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Preparing for a baby means preparing for a lot of change in your life. One of the many changes you may experience is a change in your wardrobe. Many women don’t think about what to wear after giving birth. This is because they are so focused on all that leads up to it. It’s important to be prepared for life postpartum as well as during your pregnancy. In this article, we will explore all the different types of clothing changes you will need to consider after giving birth. Your Body After Birth Whether this is your first child or you are expanding your family, your body is going to react differently with each pregnancy. There are, however, a few things you can expect after you have given birth. With both C-section and natural deliveries women can expect to bleed after their labor for a few days. This means you will need underwear and pads. Your body will also begin to produce milk. Even if you are not planning on breastfeeding you can expect to leak milk from your breasts. This means you will need a bra and some sort of cloth to catch the milk. In addition, your body will be in a state of healing. You just formed a baby and gave birth, there is going to be some pain and discomfort in your abdomen. Many women will want a set of comfortable clothing to get cozy in. For the first 6-10 weeks after you give birth your uterus will be shrinking back to its normal size. During this time frame compression over your uterus can help ease pain and allow you to heal faster. A mix of comfort and compression is the key to an easy postpartum recovery journey. Keeping this in mind can help you choose what to wear after giving birth. What to wear after giving birth (clothes) Part of your birth plan should include packing a hospital bag. You should fill your hospital bag with all of the things you will need for your new little one and for yourself. Included in this bag should be an outfit that you will wear home from the hospital. Choosing this outfit will help determine your comfort level after you have given birth. The main thing you need to consider when choosing these clothes is comfort. If you had a C-section, you will most likely want a pair of postpartum compression leggings that are made of breathable and soft fabric. Postpartum compression leggings, like those sold by Bellefit, are ideal to provide support and compression to your new incision. The waistband of these compression leggings should go over the incision to protect it from snagging on anything, but it should also be breathable so that moisture isn’t trapped in the incision area. Women who had a natural birth will most likely want something a little looser in the vaginal area. A pair of loose cotton pants, flowing culottes, or even pajama pants will be your best bet. A pair of postpartum leggings are also acceptable as long as they are made of breathable fabric that doesn’t create too much moisture in your vaginal area. For both C-section and natural birth mothers a loose top with breast access is a good option. Pajama tops with buttons down the front are particularly popular with many women. Maxi dresses are also a popular option but women who have C-section incisions may want a high-waisted undergarment to protect against any snagging material. What to wear after giving birth (under clothing) There are a variety of options available to women when it comes to postpartum undergarments. Each option is based on personal preference and every option is viable for women who have had a C-section or a natural delivery. Postpartum Underwear After labor and delivery, your uterus will begin to shed its lining. This causes you to bleed for multiple days and experience spotting for weeks. You will likely not want to ruin your nice underwear with all of the blood, so investing in some postpartum underwear is a great idea. This underwear should be comfortable, high waisted (particularly if you had a C-section), breathable, and full-coverage (to accommodate the large pads you will need to wear). Bellefit has a line of postpartum underwear that is perfect for you to wear after giving birth. Nursing Bra/Sleeping Bra After your delivery, your body releases hormones that cause your breasts to engorge and feel tender. Even if you are not planning on breastfeeding you will want to offer your breasts some support so that you can ease the discomfort you experience. Sleeping bras or nursing tank tops are a great option. They provide support, are comfortable, and will catch your leaking milk. If you are breastfeeding you will need to invest in a good nursing bra. The bra should be supportive and also have easy access for your baby. Bellefit has a sleeping/nursing bra that is perfect for anyone. Sleeping/nursing bras provide support, are soft and comfortable, and are easy to clip down when you need to get up for a midnight feeding. Belly Band/Abdominal Binder If you decide to have a baby at the hospital they will probably give you an abdominal binder after you have given birth. This medical garment offers compression to your stomach area and provides relief from abdominal pain. This abdominal binder is often only good for a day or two before it begins to give out at the edges. Today, more and more women are turning to belly bands or postpartum binders. They help ease postpartum pain. These garments offer support that provides relief from discomfort and makes it easier to get around. This can help your uterus shrink back to its normal state and prevent diastasis recti. There are so many of these garments available on the market that it can be hard to choose one that is best suited to your needs. Bellefit offers a variety of sizes and styles that are suitable for anyone--including those who have had a C-section or natural birth. What to wear after giving birth--takeaways Depending on if you had a C-section or a natural birth your clothing options will likely be different. C-section mothers will probably want to have a pair of compression leggings and a loose top to wear. While natural birth mothers might be more comfortable with a pair of loose pants and a loose top. No matter what type of delivery you had in the end what you wear after giving birth is all up to what you would feel the most comfortable in.

Whether you are actively trying to get pregnant or not the only way to know for sure if you are pregnant is with a pregnancy test. Early pregnancy symptoms are very similar to period symptoms and because of this many women can get the two confused. The only way to determine if you are pregnant is through a pregnancy test. However, you may be able to determine if you need a pregnancy test sooner if you know what early pregnancy symptoms to look for. In this article, we will detail what early pregnancy symptoms are and what to expect. When Do Symptoms Start Many women are under the assumption that they cannot get pregnancy symptoms until they have missed a period. This is not true. You can experience early pregnancy symptoms almost a week and a half before your period is scheduled to come. In addition, your pregnancy is calculated based on the first day of your last period, even if you were not pregnant at that time. For example, you could have conceived a week after your period ended, but doctors will calculate your due date based on the first day of your last period. This means that the first few weeks when you technically weren’t pregnant are still considered to be the first few weeks of your pregnancy. For this reason, it is not uncommon to not experience any symptoms in the first few weeks of pregnancy. In addition to the pregnancy calculation, once you have conceived it takes about 10-14 days for the fetus to implant into the uterus. It is also for this reason that many people do not experience symptoms until after they have missed a period. Early Pregnancy Symptoms There are a variety of early pregnancy symptoms that can indicate you are pregnant. However, many of them are also symptoms of getting sick or beginning your period. Because of the similarities between symptoms, many women tend to overlook the early pregnancy symptoms they experience until they miss their period. Spotting/Bleeding/Cramping Approximately 10-14 days after conception is when the egg implants itself into the uterine lining. This implantation can cause spotting or bleeding that resembles a menstrual cycle. The implantation bleeding can cause light cramping and typically lasts less than three days. Implantation bleeding is pretty common and occurs in about 25% of pregnant women. Increase in Discharge Soon after conception, the vaginal walls begin to thicken. This change can cause an increase in the amount of discharge that you experience. The discharge is typically white/milky in color. This discharge remains consistent throughout the entirety of your pregnancy. Fatigue As your body prepares to grow a child a lot of hormonal changes occur. One hormone that increases is called progesterone. The increase of this hormone, coupled with low blood sugar, or low blood pressure, can cause fatigue. If you find yourself becoming tired easier it may be an early pregnancy symptom. Breast Tenderness/Soreness With the change of your hormone levels, your breasts may become tender or sore. This tenderness usually lessens as your body adjusts to the new hormone levels. Increased Urination As your body begins to create a new body inside of it, your fluid levels will increase. This increase in bodily fluids leads to an increase in kidney usage which can cause you to have to pee more frequently. If you find yourself running to the restroom more often than usual you may be experiencing an early pregnancy symptom. Nausea/Vomiting The infamous first-trimester nausea/vomiting is no joke. As your progesterone levels increase your body will need to adjust to the new hormone levels. This adjustment period usually lasts around 3 months--your first trimester of pregnancy. Your increased sensitivity to smells can exacerbate this symptom which can lead to vomiting. Morning sickness is a very common symptom of early pregnancy, and it is often one of the first ones to be noticed. Missed Period Perhaps you have experienced all of these symptoms, and you think you might be pregnant, but you aren’t sure. Once you miss your period you can be almost sure that you are pregnant. For some women, missing their period is actually the first early pregnancy symptom that they notice. Whatever the case, a missed period is a big indicator of pregnancy and it is often the one that leads you to buy a pregnancy test. Do all women experience early pregnancy symptoms? No two women are the same and no two pregnancies are the same. Some women may experience all of the above symptoms, others may only experience a few of the symptoms, and still, others may experience none of them. Early pregnancy symptoms are not a tried and true way to determine if you are pregnant, only a pregnancy test can do that. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, or if you have any reason to believe you are pregnant, take a home pregnancy test. If the pregnancy test is positive make sure you schedule an appointment to see your doctor. Once you have a confirmed pregnancy you can begin to prepare for your new addition to the family. Key Takeaways Early pregnancy symptoms include spotting/bleeding/cramping, an increase in discharge, fatigue, breast tenderness/soreness, increased urination, nausea/vomiting, and a missed period. Every woman is different and everybody is different. What may indicate pregnancy to one person may not indicate pregnancy to another. These early pregnancy symptoms are a great baseline to help you determine if you need to take a pregnancy test, but they should not be used to determine pregnancy. Once you have a positive pregnancy test and have confirmed with your physician that you are pregnant you can begin the prenatal preparations. Let Bellefit help you stay comfortable and healthy during and after your pregnancy. With our nursing bras, soft underwear, compression leggings, and postpartum girdles we are prepared for all of your body’s needs. Check out what we have available! Don’t suffer through pain and discomfort when we have what you need to have a healthy and safe pregnancy/postpartum journey.

Balancing breastfeeding and pumping can seem like a daunting task and many mothers may not even consider it an option. However, breastfeeding and pumping is a great way to ensure that your baby is getting the nutrients from your breastmilk even when they can’t breastfeed. You may not want to but you will have to eventually spend time away from your newborn. In order to make this transition easy and tantrum-free, you will have to balance breastfeeding and pumping. Why Balancing Breastfeeding and Pumping is Important While you may be enjoying your time as a mother and you may never want to spend a moment apart you will eventually have to do it. If you are planning on breastfeeding spending time away from your baby can seem like it is not an option. Eventually, you will have to go back to work (if you work in an office), or go on a date, or visit with friends; and your baby will need to be fed while you’re away. Creating a stockpile of breastmilk during this time is a great way to have time to yourself without worrying about your baby being fed. It can also help make transitioning to a bottle much easier. Establishing a Good Milk Supply Breastmilk is created on a supply and demand basis. Your body will produce the amount of milk that your baby needs. Because of this, many women do not think they even have enough milk to create a milk supply. However, adding pumping to your already established breastfeeding schedule can be done. The first step in establishing a good milk supply is establishing a breastfeeding routine first. Most doctors recommend taking the first 2-3 weeks to establish a breastfeeding routine with your baby before introducing pumping to your routine. Once you have a good milk supply and routine set, then you can begin to introduce pumping. The first few days of pumping probably won’t get you a lot of milk, but don’t get discouraged. Your body needs to adjust to this new demand and it will provide the supply for it. Soon you will be filling all the bags/bottles that you need. Tips for How to Balance Breastfeeding And Pumping Many women find it difficult to create a good routine and are worried about making sure their baby has enough breastmilk. Don’t worry, these tips will help you balance breastfeeding and pumping. Feed on Demand In order to properly balance breastfeeding and pumping you will need to continue with your current breastfeeding schedule. That means feeding your baby as much as they need, as often as they need. This may change as they grow, but make sure to put your baby’s hunger above your pumping. Pump in the Morning The best time to pump is in the morning right after you wake up. Your body has had time to refill the milk supply and you will likely have quite a bit to give. Many women find that they are able to get the most milk in the morning after waking up. If you are worried about not having enough of a milk supply to last the day after pumping in the morning--try pumping after each feeding. Pump after Feeding After your baby has finished nursing you will want to wait about 10-15 minutes before pumping. This gives your body time to replenish the milk supply a little bit. Because your baby nurses multiple times a day, pumping after feeding is the way that many women choose to go. Make sure that when you pump after feeding you are using a double breast pump. Pumping each breast at the same time helps to establish your milk supply more than pumping one breast at a time. It can also save you time. Pump while Feeding Some women prefer to pump while they are breastfeeding. This essentially means that while the baby is nursing one breast you are pumping the other breast. It can be a little bit awkward to get the positioning at first, but some women find it to be helpful. Stay Hydrated While your breast milk supply is not determined by your hydration level it is still important. Your body needs a little extra hydration while you are breastfeeding. If you are dehydrated you can become lethargic, tired, and feel sick. This can influence your desire and will to pump so make sure you stay on top of your water intake. Avoid Stress Your stress levels greatly influence your milk supply. If you are too stressed your body will begin to lessen your milk supply which can lead to even more stress which can lead to less milk supply etc. Don’t get yourself into a vicious cycle, try to avoid stress as much as possible. Don’t Overdo It Take it easy. Your body is amazing--it created a baby and it is now providing food for that baby. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt. Breastfeeding can take a variety of tolls on your body. Your breasts can become engorged, they can leak, you can get chafed nipples, the list goes on. Don’t overdo it in the name of an excess milk supply. If you are hurting, if you are not feeling mentally up for it, don’t push yourself. You have already done so much for your baby you can take a break. Key Takeaways to Balance Breastfeeding and Pumping Balancing breastfeeding and pumping is not an easy task. It can seem daunting, if not impossible, at first--but it is possible. After establishing a milk supply and breastfeeding schedule introduce pumping into it. This will slowly increase the demand for your breastmilk which will slowly increase the supply. Staying hydrated, monitoring your anxiety, avoiding stress, and checking in on yourself are the best ways to balance your breastfeeding and pumping routine. Make sure you aren’t overdoing it at any point with breastfeeding. Your body is going through a lot of changes and breastfeeding can be painful and taxing. Try using one of Bellefit’s nursing bras to stay comfortable and stress-free while nursing. Comfortable enough to fall asleep in, made with 100% cotton, and with an easy-access clip, our nursing bra takes the hassle out of midnight feeds. Try one today!