I’m one of the lucky ones. Sure, I had to deal with excruciating pain after an unplanned c-section, intense hormonal rages against my poor husband for not being in such pain, paralyzing fear that my son was starving because he had lost so much weight in the hospital. And still I’m lucky. Why? Because, breastfeeding was the easy part. So with little else to do, but satiate my son’s thirst, I turned my attention to how I could look half decent while nursing. Besides, after all the attention we pay to nipple creams, pads and ‘the latch,’ why not think about style?

Without further ado, my must haves (in no particular order) for the new nursing mom.

(Clockwise from top left)

Plunging v-neck t-shirts from Club Monaco
These soft cotton t-shirts are worth their weight in gold. They wash well, and once again, the plunging neckline allows for easy access to your breasts without exposing your entire back or belly. I own about four, but recommend the white, it will hide spit-up if you’ve got a puker.

A Michael Kors watch
After years of using my cell or desktop computer to tell the time, I suddenly had to track feedings—all the time. I needed a watch. Okay, so it didn’t have to be Michael Kors but as soon as I could walk, (c-section, remember), my husband took me to buy this one. Now I wear a watch as if it were jewelery and I always think of my son.

Rockport slip-ons or loafers
I’m not the loafer type but after my son was born, my feet ached. I could barely stand on them in the morning. Alas, I’m even less a running-shoe type. These loafers provide awesome arch support while lending a neat, put-together look to a dress or pair of jeans. The slip-on aspect is great when baby is in a sling or bjorn, and helpful at drop-ins that usually require shoe removal in the baby area.

Aiden and Anais nursing blankets
Beautiful, multi-tasking, muslin blankets that get softer and more sentimental with every use. Excellent as a nursing guard, sun shade, blanket, and gender neutral, these blankets don’t scream out: “Look I’m breastfeeding,” as some others do. Gwen Stefani has been photographed carting Zuma around with one.

Any Bella Materna nursing maternity bra
Don’t suffer in a pre-pregnancy underwire number. This bra will be closer to your body than even your child, and easy snap-away straps make access easy. And you will feel wonderful during a rather loosey goosey time in your life.

Two nursing dresses
After a c-section, the last thing I wanted was to squeeze myself into pants. I promptly found two perfect nursing dresses at Evymama. Dresses allow your belly to heal, it’s a flattering way to conceal the post-partum tummy, and it’s easy to sit cross-legged, a comfortable position when nursing.

—Jacquelyn Francis, executive editor of FASHION magazine