Breastfeeding - do you always need a sleep bra?

[Soontobemummy2019]

Just wondering if it's always a necessity when breast feeding. Does everyone get leakage?
I'm due my first baby very soon and hoping to breast feed so trying to get prepared!

I hate wearing a bra at night time, but when I didnt while breastfeeding I did wake in quite a big puddle every morning.

Not just for leaking, for stopping the duvet irritating your nipples and smearing cream everywhere

I did, helped hold the breast pads in place!

I would say yes at least initially, though I wore the same bra I wore during the day. No need for a special sleep one. By around 3-4 months my supply was established and I didn’t need to wear breast pads anymore and I stopped sleeping with a bra. I’ve never leaked once and my baby is 10 months now.

I was breastfeeding twins so I was huge and terribly uncomfortable without a bra on at night.

I needed a bra until I stopped feeding and my bust reduced.

And yes, most people need to wear breast pads though not everyone.

The best preparation for breastfeeding is reading this: Food of Love, Your Formula for Successful Breastfeeding https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0954930959/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_uYNgCbFBSEHV3

You don't need any 'stuff' apart from a couple of nursing bras (for the daytime). Good luck OP

I needed them to keep the breast pads and muslins in place. I leaked so much! If I didn't wear them I had to sleep on a towel.

I slept on a towel. Was co-sleeping so meant I could just above baby on boob in middle of night with no faff.

I didn't leak, but boobs were huge and it was just more comfortable.

I was more comfortable wearing one for the first few weeks because I would wake up sore and leaky without it but after around the 3-4 week mark I didn't need it. I'd get a couple as they're handy to have but don't spend a fortune as you might not use them for long.

I never leaked at all after the first day my milk came in.

I used to sometimes wear a sleep bra in the early days as my chest used to feel quite heavy and sore.

I also used to wear a bra and vest later on when/if I was co-sleeping as I found unrestricted access to my breasts made my baby wake up constantly. With a bra (etc), they'd only wake when really hungry.

Everybody is different. I never leaked or needed pads and never slept in a bra. I found that a vest under a tshirt worked best as I could do the one top up and one top down thing without getting too cold. I co-sleep and now my 10 month old just lifts my t shirt and helps herself!

I haven't worn a bra in years, much more comfortable without. I've been breastfeeding for over two years now and never leaked. Everyone's different!

I wore a feeding vest top in the early days of feeding. It had enough support to keep a breastpad in place but I found it more comfortable than an actual bra.

Yes I definitely needed one! Mother care do a good one though the sizes are small

I needed one for DS1 for the first few months. I had gallons of milk and had to pump excess and was soaking breast pads and waking with a wet t shirt.
Now I'm 6 mo into bf twins, have used zero breast pads and never leak.

I just wear a vest in bed, no need for a bra, I sometimes leak a tiny bit but my top absorbs it, I think letting a bit of air get to your nipples at night reduces the chance of thrush and blebs etc

I find tight fitting nursing vests from h&m to be the best of all nursing vests. They are not as tight as a nursing bra but still hold your breastpads in place. They are double layered with an inner balcony and a clip to remove the front layer. Much better for bigger boobs than a nursing bra or nursing vests with nipple cutouts, which are crappy for lying-down feeding because the boob is either so full of milk that it is squeezed wrong by the bra/vest, or the breastpad doesnt stay on the boob.
Whenever wore nursing bras at night i ended up with a mini blockage and major leakage (unless continually repositioning breast pad on the other breast)

I wear a vest like this with hidden support bits
www.marksandspencer.com/cotton-rich-lace-trim-vest-with-shelf-support/p/p60154609?image=SD_02_T61_5083_Z0_X_EC_90&color=WHITE&prevPage=plp&pdpredirect
Stick your breast pads in and they will catch leakage.

I never leaked with either of my two for some reason, but still wore a bra at night as boobs were uncomfortable if left to wobble about!

I did to keep the breast pads in place; also at first when I was a little sore it was more comfortable than my nighty running against them

H&m ones. With an inner balcony for hidden support. Superb for sideways feeding and major midnight leakage and support without constricting.

I would like to second the nursing vests from h&m. They were one of the best things I got when I had DC1, and used them for DC2 as well.

If you get horrible night sweats you will probably want a sleep vest or bra to.stop your underboobs getting a rash. Just me?

@MutantDisco good call on the book, perfect prep!

I accidentally bought a plain and comfy nursing bra that was too big and quite loose. I kept it as my night bra, I can't stand anything restrictive at night and I would some times just put a towel under myself like a PP said!