maternity/feeding bras

[helloitsme]

hello. I'm 17 weeks pregnant and definitely need to improve my underwear situation. trying to save money, but suspect a reasonable to good bra is a good investment. and if it were a feeding bra too, i'm thinking that would make it an even better investment! what are you wearing and would you recommend it?
thanks :-)

[HavingALittleFaithBaby]

It might sound like a good plan but might not work out. I got measured at about 11 weeks. I was between two back sizes and went for the larger - I've needed to put them on the larger hooks lately but stayed in the same ones and I'm now 36 weeks. I went up Debenhams but found nice enough bras in Asda and Tesco to see me through.

However my understanding is that when your milk comes in your boobs can get much bigger. I've got a couple of nursing bras but will get measured when the milk comes in.

[Littlemissexpecting]

I'm currently wearing what looks like a crop top from Sainsburys! Only a fiver, or 8 pound with padding. I have a couple of expensive bras and this is the comfiest by far!
Just bear in mind that what size you are now doesn't mean you will fit in that size after birth so nursing straps may not be of use, and might just annoy you for now.
The Sainsburys ones come in small, medium large etc so have some growing room/stretch in them but depends how much support you need.

[nutella81]

Hhhmm, chances are you may get bigger nearer D day and definitely once the milk comes in. Could you get measured now at M&S and then look for a non wired bra on ebay? I'm sure there are some nearly new ones on there as you're not in them for long. Then nearer the birth spend the money on some decent ones. I managed BF for 8 months with four bras but could have done with more really, as they are often in the wash when you leak etc.

I would really recommend bravado nursing tank too. Great for a summer baby as you can wear it just as a top (I only did around home though) and its really comfy. Shop around though. X

www.bravadodesigns.com/shop/uk-en/the-essential-nursing-tank

[helloitsme]

all of the above really helpful, thank you :-)

[HazleNutt]

Don't get measured in M&S, they have no idea.
You're better off fitting yourself at home, see here:
thebetterbracampaign.blogspot.co.uk/p/fitting-advice.html

I doubt you can get by with the same bra from now on and all through breast feeding though. I'm 27 weeks, have grown quite a bit and just bought my normal bras in bigger sizes.

[Msbluesky32]

Id be prepared to buy a few. I was measured at 12 wks and my back measurement had increased so I got a soft padded non wired bra. By 30 weeks I needed another in a bigger cup size so I got a bravado silk bra. They come in sizes that cover a range of cup sizes and its a nursing bra too so it should do me for the first week or of feeding. I also bought some nursing vest tops from h and m to sleep in now and these should do me for nursing pj tops too when the time comes.

[worsestershiresauce]

I've a 3 week old and so far have found the best feeding bras are the soft crop top style with the fold down cups. They come in small medium and large (back size) and the cups stretch from B to enormous. It is pointless buying a fixed cup size as your boobs will vary throughout the day depending on when you last fed. Just before a feed they will be much larger (and more uncomfortable) than after. Also, the soft styles reduce the risk of blocked milk ducts as no part of the breast tissue is ever pinched.

[FriendofDorothy]

I love the Bravado bras. They are so comfortable.

[MammaCici]

Like others have said you'll probably change size a few times during pregnancy and afterwards too. What I found helpful was buying a set of bra extenders on eBay. I also wear the crop top style bras at the moment as they are most comfy for me. If I want a better shape I have a bra or two that I use the extenders on that give a more flattering shape.

I'm expecting DC2. All my bras from before my first pregnancy look like trainer bras to me now but I was still nursing when I got pregnant this time. Maybe some day I'll fit my 34C again, but I win't be holding my breath!

[ButteryJam]

I went for the bravado silk bra as per recommendation from fellow MNers, and I've been happy with that so far. I suspect ill probably get myself measured again after the milk comes in and buy another bra.

[glossyflower]

I second that never get measured at m&s!! They are terrible there!

In my experience with my pregnancy, my boobs haven't altered much (had HG though and lost two stone might've had something's to do with it). So I tried on and bought a few plain cotton non underwired non maternity bras that I've lived in pretty much whole pregnancy.
Today I went to h&m and bought some really good value nursing bras with the clip to pull down, as well as nursing vest tops. They come in a twin pack and really cheap.
I'm expecting my boobs to go up in size once the baby is born so I didn't want to buy too much.
The vest tops will be ideal for me at night time as I hate wearing bras in bed.
Unless you want to spend the extra time and money I wouldn't bother getting maternity bras so early as you are likely to change sizes quite often.

[KeriRussell]

Just been looking at the bravado body silk, but I am confused as at the moment I think I have already gone up a cup size giving me 36dd, but it goes from to D to E cup (medium to large). So what size should I get?! I know with my past pregnancies I went up to a 36E when breast feeding. Any help much appreciated! x

[Eskino]

At the moment one of my boobs is 'normal' size and the other is about twice the size, rock hard and gently dripping. Dd (9weeks old) has just fallen asleep damn her!

I second wearing cheapy stretchy crop tops, the strap can easily be slipped off and the cup bit shoved down under the boob comfortably. There's no bra that would fit my boobs properly right now. Nursing bras are a waste of money IMO.

[cupcake78]

I'm hunting for nice comfortable nursing bras but failing! Im usually a 38E and have been looking everywhere. My boobs hurt and my nipples feel very sore. The only things I've found so far are vest tops with support sections in them, nighties for hospital have the same and sleep bras. Everything else either looks like a hammock or is very uncomfortable and just irritates me! Bras that look near normal are £40+ and I can't afford that at the moment.

I'm 27 wks and beginning to notice I'm getting significantly bigger and much more sensitive. I'm going to wait now till after baby comes because its getting me down too much. I feel like a sack of very unattractive potatoes.

[AmandaPayntedEgg]

I second needing two different bras. I was a totally different size in the early months of breastfeeding to during pregnancy - smaller in the rib cage and much bigger in the cup.

Depending on how your bras are fitting now, you can buy little extender straps for your rib cage on your normal bras. Also, provided they are well fitting and not pressing on breast tissue, you can wear underwired bras throughout pregnancy. With dd1 it was comfortable to about 7 months, and with DD2 right up to the end.

[KatAndKit]

Don't buy a nursing bra yet. just buy bras that fit you for the moment. When you get to 36 weeks you could get measured for a nursing bra but only buy two - I went up 2 cup sizes in the early months of breastfeeding and had to buy even more bras as what fitted me at the end of pregnancy ended up way too tight when my milk came in.

For the first couple of weeks until you can get to a bra shop, the soft type without specific cup sizes are good. Bravado make a great one for plus size cups, and Carriwell have one that is more standard size. Get two of those, the bravado one I have had no hook and eyes, you just put it on over your head so it was even good for wearing in bed!

When things settle down with your boobs, comfortable nursing bras are a must if you are not small chested. Bravissimo have a small range but they are good at measuring at least. I like the Anita underwired nursing bra - once you are past the first 3 months your breasts aren't going to get engorged any more so underwired will be fine provided it fits correctly.

[StuckOnARollercoaster]

I found that I got to about 20 weeks and could cope with bra extenders and certain styles of my existing bras, plus my sports crop style bras.
By 20 weeks I needed something new - and have been living in a two pack - one on the go while the other one gets washed. I didn't want to buy more as it sounds like they may change again.
Although a little bit more expensive I did get nursing versions - on the off chance that at some point in the future, even if its several weeks/months after birth they may be the right size and will save another purchase.
(Also went for a pretty but comfy style in jersey cotton rather than my usual vice of glamourous bras!!!)
I know M&S is slated on here for their fitting but I'm happy with this as it feels comfortable, boobs are supported, nice shape under clothes and don't feel too frumpy!

[worsestershiresauce]

The other thing to add is buy several spare nursing bras as they will get soaked with milk all the time. My baby dribbles quite a lot of milk at the start of the feed as the milk comes shooting out at high speed and she can't keep up, so the fold down bit can get soaked. Plus the boob she isn't on will leak enough milk to soak through a breast pad and the bra in minutes. Bf-ing isn't glamorous!