You may or may not have noticed my absence here. For those who follow my adventures on my personal blog, you’ll know that I’ve been off giving birth and adjusting to life with a newborn. This means that I’ve also been inducted into the world of breastfeeding. Ironically, in a city that’s reknowned for its topless bars, as I face the prospect of baring my nipples in public–with nary a man waving singles at me, I might add–I realize how difficult it is to feel supported in the choice to feed my child in the manner recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization (despite the fact that Texas law permits breastfeeding in public). It feels like a minor miracle to find places outside of a La Leche League meeting that are friendly to breastfeeding mamas like myself.

Luckily, one of the best breastfeeding resources is right here in Houston. In Rice Village, you can find A Woman’s Work, a shop dedicated to nursing products and resources, and its associated A Woman’s Workshop, which offers breastfeeding and parenting classes with lactation consultants.

AWW is the only place I know of in Houston where one can purchase the Glamourmom nursing camisole–a godsend for those of us who want to nurse in style. I just wish that they carried it in more of the available colors–currently, AWW carries only red, black, and white. Every nursing mother I know is a fan of these versatile camisoles.

AWW staff is friendly and helpful, and able to assist with questions about breastfeeding and pumping as well as custom-fitting you with the perfect nursing bra. The shop also provides multiple changing tables (a decent public changing area is a great rarity in Houston, I’ve found), as well as scales for weighing your infant (a great way to assure yourself that yes, your baby is getting enough milk–since breasts don’t come with handy tic marks to show how many ounces have been sucked up by your little one).

The best aspect of this shop by far, however, would be the two nursing areas with comfy armchairs, support pillows, and a water cooler for shoppers whose babies need a lunch break. This is unfortunately a rarity among shops for nursing and expectant mothers, and such a smart marketing move, to boot. On a recent visit, I enjoyed being able to stop and feed my little guy in the company of other nursing mamas–a form of socialization that reminds me of the Friday afternoon coffee klatsches I once shared with my baby-less friends. An AWW associate stopped by to join the chat, offer her expertise (and of course, to suss whether we were ripe for any more purchases–all in a day’s work).

Now, if they’d just add an espresso bar….