Halloween...

Ooooh Halloween - our pumpkin lantern is ready, we are putting up the decorations and are prepared for a day of spooky goings on! Meeting with friends at a local NT property for a spine-tingling Halloween trail, creepy craft activities and back to ours for some frighteningly good food! F turned creative director whilst D scooped out the biggest pumpkin ever to create the gruesome lantern below - Miss O is "frighted" of the "punkin" and can't wait for it to be banished outside to our front step!!

F is so excited about this evening and has been planning his outfit for weeks. He's dressing up as the Grim Reaper "cos it's the scariest thing EVER"... We managed to track down a spooky Grim Reaper cloak last weekend, and F was thrilled when my parents arrived yesterday with a massive plastic scythe to complete the look! Miss O meanwhile just wants to dress up as a pink ballerina/fairy! There are plenty of pumpkins lighting up houses around the village, so looks like loads of people are up for being "trick or treated" - I'm sure we'll have a fun time this evening!

More new Bella Mama Breastfeeding Tops...

The photographs of our new Bella Mama Breastfeeding tops arrived with me today. I had to wait a little longer than usual for the shots as I wasn't happy with the way the cowl neck top was originally taken... (ever the perfectionist - hahahaha!) The top is gorgeous, and a really flattering style and I just didn't feel that the original picture did it justice. Anyway, several retakes later and I am happy with the result... so our new Demeter cowl necks in Damson are ready to order online! The colour is fabulous, and just great for this time of year. Plum shades are so versatile and are perfect for teaming with jeans, combats, joggers and casual trousers! It's just the right blend of dark enough to flatter the figure and the right shade to enhance that new mum glow. The cowl neck is brilliantly flattering, and the nursing access is really well hidden, you honestly cannot tell this is a nursing top. Just pull aside the cowl neckline to access the breastfeeding openings, whilst keeping your back, tummy and sides well hidden and cosy... This fabulous breastfeeding top is also available in our very lovely Ruby colour.

Our second new addition is our popular crossover breastfeeding top style, now available in a fabulous teal shade. This nursing top is simplicity itself, the crossover nursing panel just pulls to the side for ultra-simple nursing style. Keeping you covered, and able to feed your little one where and when you choose.  Bella Mama's crossover breastfeeding tops are an immensely versatile style, which can be dressed up or down with the addition of chunky necklaces, scarves, belts or cuffs... to be as casual or as dressy as you please.  The teal colour is gorgeous, and complements so many different colourings... it really is one of those colours which looks great on everyone!! This style is selling really well at Bella Mama, and is currently available in the lovely Autumnal shades of Raspberry, Teal and Espresso.

Choosing Breastfeeding Clothing - Nursing Openings

I am often asked what exactly IS a Nursing top, and how does it differ from a Maternity top? The answer is nursing tops offer you quick and easy access to the breast for nursing your little one, whilst keeping your chest, tummy, back and sides covered.  Many designs work well both during pregnancy and afterwards for nursing, giving you even better value for money.

Many new mamas feel a little self-conscious nursing in public, and this is where well designed  nursing tops can really help. With a little practice you will be able to simply and easily pull aside the nursing opening and latch your little one on, without anyone being any the wiser.

There are different styles of nursing access  available at Bella Mama, and everyone has their own favourite style.  All of the tops have a concealed nursing underlayer which has slits or cut-out openings for easy access to the breast.  Some styles are brilliant for nursing in a sling, others provide maximum coverage whilst you are feeding.  All are skilfully designed and the nursing openings wonderfully disguised so you really cannot tell they are nursing tops at all!

Pull Aside
This type of breastfeeding opening is accessed simply by pulling aside fabric at the top of the garment.  These styles are simple to use and the nursing access can be gained single-handedly. These necklines of these styles vary and include crossover, vee necks or cowl necks. For example Bella Mama's Juno Breastfeeding Top

Empire Line

This style of top has nursing openings which are accessed by pulling up the top at the empire line, just under the bust. The styling of the clothing means that the empire band sits just under your bust, and is styled to look like a regular top. Our best-selling Bella Mama Venus breastfeeding top features this type of nursing opening.

Oversized Armhole
This style of nursing access is really clever  –  the overlayer of the garment is pulled aside to access the nursing layer underneath at the front.  The very popular Dote Noir nursing dresses feature this unique type of nursing access.

Pull Down
Nursing openings are in an underlayer which is accessed by pulling down the uppermost layer on the clothing – the Dote Slate breastfeeding top is a fabulous example where the funky styling of the top ensures that the breastfeeding function is disguised brilliantly.

Crossover

Two overlapping bands conceal the breastfeeding openings beneath. This style is fabulous for breastfeeding twins, as both sides can be accessed easily simultaneously.  An example of this style is Annee Matthew’s Criss Cross breastfeeding top.


Double layer

This style of top has two layers which sit on top of one another. Pulling the uppermost layer upwards will give access to the nursing openings, whilst keeping your back, tummy and sides covered by the bottom nursing underlayer. The Bella Mama Maia breastfeeding top has two layers all the way around the top, whilst the Annee Matthew Kelly breastfeeding top has the double layer only at the front of the top. The double layer helps to keep you cosy in the colder months, by giving you an extra layer of fabric!

Modesty panel
Nursing tops with a modesty layer don’t have slits for nursing access, but a panel of fabric which sits flat against the chest and can be lifted at either side to give access to the breast. This gives a very smooth line to the breastfeeding top as there is no “cut out” area underneath.  Mayreau’s best-selling and immensely popular Mia maternity and breastfeeding tops feature this type of breastfeeding access.

Double Layer Nursing Panel
Two layers of overlapping panels cover the breasts and one layer pulls down, whilst the other layer pulls up for nursing access. Peek-a-boo tops have this innovative style of nursing opening.

I hope that helps to explain a little more about the different types of nursing openings available, and as ever, I am here to help answering any questions you have about the different tops which we stock at www.BellaMama.co.uk and give advice about the best styles for you.

Look good and feel good whilst breastfeeding: What to wear post-baby

Between breastfeeding your little one and frequent nappy changes, it can be difficult to find the time to work out what to wear which will allow for quick and easy feeding, whilst flattering your new mama figure. The following tips from BellaMama.co.uk will help...

1.    Whilst your pre-pregnancy jeans and trousers may still be a little way off, resist the temptation to continue wearing your maternity trousers. Soft waisted, stretchy or drawstring trousers and skirts will be comfy and avoid giving you  post-pregnancy muffin top.

2.    Patterned and darker coloured breastfeeding tops will hide any baby spit-up and leaking milk.

3.    Draw the eyes upwards with interesting necklines and/or pretty necklaces – directing attention away from new mum tum and towards your new mama glow

4.    Breastfeeding tops featuring Ruching, shirring and draped fabrics which softly disguise any post-natal pounds are a new mum’s best friend!

5.    Black in moderation! Whilst black can be super slimming, resist the temptation to wear it top to toe. Wearing too much black can be draining to the complexion and leave you looking in need of a good night’s sleep, so try midnight blue or chocolate brown nursing tops as a dark but flattering alternative.

6.    A pop of colour can also lift your mood, so try adding a brightly coloured breastfeeding top, chunky piece of jewellery, scarf or belt to your outfit.

For the best selection of breastfeeding clothing and stylish nursingwear see www.BellaMama.co.uk

Bags, Bags, Bags

When you become a mum, you quickly realise that with this gorgeous baby comes the need to carry around a whole load of STUFF! Nappies, Wipes, Spare Clothes, Muslin cloths,  Bibs, Nursing Pads, Creams, Wet bags, Changing Mat, Toys, Snacks and Books... not to mention your own purse, keys, make-up and mobile phone! A beautiful changing bag is a must for a new mum, and as it will pretty much be replacing your handbag you should choose something gorgeous! 

At Bella Mama we stock two beautiful bag designers, Isoki and Lin and Leo.

Whilst in Australia in 2007, I met with the very lovely and then very pregnant Maria Cincotta (one of Isoki's directors), at Sydney Airport before my flight to Perth. I knew that the Isoki bags would be fabulous for new mums in the UK and we now stock the whole range. The Petite Travellers and Change Clutch Mats are a real "Stash and Dash" option - although small in size, they are big on practical details and feature tons of storage spaces for everything you need for a quick trip out of the house.

We have also got the fantastic reversible hobo bag, and reversible saddle bag. Now you can you change your bag to match your mood or your outfit!  Both bags have tons of storage, co-ordinating inner pockets, double-sided storage satchel, insulated cooler bag and a padded change mat. Any of these can be removed from the bag to be used separately.

Lin and Leo changing bags are one of the most beautiful baby bags I have ever seen. Luxurious butter-soft leather with contrasting silky lining, plus matching change mat and lots of storage compartments for everything you need to carry, this bag is a definite head-turner! Available in dark brown and raspberry pink.

More New Tops!

Our brand new Juno tops have also arrived this week. These tops are lovely, made from beautiful modal fabric they are super soft and comfy to wear. Modal is made from fibres from beech trees, feels like silk and doesn't fade, pill, or shrink the same way as cotton tends to. The vee neck styling of the Juno tops with the ruched band detail draws the eye to the narrowest part of your body for a slimming effect, ensuring this top is a new mum's best friend!