Go read the Disclaimer again. I am not a doctor. This is not medical advice. Seriously.
When you are at home or in a private room at the hospital, just starting to breastfeed, try to wear as little as possible, especially above the waist. You'll be able to help your baby stay warm, and you won't have to fiddle with closures. Also there will be less to distract your baby. While you might think this would offend visitors, in my experience, if you challenge people in a setting in which they want to succeed, they often will. If your visitors love you, love your baby, and want your baby to have a good start in life, and want your health to be the best it can be, now and later, then with just a little bit of information, they will probably work very hard to master their uneasiness. Even if they don't, they'll try hard to keep their mouth shut on the general principle that telling a new mother she's doing something wrong is the kind of action that is likely to rebound to their discredit.
Things get a little trickier when you are not at home. Generally speaking, you'll have to wear a top, which is awkward, and possibly more than one layer, which gets worse. Most breastfeeding advice books include useful comments (don't wear dresses that button down the back, that you can't get in and out of without assistance, that are dry clean only, etc.).
I got a nursing bra tank top from GlamourMom. (Note at five months: this stopped working at three months when my breasts got still larger) I generally wear that under a big shirt, cardigan or hoodie, with a pair of pants when I go out. I like it so much I've ordered a couple more.
People assume that you will be wearing a bra. You don't have to if you don't want to.
Some comments on nursing gear.
Copyright 2006 by Rebecca Allen.
Created February 5, 2006 Updated February 6, 2006