THE POSTNATAL STYLE LIST FOR NEW MUMS

Yvadney Davis - 10 Aug 15

Last week I was up all night with my 5 week old and woke up the next day in the drunk-like stupor that is new motherhood. Understandably feeling somewhat crappy, I put on a pair of leopard print trousers (elasticated, of course) to give me the boost I needed to get me through the day.

You see, second time around, I’m acutely aware of the requirements of new mum style. This means I have not and will not let my mum blubber (that considerable pouch of fat and excess skin around my abdomen from two pregnancies) nor breastfeeding every couple of hours get in the way of maintaining some semblance of fashion flavour.

Why bother you may ask? If there’s any time I’m justified to keep it basic in leggings and a giant t-shirt it’s now. Well, my style is a reflection of my personality, it represents my mood – you could say part of my identity. Which means, even if I’m staying in all day stuck to the sofa cluster feeding, ensuring I have some print or colour or bling in my look, reminds me I’m Yvadney, not a milk machine, chief tantrum resolver and nappy changer.

I’ve had so many comments on how glam I look, alongside “How do you do it?” Lady!! Because I have to, this is about survival and I have no choice. I didn’t bother when I had my son MG for the first couple of months. So shell-shocked was I with becoming a mum for the first time and trying to do everything just right, I slobbed around feeling self-conscious about my weight gain, which knocked my confidence and I felt pretty down for the first year. That’s why I started my blog Style After Nine (the nine months of pregnancy), as a kind of pep talk to myself and any one who would listen. Yes, I still have all of the post-baby body quirks this time around, but I’m rocking them with my head held high.

So, let me breakdown the anatomy of my wardrobe, my postnatal style essentials

• Joggers/elasticated waistband trousers
• Tube top to hide my tummy when i’m nursing
• ‘Special’ top which can easily be lifted up to breastfeed (hence the tube top underneath for modesty)
• Funky flats, so I can keep up with my threenager son
• Large scarf for bad hair day (I’ve had a lot of these)
• In-your-face necklace (when I’m not wearing the sling)

underneath it all…

• Nursing bra
• Breast pads, which seem to add a lumpy cup size to my boobs
• Giant seam free kninkers – I tore my perineum and Bridget Jone’s-sized pants are my comfort blankets

Yvadney Davis

I'm mum to a wriggling pre-schooler and a newbie 6 baby. I've worked in the fashion industry for over 10 years, firstly as a PR, before transitioning to a fashion writer and stylist. My blog was born with my son MG to celebrate juggling the wonders of motherhood and curvier post-pregnancy physiques, while looking and feeling stylish. As my son has grown, so has my love of kids' fashion and interiors, which also feature on the blog regularly.

View profile for posts, events and more info