Thermal garment for lactating women

Abstract

A thermal lactation garment includes a back panel, a front panel, and two sleeves of a thermally insulating fabric, having a neck opening, a torso opening, and two sleeve openings. The front panel has two apertures with moisture wicking fabric panels attached across the apertures. Closures detachably connect the moisture wicking fabric panels and the front panel above the apertures. The garment allows a mother to remain warm while breastfeeding by exposing only one breast, with the absorbent fabric panels absorbing and wicking moisture away to keep the mother dry.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thermal lactation garment, comprising:
 a) a back panel formed of a thermally insulating fabric;   b) a front panel formed of the thermally insulating fabric, having a first aperture and a second aperture, said front panel being coupled with the back panel to define a neck opening, a torso opening, a first sleeve opening and a second sleeve opening;   c) a first sleeve formed of the thermally insulating fabric joined with the back panel and the front panel at the first sleeve opening;   d) a second sleeve formed of the thermally insulating fabric joined with the back panel and the front panel at the second sleeve opening;   e) a first moisture wicking fabric panel attached to the front panel across the first aperture with a first closure means detachably coupling the first moisture wicking fabric panel and the front panel craniad to the first aperture; and   f) a second moisture wicking fabric panel attached to the front panel across the second aperture with a second closure means detachably coupling the second moisture wicking fabric panel and the front panel craniad to the second aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal lactation garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first closure means and the second closure means are selected from the group consisting of: a button; a hook and loop fastener; and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The thermal lactation garment of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally insulating fabric of the front panel overlaps the first moisture wicking fabric panel at the first closure means and the second moisture wicking fabric panel at the second closure means. 
     
     
         4 . The thermal lactation garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first aperture and the second aperture are configured as horizontal breast slits.