No, you do not need to buy any special clothes for breastfeeding. To be honest the 
only things nursing clothes really do, is offer you convenience and support. So if you choose to wear your regular clothes or your most comfortable maternity wear, that is your choice and perfectly ok.
What makes it so confusing though, is that there are hundreds of different breastfeeding tops, bras, sleepwear, even the latest twosie on the market. All of the ads and promotion out there make you think that you have to spend a lot of money on special clothes, but this is not true.
Here are some of the clothes that you may like to use when breastfeeding, and most of them you probably already own.
Bras for breastfeeding
Here’s a fact. Not every woman wears a bra. And not every woman needs to. When breastfeeding you technically still don’t need to wear a bra. There’s no golden rule or must-follow guidelines. If you don’t want to wear a bra you don’t have to.
Bras are certainly convenient for nursing mothers because they help to keep nursing pads in place (because let’s face it, leaking breastmilk on clothes is going to be annoying). You may find that if you are typically a bra-less woman, when your milk comes in you may be looking for a top with a nursing shelf, at a minimum, that will help give you extra support because you can expand a couple of cup sizes.
So….if you are going to buy a nursing bra, there are a few things to consider. And if you decide it’s not for you, then that’s perfectly ok too. A regular bra can be worn and work for you just as well as a breastfeeding bra.
TIP: Just be aware that underwire bras are known to cause some nursing mothers discomfort, and can in some cases add extra pressure on the breast which may lead to mastitis.
Breastfeeding Tops
The thing about breastfeeding tops, is that by design, they help you to feed your baby without needing to disrobe and most importantly as discretely as you need to be. When you are not feeding, they look like a regular top and when you baby is hungry you are able to feed conveniently.
Again these items are more of a convenient option as opposed to a must-have item. If you prefer to avoid the purchase of a nursing top there are plenty of alternatives to consider. Chances are, you already own at least one of the 5 items on the list.
Breastfeeding sleepware
There is certainly no need to spend a fortune on new nursing pajamas. Of course you can, but regular pjs work perfectly. The secret to flexibility is with buttons, cross-over designs or stretchy necklines.
Cover up with a jackets or wrap
If you are wanting to be a little more discrete whilst breastfeeding out in the public, all you need to do is bring along a shawl, wrap or cardigan. They are great for shielding the side view and help to keep you and baby warm too.
When you think about it, there are very few clothes you need to buy to nurse a baby. Many mothers don’t buy anything new and learn to make do with what they already have. You do not need to buy any special clothes for breastfeeding.
Pass on these tips to other nursing mothers! Do you have any tips to share?
