Entertainment
Let’s Help This Reader Find Postpartum Clothes!
Last week, I read an email from a reader named J. that struck close to home…
“Our baby is in the NICU. He’s doing well, but I wish we could be home recovering in our nest. Instead, my husband and I go to the hospital every day. I want to feel like myself during matrescence, but I don’t know how to dress to be out in the wild while my body is still recovering. It’s not pregnant but it is pregnant-looking. There are only so many days in a row I can wear maternity leggings (which I hate) and big button-up shirts (which I love!). I’m exclusively pumping, too, so I need easy access to my breasts. Any advice?”
———
When I read your email, J., I teared up, because I was in the same situation last December. My son, Emiliano, was born seven weeks early and ended up spending 28 days in the NICU.
Before his arrival, I dreamed about my husband Max, our toddler Ella, and I bringing Emiliano home and adjusting to our new life as a family of four. In the mornings, we’d snuggle up next to the roaring fireplace. In the afternoons, we’d take stroller walks to feed the goats at our neighbor’s farm. At night, we’d sing lullabies in their bedroom. Instead, we spent our first month in the hospital, sitting on cold, plastic chairs, reading chapters from Stuart Little to Emiliano, as he slept in his isolette.
During that very shaky, hectic time, I relied on little things to ground me: sipping caramel lattes from Peet’s Coffee, singing Christmas carols on the drives to the hospital, watching Survivor while pumping in the middle of the night, and wearing clothes that felt good on my freshly postpartum body. Below are a few pieces I really loved, plus a few I wish I’d had…
Long cardigan. This duster cardigan is the only thing I wanted to wrap myself in on the days when I was feeling frazzled and sore. It was long enough to cover my butt when my maternity leggings got saggy and faded after wearing them almost every day.
Button-up dress. This flannel dress is comfy, allows access to breasts, and sings fall. It would make such a sweet “welcome home” outfit.
Denim overalls. After living in stretchy pants for eight months, my body CRAVED the weight and structure of jeans. I wore these baggy overalls religiously until I could fit back into my pre-baby denim.
Soft nursing tank. When I think of nursing tops, I picture boring, practical shirts. This jersey tank gives great support but comes in six colors, including a pretty floral or punchy red.
Sweater pants. Knit pants are as comfortable as leggings, but I actually want to be seen in them.
Roomy shirt. This oversized rugby drapes loosely around your waist and has lots of space to comfortably pump under (even with manual and plug-in pumps.)
Cozy pajamas. You asked for recs that you could wear out and about, but after a long day at the hospital, all I ever wanted to do was take a shower and pull on these postpartum pjs. They fit softly over my engorged breasts and bloated stomach, and they still fit and feel incredible 10 months later.
Thoughts? What postpartum pieces would you recommend? J., we are sending so much love to you and your sweet baby.
P.S. 10 ways to help a new mom and going from one kid to two.
(Storq photos by Nicki Sebastian.)
Note: If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. We recommend only products we genuinely like. Thank you so much.
Entertainment
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
Mother figures are the backbone of the world. Yours may be your biological mother, or maybe she’s your mother-in-law, your best friend’s mom, or simply someone whose motherly instinct has helped you through hard times.
Moms teach you the adulting necessities, give advice even if the problem is your fault, and above all, they put up with your shit and (almost) never complain.
The game plan here isn’t just to snag the last bouquet at CVS just so you’re not the kid who forgot Mother’s Day (but definitely also get flowers). And you don’t even need to spend a lot of money. (Peep our list of Mother’s Day gifts that cost less than $50. Want even more cheap gift ideas?
Skip the generic mugs and show your appreciation with a gift picked just for her: Whether it’s something to make a part of her life easier, something she’s mentioned wanting in passing, or simply something to make her feel like a damn queen, you can’t put a price on everything she’s done for you, but heartfelt gifts certainly help.
After all, they say “No matter how hard you try, you always end up like your mother.” But is that even a bad thing?
Entertainment
Ban subscriptions and get Microsoft Office 2024 for life for just £121
TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for PC or Mac for just £120.54 through June 1.
You wouldn’t keep paying for Netflix if you could own your favorite shows, right? So why are you still subscribing to Office apps you use every day? Microsoft 365’s price keeps going up, but there’s finally a way to break free — and it’ll cost you way less in the long run.
Microsoft Office 2024 is the answer you’ve been looking for. Instead of monthly payments, simply pay £120.54 once and be set for life (reg. £188.37). It’s that simple. And, yes, this lifetime download works for PC or Mac.
What’s included?
This license comes with:
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Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
The newest version of Microsoft Office is a little different from Microsoft 365. But just because you’re switching to a lifetime license doesn’t mean you’ll miss out on some of the most recent updates. Word and Excel both still have AI integrations for text suggestions and smart data analysis, and PowerPoint still has improved tools for recorded presentations.
Once you’ve redeemed your purchase, you can install your apps on one computer. After that, they’re yours to use however you want. No more subscription fees or sudden price hikes to worry about.
Why rent when you can own?
Mashable Deals
Get a Microsoft Office lifetime license on sale for £120.54 with no coupon needed.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 9, 2025
Oh hey there! If you’re here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we’re serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today’s answer.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
Gibberish.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter T.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
TRIPE.
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Best Mothers Day gifts: Show mom some love
