New-mum gifting is a minefield. We’ve all been there: you buy a beautifully packaged set of something tiny and impractical, the new mum smiles politely, and it goes straight into the drawer marked “things I will never use but feel guilty about throwing away.” I have a drawer like that. It’s where self-help books and novelty baby socks go to live their best, untouched lives.
So when a selection of Seraphine pieces arrived for our mum testers to try, I was curious. Not just because they looked lovely (they did), but because the real question with maternity and breastfeeding wear isn’t “is it pretty?” It’s “will I actually wear this, or will it join the drawer?”
I’m not a routine person. I don’t have a capsule wardrobe. My approach to getting dressed is best described as “what’s clean and within reach?” But even I can recognise a piece of clothing that’s going to earn its keep. And our nursing mums, who are in the trenches of night feeds and daytime chaos, are the harshest critics of all.
We recruited five testers – Priya, Emma, Claire, Nadia and Sophie – at different stages of pregnancy and feeding. Here’s what they actually thought.
The “I have to leave the house and look like a human” dress
Seraphine Black Frill Detail Maternity And Nursing Dress – sizes 14-16
Tested by Priya, 14 weeks postpartum, size 14
Let’s start with the dress that makes you look like you’ve got your life together, even if you absolutely haven’t.
This is a black, crinkle viscose number with a bias-cut skirt that drapes over a bump without clinging to it (a small miracle), a V-neckline with a tie-front detail, fluted sleeves, and frill accents. It’s the kind of dress you can wear to a dinner, a birthday, or a work thing, and nobody will clock it as maternity wear. It just looks like a very nice dress.
And then, after the baby arrives, the tie-front design gives discreet nursing access. That’s the bit that matters. Because the last thing you want when you’re already navigating a new baby is to be wrestling with a zip in a restaurant toilet.
Priya loved the fabric – lightweight, textured, and forgiving – and the fact that it doesn’t scream “maternity.” She wore it to a colleague’s leaving do at six weeks postpartum and reported that nobody asked her a single baby question. A triumph. She’s since kept wearing it long after the bump, which is the highest compliment you can pay a piece of maternity clothing.
The verdict: A genuinely lovely dress that works for pregnancy and beyond. The kind of thing you’ll reach for when you need to feel like yourself again.
The “wedding guest, but make it comfortable” dress
Seraphine White & Blue Floral Maternity & Nursing V-Neck Dress – sizes 14-16
Tested by Emma, 31 weeks pregnant, size 16
This one is a proper occasion dress. White with a delicate blue blossom print, below-knee length, short flutter sleeves, a V-neck, a shirred stretch bust panel, a button front, a removable self-tie belt, and, crucially, an invisible zip for breastfeeding access.
It’s the kind of dress that makes you look like you’ve made an effort without having to actually make an effort. The shirred bust panel is the secret weapon here: it stretches and moves with you, which is exactly what you want when your body is doing things you didn’t authorise.
Emma wore this to her sister’s wedding at 31 weeks and reported that it was comfortable all day, no digging, no adjusting, no retreating to the loo to wrestle with anything. She danced. At 31 weeks. That’s a five-star review in anyone’s book. The removable belt is a nice touch, because sometimes you want definition, and sometimes you want to let it all hang out (literally).
The verdict: A beautiful, practical choice for a baby shower, a wedding, or any day you need to look like you’ve slept more than four hours.
The “these are basically clouds for your boobs” bras
Seraphine Black & White Bamboo Soft Seamless Maternity & Nursing Bra 2 Pack – sizes S-XL
Seraphine Black & White Bamboo Soft Seamless Maternity & Nursing Bra 2 Pack – sizes S-XL
Tested by Claire, 9 weeks postpartum, size L
Now for the bras, because this is where the real opinions come out.
This two-pack of bamboo seamless nursing bras is soft. Properly soft. The kind of soft that makes you wonder why you ever wore anything else. They’re made from bamboo viscose, which is hypoallergenic, moisture-wicking and antibacterial, all the things you want when your body is doing its best impression of a furnace.
The seamless construction means no digging, no wires, no angry red marks at the end of the day. The drop-down cups give easy nursing access, and the internal self-fabric panel offers a bit of modesty for when you’re feeding in public and don’t particularly want to share it with the entire coffee shop. The extra hooks at the back are a genuinely thoughtful detail, they let the bra adapt as your ribcage expands and contracts through pregnancy and beyond.
Claire, who admits she has “officially given up on underwires,” said these were the first bras she’d worn since giving birth that she forgot she was wearing. That’s the whole point of a nursing bra, really. She’s bought a second pack.
One honest caveat: if you have a larger chest, these are comfortable but not the most supportive. They’re brilliant for around the house and for sleeping in, but for serious support you might want something with more structure.
The verdict: The comfiest bras you’ll own. Perfect for night feeds, lazy days, and anyone who has given up on underwires for the foreseeable.
The “I want to feel like myself again” bra
Seraphine Black Lace Maternity & Nursing Bra – sizes 32B–40G
Tested by Nadia, 5 months postpartum, 36D
For those who want a bit more support and a bit more glamour, there’s this lace number.
It’s an underwired, non-padded nursing bra with soft lace cups, extra size settings at the back, and adjustable straps. The easy-release clips drop down for fuss-free nursing, and the cotton nursing panel offers extra coverage.
Nadia, who had been living in seamless bras since giving birth, said this was the first bra that made her feel like a woman again rather than a milk delivery system. It’s supportive without being restrictive, and it actually looks nice, which is more than can be said for most nursing bras. She wore it to a birthday dinner and spent the evening not thinking about her underwear at all, which is the dream.
A note of caution: one reviewer online mentioned the underwire coming loose, so it’s worth checking the stitching. Nadia had no issues, but she did check.
The verdict: The bra for when you want to feel a bit more put-together. A nice confidence boost for a reasonable price.
The “I am not leaving the house without this” coat
Seraphine Black Long 3-In-1 Maternity & Babywearing Puffa Coat – sizes 6-20
Tested by Sophie, 14 weeks postpartum and babywearing daily, size 16
And now, the star of the show. The piece that made our testers genuinely excited.
This is a longline, chevron-puffa coat that does three things: it fits over a bump during pregnancy (thanks to hidden zip-away side panels), it fits over a baby carrier after the baby arrives (thanks to a zip-on kangaroo panel), and it works as a normal coat when you’re neither pregnant nor babywearing.
It’s extra long, which means it actually covers your bum and keeps your legs warm on a chilly school run. It has a detachable hood, knitted storm cuffs, and a shower-resistant shell. And the inside? Soft. Really soft. Sophie described it as “being hugged by a duvet that you’re allowed to wear outside.”
The genius bit is the babywearing panel. You zip it on over your carrier, and suddenly both you and the baby are warm and cosy on a winter walk. No more awkward blanket-tucking, no more cold baby feet, no more wrestling with a coat that doesn’t quite fit over the two of you. Sophie tested it on a freezing November morning in Richmond Park and reported that she and her daughter both came home warm, dry and entirely unbothered by the weather.
At £229 it’s an investment. But it’s the kind of investment that pays for itself in comfort, warmth, and the sheer joy of not being cold. Sophie was genuinely sad to send it back.
The verdict: The best piece of kit on this list. If you buy one thing for a winter baby, make it this coat.
Maternity and breastfeeding gifts: Our verdict
Maternity and nursing wear is a funny old world. You want things that are comfortable, practical, and crucially make you feel like yourself, not just a vessel for a small human.
Seraphine has nailed that balance. The dresses are lovely enough for occasions, the bras are soft enough for the night feeds, and the puffa coat is genuinely a game-changer for winter walks.
And if you’re buying for a new mum, any of these would be a very welcome gift indeed. Just maybe avoid the novelty baby socks. She’s already got a drawer full.
With thanks to our mum testers Priya, Emma, Claire, Nadia and Sophie, who gave their honest opinions in between feeds and naps. You’re all heroes.
Monica Costa founded London Mums in September 2006 after her son Diego’s birth together with a group of mothers who felt the need of meeting up regularly to share the challenges and joys of motherhood in metropolitan and multicultural London. London Mums is the FREE and independent peer support group for mums and mumpreneurs based in London https://www.londonmumsmagazine.com and you can connect on Twitter @londonmums
