The postpartum period is one of the strangest and most beautiful times in a woman’s life. Your body has just done something incredible - it’s grown and birthed a human being - and now, you’re left navigating a whole new version of yourself. Between leaking, nursing, shrinking, swelling, and not sleeping, figuring out what to wear can feel like one more impossible task.
But postpartum dressing doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s about feeling like yourself again - comfortable, capable, and yes, even confident. Here’s what I’ve learned after three kids about how to dress for the fourth trimester and what you should look for.
FUNCTION COMES FIRST (a.k.a. easy boob access)
Postpartum is a wild time when your boobs go from being decorative to functional. If you’re nursing or pumping, the postpartum period becomes all about one key question:
How fast can I get my boobs out?
You’ll be spending a lot of time feeding your baby - whether at home, at the doctor’s office, in the backseat of the car, or wherever your baby wakes up hangry. You need clothes that make it easy. Look for pieces with hidden zippers, snaps, or hidden panels that don’t scream "nursing top."
POCKETS ARE YOUR NEW BEST FRIENDS
Let’s talk pockets. We love, love, love pockets.
You’ll be amazed by how many little things you suddenly need to carry - pacifiers, burp cloths, AirPods, your phone, or (my favorite postpartum staple) silver nipple cups. Pockets will be your saving grace when you’re juggling a baby, a pump, and a hundred tiny things that don’t fit in your hands.
And honestly, this doesn’t stop after the newborn phase.
Moms. Need. Pockets. Invest in pieces that keep your essentials close and your hands free.
COMFORT IS KEY
Postpartum bodies are unpredictable. One day your breasts are engorged, the next they’re soft. Your belly is shrinking but still tender. You’ve got fluids you didn’t know existed.
This is not the time for anything restrictive or structured.
You need soft, cozy pieces that move with your body. During my postpartum months, I lived in loungewear at home - joggers, nursing tanks, soft wrap tops - and when I went out, I stuck to easy, low-effort outfits.
LOW-EFFORT OUTFITS
When you’re learning to care for a tiny human, the last thing you need is decision fatigue about what to wear. Keep it simple, comfortable, and kind to your changing body.
Think:
- One-pieces like dresses and jumpsuits (no matching required)
- Matching sets that look polished without effort
- A "uniform" of black leggings and a black tank, where you can add your personal style and flair with a button-down, sweater, blazer or topper of your choice
THE BOTTOM LINE
Give yourself grace.
Your body just grew and delivered a human being - it’s not supposed to "bounce back." It’s supposed to evolve. Maybe your feet are bigger, your hips wider, your curves different. That’s not loss - that’s proof of what your body’s done.
Your style will evolve too. Reach for pieces that make you feel comfortable, capable, and confident in this new season. Postpartum dressing isn’t about getting your body back - it’s about honoring the one you have now, the one that’s carried you (and your baby) here.
You’ve earned it.
NOM'S POSTPARTUM ESSENTIALS
Looking for pieces designed to support you through pregnancy, breastfeeding, postpartum, and beyond? These are our team's favorites.
The Nursing Tee
We hate nothing more than awkward panels that scream "nursing top" louder than a hungry baby. Ours looks like your favorite soft V-neck, with a discreet double layer that lifts for easy nursing access.
The Francesca Jumpsuit
Our favorite one-and-done outfit. The wrap front makes nursing easy, the soft fabric moves with your changing body, and the adjustable side tie lets you customize the fit.
The Super Soft Rib Dress
Possibly our softest dress ever. The snap-front placket makes nursing or pumping quick and easy, while the elasticized empire seam adapts from pregnancy through postpartum. And yes—it has pockets.
→ Shop the Super Soft Rib Dress
The Camilla & Calista Matching Set
An elevated lounge set you can nap in, nurse in, and still wear out of the house. Add a jacket and sneakers, and no one needs to know you were sleeping in it twenty minutes ago.
→ Shop the Camilla Pant
→ Shop the Calista Nursing Top
The Allyson Lounge Jacket
It feels like your softest hoodie but looks far more pulled together. The draped collar, adjustable wrap tie, and deep pockets make it an easy postpartum layer you’ll keep reaching for.
