Nursing bras

[monkeysmama]

I have just seen a photo of me taken on a day when I thought I looked nice. My breasts looks like they're being squeezed out of my bra .

I have been measured in Mothercare 3 times and am currently wearing 36E but my boobs are still kind of hanging over the top (sounds nice doesn't it)

I only plan to bf for another few months so I don't want to spend masses of money but any suggestions would be great.

Thanks very much!
MM

[JacksmamasLittleBundleOfLOve]

If you like sports-bra style nursing bras check out www.bravado.com. They provide very good coverage so you don't end up with the boobie equivalent of muffin-top. And they're not too expensive and you could wear them after you wean as they're not very obviously nursing bras.

[monkeysmama]

I will have a look! Yes, boobie muffin tops is exactly what they are! Thank you.

[extremelychocolateymilkroll]

Elle Macpherson bras are great. Generous cut and really worth the money - I think they're about £26. I sometimes wear mine now and stopped bf a long time ago.

[littlelamb]

Get an Anita nirsing bra. Its underwired and a total revelation.
here
Or, just go back to wearing a normal bra. My ds is 8 mo and my supply has settled right down, and I am wearing a normal M and S underwired jobbie. The granny nursing bras do make your figure look awfully odd

[monkeysmama]

Are any of the suggestions t shirt bras? I should have said tend to favour the smoother ones. Will have a look at the now. Shouldn't I expect my bra size to go down a fair bit when I stop bfing?

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[MamacitaGordita]

I second the Bravado recommendation- they are fantastic. And they do t-shirt friendly styles too, and a bf vest top which isn't just a crappy 'shelf' vest but a proper bra with a vest top built around it IYSWIM!

[hotterpotter]

I second littlelamb, the Anita ones are fantastic. I'm currently 38H and they give great support, are comfy and actually give lift and separation

[MrsBadger]

stop going to Mothercare! they are crap when it comes to measuring
Bravissimo is a much better bet even if you end up buying form somewhere cheaper else - agree Bravado are comfy if not exceptionally stylish (you need HotMilk for that)

H&M do well-priced underiwred nursing bras occasioanlly

I took the plunge to go back to normal bras when I stopped feeding dd during the day (about 16m iirc) and I looked a much better shape. Bought a few cheap ones (Tesco) in a range of sizes at first, then back to Bravissimo once I'd settled down.

[Pannacotta]

I am feeding DS2 (21 months) sometimes in the day as well as morning/bedtime, so still need to wear nursing bras. I find the underwired Anita ones the most flattering and comfortable. They look like ordinary bras too.

[naomi83]

blooming marvellous have lovely bras, I'd get them to remeasure you too

[jaz2]

Hmm, I was looking forward to buying Bravissimo nursing bras this time round - but most of the big sizes have sold out - and they say they aren't adding to the range until later in the year.

The Anita one does look nice tho, and underwired is a bonus: "lift and seperation": never thought I'd hear those words associated with a nursing bra: hurrah!

For some reason when I clicked on the bravado link it said the website was under construction.

[TheRealMrsJohnSimm]

Second vote for Elle MacPherson bras, here. They are totally smooth so no weird lines and give a lovely shape - they didn't used to be underwired (its been 4 years since I BFd) but they did have a fabric under bust support which was substantial enough to do the trick (I was a 32E then and they gave me more than enough support).

[MrsBadger]

bravissimo shops will still have stocks

Bravado - site looks fine to me

[swissmiss]

for nice t-shirt nursing bras in larger cup sizes too try miriam stoppard nuture ones from debenhams. not that pricy either. much better support than the bravado ones for my 34F size.
or for something fancy hotmilk do really nice but pricer with good support too. i'd shop around online for various styles/prices etc.

[Dilettante]

Another vote for Anita - I used Bravado ones at first and they are very comfy and great for night, but they don't really give you any shape.

[extremelychocolateymilkroll]

I thought you weren't supposed to wear underwired bras when you were pregnant or bf. See here.

[rubyslippers]

hot milk are good

and Blooming Marvellous have the stock at half price at the moment as they are going into administration

[crankytwanky]

I have an Anita underwired nursing bra, and it's the most comfy bra I've ever worn, nursing or not. Really, really good. It even has a toggley thing you can slide across to help you remember what boob to use next. (Although my DP thinks it's hillarious to creep up on me and wiggle it about to confuse me )
Elle McPherson bras tend to be not so supportive.
I keep hinting for some hot milk stuff,but as yet no joy
Check reviews on figleaves for sizing tips, as they're often a bit random.

[hotterpotter]

I think underwired are fine once your milk supply and breasts have settled down, so a few weeks after birth should be OK, you just have to make sure they fit well and the wire doesn't dig in anywhere. FWIW I had mastitis three times with DD and twice with DS, all whilst wearing soft-cup nursing bras.

[monkeysmama]

I actually treated myself to the Hotmilk Cherry Bomb nursing bra and knickers (which are lovely) when I had dd. I like them but the bra isn't as smooth as I'd like.

Thanks for all the suggestions - I am going to get measured again (and going to M&S this time) and then order a few on line and try them on.

MM

[MamaHobgoblin]

Mothercare are complete, untrained crap when it comes to measuring boobs. So are M&S IME.

I went to our local NCT bra fitter (she wasn't that local, but you may have more luck). They're listed on the NCT website. If you go to one, they will have a range of bras that you then order from the online shop when you've worked out your size. I was pretty well-pleased with most of the ones I got from my fitting and am still wearing them 11 months on.

[sparkletoes]

Anita Anita Anita!! Definately.

They are expensive but isn't that always the way with good stuff?!

As long as you get the correct size the underwire poses no risk IME and from what I have read... They do seem smaller than regular sizes tho, I am DD but had to get an E cup to get a proper fit :-)

[Essie3]

I'm a hotmilk girl! I have cherry bomb, and also three - yes three! - others (and defaulted on my mortgage ). I really wasn't planning on bfing, and was dead uncertain about it, but I have a v. supportive DH who bought me two knowing that I like expensive undies and that feeling good for me has a lot to do with decent bras.
Great fit, they look lovely, and I'm still bfing now!

[sobloodystupid]

I have two lovely sparkly new bras but they are upstairs and am too lazy to check the labels!. Can anyone tell me how to get breast milk stains out of my lovely snowy white bra? I washed in hot water with powder and soap but there is a yellow mark that's kinda hard... (sorry for hijack)

[EachPeachPearMum]

Could I ask about hot milk fitting?
How many hook positions are on the back?
eg if I ordered a 32, would the largest setting be almost a 34, or more just a 33. (so tricky, am between sizes, and shrinking rapidly!)
Are the cup sizes true to size? eg is an F really an F? There is so much variation between stores! I don't live near any stockists to try them out....