping trips with the girls, that covers up my pregnancy lumps. I don’t have anything new yet to mark this pregnancy so have been on the hunt for something extra special.

So here is it, my dream Seraphine outfit for less than £100 (around £93 GBP)

If you’d like to enter this competition yourself - here’s the link!