Friday, March 20, 2009

toward a new functionality

(seen on frolic)

the print and colors are gorgeous on this new rachel comey trader dress at frances may (one of my new favorite shops), and the silhouette reminds me of how much i love vintage dresses, but what really has me hooked is the bodice.

lately i've been depressed because i realized just how difficult it will be to nurse leon in my dresses. it was challenging enough making my existing wardrobe work with pregnancy, but now i'm faced with the logistical problems of breastfeeding. i wear a bella band to keep my stomach warm/covered, but button down shirts and t-shirts are my new best friends. something like this dress would be both functional and adorable. plus, it's 100% cotton, which means it'll be easy to care for, unlike my vince cashmere cardigan which is now covered in spit-up. sigh...

10 comments:

Amanda said...

Yes, I am halfway through my pregnancy and I have just realized that most of my dresses will be impossible to nurse in. I'm trying to wear the ones that still fit as much as possible. So sad, since they are my favorite things to wear... I've been following the blog for a while now (silently) and it has been fun to see how you manage fashion and pregnancy/motherhood.

Moya said...

I am sorry to hear you've been feeling down and that your clothes haven't worked for breastfeeding, Erica. I was so inspired by your pregnancy fashion (and your quick return to shape), and hope that I can put some of the ideas into practice soon.

I don't have any solutions but I do have a friend whose son is now 8 months old and eating solid food. She still feeds him a little, but basically this stage passes so quickly that you'll be able to wear your favorites in a heartbeat.

romaine said...

both my kids spit up so much the first few months (3 to 4 mo, i think) one strictly on breast milk and the other on a combo - it was so gross.... To facilitate breastfeeding, I wore bras and shirts I could just thift up, my girl would stay on the boob for litteraly hours at a time or would cry, so I never left the house than other to get grociers. but it does go by fast, it is a huge change that can be a little depressing, but little ones are so worth it. I used breastfeeding time partly as an excuse to browse the internet, etc..... Anyway you are doing great!!! i love that you still blog about clothes, etc...

erica said...

romaine,
your method sounds close to mine, as do your children. yesterday leon ate for 10 minutes every hour on the hour, which meant 50 minutes to burp and soothe him, use the toilet, drink a glass of water, and check email/news/weather.

once it's warm enough to wear my skirt, i think i'll feel better about having to wear only tops that i can lift up. plus, it'll be nice to go outside once he settles into a 2-3 hour feeding schedule, but right now, it's been exhausting and a little demoralizing.

moya,
i definitely think the hardest part is when you're the primary soother, feeder, and diaper changer. i've been lucky that i can pass leon to my mom or matthew for diapers and holding for at least a few hours every day, but the bulk of the responsibility is mine. and it is very very tiring with a high needs baby.

Catherine said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Catherine said...

Audrey has just come through a growth spurt - and I'd forgotten all about them so it was hell on earth! Feeding every hour throughout the night (apart from her usual 9-midnight sleep), I was a shredded, bedraggled mess come morning. Are you starting a feed on the same side as the last? Audrey has been quite windy so I've been reading up (again, second time tound) on the science of nursing. If they get too much of the watery foremilk they'll wake sooner plus it can make them rather windy (at least from what I have read).

Last night was back to normal, after the three horrible nights - after retiring at 8.30 she woke at 1.30am, then 4am and the I think it was Lucy who woke her at 6am sneaking into our bedroom saying 'wee wee'. Such a lovely notion to wake up to (sic).

This stage will pass for you, even though I know too well when you are in the midst of it it's impossible to believe that.

I read great reviews about this book 'Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child (Marc Weissbluth)' which I loaned yesterday and so far it's great. Worth a look if you have any spare time!

erica said...

i try to feed on the same side the next time if he only ate for less than 5-7 minutes, but he's always been a fast eater. some nights and days are better than others, but often he will begin eating and then stop abruptly to tend to a diaper issue. plus, leon rarely naps for more than 20 minutes during the day, so someone needs to hold him nearly constantly.

rena said...

hi erica, i am on the hunt for breastfeeding-friendly dresses and tops (baby due in Nov) and Lena Corwin suggested i check out your blog for tips! i will be watching for ideas :) also, i wonder if there are any stylish mama-specific blogs out there for just this kind of clothing?

erica said...

hi rena

i wish i could recommend blogs, but i still haven't found anything that's particularly helpful. i really think that the key is a good nursing bra that's easy to use. i've found that dresses can be tricky. with a button front, i feel a bit exposed compared with layering a tee and a lowcut camisole (pull the cami down, pull the tee up). all those layers can be frustrating, though.

if i'm wearing a dress, i usually throw a light muslin wrap over my shoulder. plus, modesty aside, leon tends to get distracted easily, so covering his face helps.

feel free to email me!

rena said...

thanks erica! i guess i will worry more about that in a couple months :) at least san francisco weather is all about layering, year-round.

ps i saw a cute pic of your family from lena's sale. yay!