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Hmmn. In our Guide to Looking Professional While Pregnant, I noted that I didn’t think maternity tanks were worth the money — but I’ve also said that I do recommend a few “nursing” tops (if you’re nursing) for those fun times that you can plan on nursing in public — airplanes, doctors’ offices, the occasional playdate, and more. This tank seems pricey ($45!) but the numerous positive reviews — from women who say they hate the shelf-bra nursing tanks anyway (agree!) — seem solid. I like the fact that it’s a good layering in piece in pregnancy and beyond, and I like the fact that it comes in 8 colors — it shows confidence from the brand. Ladies, what are your thoughts on the necessity of maternity tanks — or nursing tanks? Bun Maternity/Nursing Tank
Sales of note for 9.10.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 30% off your purchase
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- Boden – 15% off new styles
- Eloquii – $29 and up select styles; up to 50% off everything else
- J.Crew – Up to 50% off wear-to-work styles; extra 30% off sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – 40-60% off everything; extra 60% off clearance
- Lands’ End – 30% off full-price styles
- Loft – Extra 40% off sale styles
- Talbots – BOGO 50% everything, includes markdowns
- Zappos – 26,000+ women’s sale items! (check out these reader-favorite workwear brands on sale, and some of our favorite kids’ shoe brands on sale)
Kid/Family Sales
- Carter’s – Birthday sale, 40-50% off & extra 20% off select styles
- Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off all baby; up to 40% off all Halloween
- J.Crew Crewcuts – Extra 30% off sale styles
- Old Navy – 40% off everything
- Target – BOGO 25% off select haircare, up to 25% off floor care items; up to 30% off indoor furniture up to 20% off TVs
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And — here are some of our latest threadjacks of interest – working mom questions asked by the commenters!
- The concept of “backup care” is so stupid…
- I need tips on managing employees in BigLaw who have to leave for daycare pickup…
- I’m thinking of leaning out to spend more time with my family – how can I find the perfect job for that?
- I’m now a SAHM and my husband needs to step up…
- How can I change my thinking to better recognize some of my husband’s contributions as important, like organizing the shed?
- What are your tips to having a good weekend with kids, especially with little kids? Do you have a set routine or plan?
Burgher says
I liked my nursing tanks for wearing at home, but I never really wore them much outside of that. I generally am not a fan of shelf tanks, but for a newly nursing mom that was going through a lot of pain and sensitivity, they were a lifesaver for comfort those first few weeks home.
I love the few maternity tanks that I have purchased for layering. I feel like they are more flattering (the side ruched type) than just wearing a bigger or longer tank. They also don’t ride up over the bump like my pre-preg tanks tend to, and I am rapidly not being able to wear the majority of my pre-preg tanks now that I’m heading into the third trimester. I think buying a few basic colors is worth it, and would be even more-so if you were going to be in the 2nd or 3rd trimester during warmer weather.
KJ says
Same. I wore my Pea in the Pod maternity/nursing tanks as layering pieces when I was pregnant because they didn’t ride up, and then around the house when I was on maternity leave. They are way too low-cut to just wear on their own in public, but I loved them in the early weeks.
Anon says
Is there a specific brand of nursing top that you would recommend for those first few weeks?
Carrie M says
I like the Gilligan & O’Malley nursing camis from Target. They are long and soft and not too tight at all. Perfect for early weeks. I still wear them now to bed actually, just for the extra bit of support. And a great price point. They wash really well and don’t seem to stain, even when I was leaking and applying coconut oil and APNO like crazy.
anon says
yes, these are great. I still wear them pretty much 100% of the time that I’m not at work.
hoola hoopa says
bravado! particularly if you have a large cup size. More expensive, but worth it.
(former) preg 3L says
Back at work today! Baby is in daycare and I can’t wait to see her again tonight, but I’m so glad to be at the office. (Unfortunately it looks like my desk plant died in my absence, but hopefully some water will get it to perk up.)
Anon says
Go you!
CHJ says
Go buy yourself a new desk plant as a treat and to perk up your office! Preferably a big one with colorful leaves. (And rehab the water deprived one too – but you deserve another plant with what you’re going through).
pockets says
I loved my maternity tanks. I don’t understand how someone could think they weren’t worth the money. I wore a tank as an undershirt every single day when pregnant during the winter. I got the side-ruched ones from Target. And now that I’m not pregnant I’m still wearing them as undershirts (wearing one right now) because why not.
MomAnon4This says
I agree. They’re good for nightshirts and also, I remember being a kid and wearing my mom’s old maternity tank tops as dresses or nightgowns! Definitely worth the money – what are they <$40, each? Get white, black, khaki, maybe a bright color, you have a whole new wardrobe!
pockets says
The ones I got from Target (Ingrid & Isabel Target diffusion line) were $25. http://www.target.com/p/maternity-seamless-ruched-tank-be-maternity/-/A-11289931#prodSlot=medium_1_8&term=be+maternity
Wearing one today.
Tunnel says
I like these tanks too (the Ingrid & Isabel Target tank). I already have gray and black, and will be going back for white. I like they also make sure your belly is covered as it gets bigger. I wear one under my shirts regularly.
sfg says
Thanks for the reco – was going to post a question about what tanks people liked, as I too like wearing a tank as an additional winter layer.
T. McGill says
The Gap’s pure body maternity tanks were my favorite for layering. Inexpensive, plus always on sale.
JJ says
Agreed. I’m tall and have a long torso, and maternity tanks were the only things long enough to keep my pregnant belly from hanging out. I also still wear mine as undershirts, as well.
hoola hoopa says
Agree that maternity tanks are a critical part of the wardrobe. I particularly liked that they’d cover the belly even in those final weeks when shirts ride up or hang out so far that your belly is exposed.
I also wear the gap ribbed tank years later! It’s just an extra long, stretchy tank. I love it with leggings on the weekend because I’m short and can pull it down to cover my bum.
I lived in nursing tanks during leave and on the weekend/evenings. I agree with other posters that I did not want maternity nursing tanks, though.
Nonny says
Agreed. I wore them basically every single day during mat leave as an underlayer. So much easier to nurse in them than worry about pulling up/pulling down regular tanks, dealing with br&s, etc. As I am still nursing, I still wear them in the evenings and weekends. I wear them to work occasionally, too, since I am pumping – today I have one on under my blouse as it is a bit sheer.
I only had two in the house before my daughter was born. The very first task I gave my SO when we got home from the hospital was to go to my local Motherhood Maternity and buy 6 in assorted colours. They were cheap, but completely invaluable.
ETA: I am referring to nursing tanks, not maternity tanks. I had a couple of maternity tanks during my pregnancy too and really liked them for evenings/weekends, but didn’t wear them much at the office as I preferred dresses.
Elle says
I liked maternity tanks for layering. I just had a black and a white one (if I remember correctly). Then one or two others that I wore around the house/working out. I gave birth in May, so that makes difference than maybe if you had a winter baby. Didn’t get the nursing/maternity ones though. I do have some nursing tanks now that I wear around the house or that I layer with other shirts when out and about. Honestly, I’ll probably get a few more as they are just sooo convenient. I don’t care for the maternity/nursing ones though. I think maternity clothes make you look more pregnant because they accent the belly. Being not pregnant any more I don’t need to highlight that area.
Romey says
Good morning ladies! Need some advice on breaking the news to work that I am pregnant. I’m 13 weeks, and I plan to tell the head of my group next week (telling my parents this weekend). In my practice we have about 30 people in our group. After I tell the head of the group, I don’t really want to go around and tell every other person. Would sending out some sort of email be weird, or should I just let the head of our group spread via word of mouth? I don’t really know what’s appropriate in this situation. If I take on any new projects going forward, would it be weird to tell the partner, oh by the way I’m pregnant? I mean I’m not due until April and in my practice (transactional) deals last a few months so I wouldn’t be taking on anything now that wouldn’t close until April.
Thoughts and advice appreciated, thanks in advance!!
B says
After you tell the head of the group, when you are are ready for word to spread, select one or two chatty people to tell and tell them they are free to spread the word as appropriate. But really, it just doesn’t matter if people know at this point. By the time when it does matter because people need to start prepping for you to be out, you will have a big belly that will make it pretty obvious. And definitely don’t bring it up with the partners just because you are working on their deals. The only exception to all of this is if you need some sort of accommodation – if you are really sick and need to cut back on work, or if you get to a point where you aren’t allowed to travel, that sort of thing. Otherwise, your goal should be for it to just not be a big deal at work – continue to establish yourself and your reputation so that they’ll all remember how awesome you are and eagerly look forward to when you get back from maternity leave.
Anon says
Someone told me that pregnancy isn’t usually a huge shock to people. If you’ve made any changes to your lifestyle at all they’ve figured it out or guessed at work already. Tell when you are ready in whatever way you like. If I was you I wouldn’t send out a mass email. Just have consistent answers prepped for all the questions you will get.
I think it’s normal these days for lawyers to work up until the baby comes (I’m leaving work 12 days before my due date and find that is the exception not the rule).
Anon says
This. I’ve yet to have a coworker announce a pregnancy that I hadn’t already guessed. And except in the event of doctor-ordered bedrest, everyone has worked up until the day of/day before delivery.
Pogo says
Agreed. I think it’s been discussed on the main site a bunch but you don’t have an ‘obligation’ to tell anybody until you’re only a couple months away from taking time off – and unless you’re sick or have reason to expect you will be unable to work in the later months, you have plenty of time.
I’m sure if (hopefully when!) I am pregnant no one will be surprised. All my coworkers know I’ve been married three years and bought a four bedroom house in the suburbs (real estate/commuting being an ever popular topic of conversation) – not exactly a stretch to think we might be expanding the family.
sfg says
Congrats! I don’t think you need to tell every person in your group right away – if they don’t hear about it from someone else, just tell them as it becomes pertinent.
JEB says
Congrats!! After I told my bosses and friends at work, I picked the two people in my office known for spreading gossip and told them, letting them know that it was now public information. That pretty much did the trick, and the word spread very quickly!
Romey says
Thanks so much for all you guys’ advice. I’ll stick with the plan to tell the head of my group next week and then maybe mention it to a few other people to spread the word. Probably not a huge deal or a huge surprise as you guys have mentioned. My main reason for wanting to tell the head of my group now is b/c my hours were pretty low earlier in the first tri b/c I was feeling awful so I guess I just want to be able to head that issue up now in case it’s a problem in my reviews . . .
anon says
So, what’s the best nursing tank for wearing under clothes, with a tighter-fitting body? I love the Target ones and have been wearing them for 4 months, and they were perfect for summer to wear alone or under an open shirt/cardigan. But now that it’s colder I want something that I can wear under a longsleeve shirt or sweater, so I can pull the outer top up and tank down and stay warm. The boob part of the Target tank fits me well, but the body is too loose for this purpose so it looks lumpy under shirts. Any brands that have a smaller body relative to the boob-area size?
Nonny says
Perhaps try Bravado? You can buy their tanks based on br& size, and I find the body part is quite snug-fitting.
JJ says
Yup. I wore my Bravado tanks (and Glamourmom tanks) every day. I loved the longer length Glamourmom tanks the most.
ET says
Bravado tanks are great to wear under work blouses. The bra is more supportive than regular shelf bras in nursing tanks. When I pump, I remove my nice blouse and put a hands free bra on over the nursing tank. I pump in a private room, and I like having the tank on so I don’t get cold.
oil in houston says
diaper bag question – I have fallen in love with the Kate Spade Stevie baby bag. I am not willing to spend $400 on it though, so am looking at sales around, and saw 2 for $200, one in navy, classic, can reuse easily, my husband won’t feel too uneasy about using it, the other one flowery (red on white background), which might turn into a nice summer bag when I stop needing a diaper bag.
My question (s) is (are): is thinking about re-use beyond baby years away anyway? will husband just use whatever he finds to dump stuff in and forget about said diaper bag, or am I indeed being seflfish if I pick something too girly? ie, am I overthinking this?
thanks ladies!
NewMomAnon says
I think you should absolutely think about use after baby. My diaper bag would make a very nice laptop bag once baby is out of diapers (that is, if we haven’t dumped too many snacks/bottles/rash cream/sand into the bottom first). I actually intentionally chose one with pen-shaped slots and padding for my laptop because I knew I would probably carry work around in it even while using it as a diaper bag.
Also, as for husband preferences – my husband and I both picked out “our” diaper bags. His has almost a military look. Mine isn’t super girly, but it’s definitely not a “dude bag.” Because I keep my bag stocked and leave it by the door, it is our default diaper bag and the “dude” diaper bag has been relegated to a closet somewhere. I think that would be true even if I had picked a super flowery bag. So I say, pick the one you like, and let your man figure out his own way!
Rosalita says
I bought a diaper bag at a home store and use it as a brief case. :)
JEB says
I might be a little late to respond. I found a diaper bag at the Kate Spade outlet on a day where they were having an additional 40% off sale. It ended up being $125! It’s black and tan, and I think I’ll be able to use it post-baby, as it doesn’t scream diaper bag in any way. Similar to the other poster, my husband is also getting his own diaper bag…he’s looking at basic black messenger style bags. I think it makes sense to each have one if you’ll both be caring for the baby. You might as well splurge a little and get something you like and something you’ll use long-term, and get something cheaper and basic for him.
ET says
I have one of these bun tanks, and while it looks like a normal tank top, the snaps on the shoulder can be tough to undo one handed when you are rushing to feed a crying baby. I wish the fabric had some stretch to it because it does stretch out a bit by the end of the day after repeated nursing.
Emerlia H. says
I love these Bun Matetnity nursing tanks because of all those reasons. I can wear this to lunch with friends and couples and no one cares my baby is having lunch too hahha! It is chic and perfect for nursing moms that want thier clothes to last beyond nursing days. I too like that is doesnt have the shelf bra.
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