Before we built anything, we talked to women. This is what we heard.
Nobody warns you that getting dressed becomes a logistical problem when you're nursing. You're feeding eight to twelve times a day. Every top you own is either impossible to feed in or requires full undressing. The nursing-friendly options online look clinical, unflattering, or both.
Here's what actually works.
The access question The mechanism matters more than anything else. There are four main types of feeding access in tops and dresses — zip, button, wrap, and flap. None is universally better. What matters is whether it works one-handed, quickly, at 3am, when you haven't slept properly in weeks. Zips are the most reliable for speed. Buttons are flexible but fiddly in the dark. Wrap styles are the most forgiving on a changing body. Flap access offers the most coverage if you're feeding in public.
Whatever the mechanism, it needs to be built into the garment from the start — not an afterthought. A feeding panel that pulls awkwardly, gaps when open, or requires two hands defeats the purpose.
Fabric against nursing skin Your skin is more sensitive postpartum. If you're nursing, the fabric is also in contact with the baby repeatedly through the day. Soft cotton — not jersey that's been blended into something scratchy, actual soft cotton — is the only sensible choice. Synthetic fabrics trap heat and moisture, which is the last thing you need when you're already running warmer than usual.
The fit problem postpartum Your bust size changes significantly when milk comes in and continues to fluctuate as feeding patterns change. A nursing top that fits perfectly in week two may fit differently by week eight. Look for pieces with enough ease in the chest to accommodate this — or adjustable elements like wrap ties — rather than anything fitted across the bust.
What you don't need A separate "nursing wardrobe." The goal is pieces with feeding access that you'd wear regardless — that look like regular clothes and happen to work for nursing. The alternative is spending months feeling like you're wearing a uniform that announces your life stage. You've already done nine months of that.
be imli's tops and camisoles are built with feeding access as a starting point, not an addition. Soft cotton fabrics, clean silhouettes, access that works without thinking about it.
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