You know what I love? I love someone who sees a problem and, instead of moping around about it, comes up with a frickin solution and fixes it. Which is exactly what my lovely friend Marie has done, and I’m excited to get to share her work with you today.
Now listen, I’m all for nursing in public, and nursing uncovered, and nursing loud and proud and all that wonderful jazz, but as someone who struggled with nursing for the first several months of my daughter’s life, I also believe a little privacy can be really comforting as a new mama getting used to whipping it out at the park or the mall. But here’s the problem – awhile back, someone passed some sort of ordinance that required all nursing covers to be, well, ugly. Stiff, bulky, awkward, and for some reason I cannot figure out, nearly always covered with a floral print that evokes 1960s furniture. Why? WHY?!?!?
I hated my nursing cover. Hated it. And then I discovered MarieNohr Designs.
See, when Marie couldn’t find a nursing cover she liked, she used her fashion design background to make her own. Her ponchos are so incredibly soft (yes, I have one, and yes, my sister is using it with her newborn) and cute and can be worn around like clothes. And when you’re a few weeks post-partum and not sure what the hell is going on with your body, let me tell you – a cute poncho is a gem of a wardrobe buddy. Plus, hello, not hideous! Actually adorable. Thank the Lord in heaven.
You can wear it preggers. You can wear it post-preggers. Heck, you can wear it if you’ve never even thought about being preggers. You can shove its super light and squishy self in your diaper bag and pull it out when you have to nurse sitting next to your father-in-law (awwwwkward.) You can even swirl it up onto itself and rock it like an infinity scarf (I know. I’ve tried.)
And because Marie is as sweet as can be, she is offering one to you for free! (Side note: I keep RHYMING today. For no apparent reason. What is the deal with my life?) One lucky reader will win her gray button down poncho as seen in the photo below.
Enter by following the fun prompts below! And stay tuned to find out what Marie actually looks like in an exciting new series coming in January called Mom Jeans, in which we explore the style wins and failures of real mamas not only all over the country, but all over the world. It’s going to be funny and enlightening and full of interesting perspective and rad. Stay tuned.
Images courtesy of Folks Photography and Jessica Swaner Photography. Header image by the incomparable Shannon Hannon Photography.
Best Advice – don’t give up! The first six weeks are definitely WAY harder than the everything after. I can’t believe how easy things got after my daughter and I had been together for about a month and a half.
I would have to say to all new mom is to stick with breastfeeding! In the beginning its such a pain, literally! My little one and I are on our 8month of breastfeeding. Also, make sure you have a good support system if it wasnt for my husband and all the woman in my family I probably would have given up that first 2 weeks, and I am SO happy I didnt.
First, don’t give-up, Second, don’t give-in.
No one deserves to eat in a bathroom stall.
Amen! Preach. 🙂
Lovely lovely ponchos!! I wish I would have had something like this my first time around!
What a great idea….practical and cute!
There will be days where it feels like ALL you do is breastfeed! And it’s OK to cry and feel frustrated, but don’t give up! Enjoy the cuddle time with your little one! What helped me during those frustrating moments, especially during growth spurts where cluster feedings took place into the wee hours of the morning, was that I had a book to read or a movie to watch. I would always try to go to bed but my little one would be up 20 minutes after I fed her to eat again! And I was so frustrated! Eventually, rather than getting into my nice comfy bed and start to fall asleep only to be woken up, was staying out in the living room with something to do 🙂 This is a short season of life (although it doesn’t feel like it in the moment) so make the most of it! 🙂
Kelly, I just wanted to drop in and say I LOVE this advice. Thank you, lovely – what wonderful, helpful thoughts.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help!
Best advice: Stock up a basket with water, reading materials, a little notebook and pen, baby clippers, camera/ pine and charger, baby book, lanolin or other nipple cream, some nutritious snacks for you, a nursing pillow,etc. Basically, anything to pamper you, help you, make you comfortable and have things you need in easy reach for those first few weeks when it feels like you never leave your rocking chair. Also, if you’re having trouble, ask a friend or lactation consultant. Sometimes a simple change in technique can make ALL the difference!
Thanks for posting this! A beautiful poncho like this is just what I’ve been looking for, for when my baby arrives 🙂
Thanks for the post. Can’t wait to try this with my new baby!
What a great idea. As someone who struggled in the early days and wasn’t confident about feeding in public this looks fab.
I would say have patience and don’t be afraid to get creative.
Do whatever works best for you and your baby. People mean well and will have a lot of advice and opinions but every person is different and so is every baby. Go into it with a positive attitude and if it doesn’t work out at least you tried. In the end you are going to do what is best for your baby!
My best advice for a new breastfeeding mama is to relax and get somewhere that’s comfortable for you – couch, bed, etc. And keep a water bottle handy so you can replenish the supply!
Best advice would be to stay strong and know that you will get it right… it can take time and can be frustrating but it’s such a beautiful thing and you will be happy that you toughed through the hard times.
Don’t give up. You will feel like a milk factory, that your whole existence is worked around feeding or pumping. The end result is worth it, so don’t give up. 🙂
Best Advice is to not give up the first few weeks. It hurt really bad for me right away but it got so much better and I really enjoyed my time with my daughter. Also there’s no shame in pumping and giving breast milk in a bottle once in a while after you have established good breast feeding. It can be much more convenient if you are working or just want to leave baby with Dad or Grandma once in a while. Your baby is still getting all the benefits of breast feeding and it gives you a lot of flexiblity.
In the beginning, it was so hard for me and I had to end up giving some formula since despite nursing her she was losing so much weight. This was most definitely not my plan. I made my peace with it and in the end realized that the most important thing was that my baby was eating and was happy and healthy. My advice is to do what works best for you and your baby, only you know what that is. If you spend so much time getting frustrated and upset because this is not how you planned or imagined it, you will miss some truly beautiful moments.
Best advice- stick with it. Especially the first 4 weeks, it really does stop being painful and gets easier. It’s such an amazing bond to have with your baby. I actually love the peaceful quiet middle of the night feeds with my son. Those first few weeks keep a tube of lanolin EVERYWHERE.
i dont have any breastfeeding advice…YET! but i’m about to find out what its all about 🙂 LOVE this nursing poncho!
My advice is to have lots of pillows! Nursing pillows, other pillows, just lots of pillows! My arms were getting so tired and sore from holding my baby while he nursed. Then my genius husband stuffed all these pillows around me on the couch and now I can nurse with my little boy fully supported and I have my hands free!
I haven’t started yet (my little guy is due Jan 19) but the best advice I have heard so far is to keep a big bottle of water w/ straw and snacks nearby while you’re nursing.
It can make you tense at first. So I started paying attention to where my shoulders were. Once I got a good latch I would take a deep breath and pull my shoulders down. It worked great at relaxing me.
My best advice? Hmm, maybe that you just need to trust yourself and not be afraid of what others think. THere is so much advice out there, but you need to do what is best for you and your baby. Be confident in that.
I would advise each and every new mom to consult with a lactation expert at the time of birth, or shortly thereafter! I was so suprised that breastfeeding technique is not necessarily an innate ability. Women have been getting advice from aunties and their own mothers and grandmothers since forever. Also, I would remind women that breastfeeding babies will eek any and all nutrients from you – even if your stocks are depleted. So, don’t worry for your baby that you are not eating enough leafy greens…worry for yourself! A healthy momma is a healthy baby.
Best advice —see a lactation consultant!
I’m expecting in February, so no advice to offer yet, but I already have some new ideas to try from reading comments here! Thanks ladies 🙂
The land of breastfeeding is completely foreign territory to me. However, I think that as with most things in life, if you are willing to let go of your crazypants expectations and let yourself laugh at the wonder of it all, you’ll be just fine.
I’m pregnant with my first baby now (due in May!) so I don’t have any advice, but I am LOVING reading all of the advice here. this looks like such a great thing to have! 🙂
Don’t give up….this to shall pass:)
I’m due in June so I haven’t started breastfeeding yet but it’s great to read this advice and I would love the poncho to help with feedings.
Best Advice- Just shove that cute, sweet little baby on that nipple. I tried to be so gentle at first and it was so difficult and then a friend told me to just shove his little open, crying mouth right on there, and voila, he latched. Keep going. It’s hard. But it’s good. And you can do it.
Our “nugget” hasn’t arrived yet, so no advice. Thanks for the opportunity to win such a cute item!
Im due in April and it is VERY refreshing to see this! I couldnt agree more about the way all of the others look!!
Between myself and other new moms, it seems that the logistics of feeding and other care are really up to Baby. I thought I had things pretty well planned out as I awaited Little Miss’ arrival and was proven dead wrong. Go easy on yourself as plans are utterly ruined and a new routine is invented on the daily. Do what works for you and yours. Take expert (or “expert”)advice into consideration but don’t take it as gospel. As Karyn said in prior post, you are the only expert on your baby.
I just had my first, so breastfeeding in public is still a hurdle i need to get over. But with this cute poncho, I might be more inclined to 😉
I struggle with low milk supply, but I’m still breastfeeding and pumping at 4 months. I think it’s most important not to be critical of yourself. Any amount or length of time breastfeeding is an accomplishment!
Any amount or length of time breastfeeding is an accomplishment! Don’t be critical of yourself.
You are not a failure if things don’t happen magically with breast feeding. My baby is not gaining weight like he should and I am having to supplement some organic formula in to add calories. I was so devastated but now I realize how all that matters is baby is healthy. You do what is best for YOU and babe.
Ask for help, lots of it, from several sources…. You can take what you need, and get different ideas and perspectives, and then use what works for you and your baby… And ignore the rest. Don’t worry about housework… Just plan to feed and nurture your little one It can also be helpful to attend a few La Leche League meetings while you’re pregnant (and afterwards).
I LOVE this idea! Great advise ladies!
Cute Ponchos!!!
Don’t give up. If your body co-operates and you are able to breastfeed, it will get better! All those days of stress, cracked/bruised and bleeding nipples will heal, and baby will love nothing more than the sight and smell of mommy! In my case, I think she loves me “too much,” as lately I seem to be the only one to soothe or put her to sleep! All thanks to my “magic juice” as my hubby calls it!
I’m a first time mom, so I have no advice, but I LOVE the idea of this poncho!
Just keep going! After about 2 weeks it gets so much easier!
Do whatever feels right. Public, not public, who cares?
As a PUMPING mom I would die to have something that gives me easy access and is cute too! Nursing is hard enough but after pumping exclusively for almost 8 months I dare say it’s almost worse! Something that you can wear that’s cute, flowy AND can help you pump discretely in places like the middle of the airport (yes, I did this last week in Dallas) would be a Godsend!
Be patient with yourself and with your baby. There are often many difficulties and frustrations when you start out with your little one but it is SO WORTH IT to keep on keepin’ on and form that attachment.
It gets better after 3 months. Take some time for your sanity and pray.
While I have no experience with breastfeeding, what I can say is that the best advice I received is to be patient and get informed! Our first little one (a girl!) is due end of March, and I have a lot of mamas telling me to be patient, that breastfeeding can be challenging at times. I also have mamas telling me not to be afraid of getting informed, whether it is through a breastfeeding class, a lactation consultant, or people who have had experience with it in the past. I am looking forward to doing this with my little one 🙂 What a great bonding experience I think. PS: I have been looking EVERYWHERE for a nursing cover up that is cute and does the job, and this poncho is all of that! Good luck to all the mamas with the breastfeeding!
No advice but that poncho is GORGEOUS.
I want one! they look cute
When you start breast feeding, especially in public, you will probably feel like you need ten hands to manage it all. It will get easier. It’s okay to ask for help.
You will also probably feel bored during the early weeks when you have been transformed into a feeding machine, so have gadgets/games/communication devices near you so that your brain can stay plugged into the rest of the world.
It is a short part of your lives as mom and baby, so enjoy. Do what works for you.
I have found two things with nursing, 1.) it takes an incredible amount of patience and 2.) button up shirts are a life saver! Find joy in the moments where you have to slow down and just be with your sweet baby. It may feel like it is all you do all day but those moments are precious so instead of worrying about everything else I could get done I just enjoy those moments because they wont last forever. Also when I was going to purchase some nursing shirts I realized instead of spending all this money on shirts I dont like, why not buy button ups and nursing cami/cardigan combos. It helps to be wearing things you love. I also purchased some cardigans that are A symmetrical that button on the side at the top so all the extra fabric works well as a cover
Great read, as always!
Pregnant with my first so I appreciate all this advice AND this adorable poncho!
If it were easy, it wouldn’t be worth doing! The first few weeks are hard but it gets better! It is a time commitment, but completely worth it.
If you’re nipples are bleeding and scabbing at first (ouch!), give those babies some air! Walk around shirtless if you can because covering them up only irritates them and doesn’t let them heal. Took me a few weeks to figure that out, but once I did, my girls healed up so quickly!
Love it! 2 of my aunts are pregnant right now, and it would be such a perfect Christmas gift!
Breastfeeding is hard at first. I wish someone had told me that so I could have adjusted my expectations. But it is so very worth it. Be patient. You and your little one will figure it out together.
Don’t give up! It is really challenging at first and it takes awhile to adjust to being someones sole source of nutrition! Give yourself time and buy some nipple butter!
Best advice: stick.it.out. Because it get sooo much easier, I promise. And the joy and bonding I’ve gotten from nursing my little guy far outweighs the discomforts and weirdness of the early days.
I am a “pumping-only” mom due to the impossibility of being in the hospital 24/7 when my 10# son was in the NICU. Everything seems like forever, but it will pass. Enjoy the time. Late nights, early mornings, being zombie mommy, will be over but you will have a stronger bond with your baby. Books, magazines, iPads, good bras and water are in my survival kit. Oh and it’s ok to stare at a tv when you have zero attention span. It will pass and you will look back fondly and miss those days, soon.
I will be a new breastfeeding mom in March! I will need all the advice I can get!
I will be a new breastfeeding mom in March. I need all the tips I can get!
What a wonderful design, so classy and convenient!
My advice would be to be confident in yourself and the rest will come naturally!
[…] above was hand made by me. (Editor’s Note: Marie also creates the nursing ponchos from the giveaway we did a while back, which I […]