Nursing Bras

[CupcakesHay]

Hello

I'm planning to breast feed when my baby comes next Jan... I have 2 questions. Firstly, how many bursing bras will I need?

And secondly - I'm going to get measured properly in a shop (maybe bravissimo) - but I reckon i'm going to need a 48C bra.... anyone got any ideas who makes them in my odd size????

thanks :)

You'll probably be doing washing fairly often and if you use breat pads you may not need to wash them more often than you do with your bras at the mo. I have one favourite one which I wear as much as possible, and then a couple of others for when that one's in the wash.

I like this bra, sizing is fairly flexible (though it only goes up to 46)

Are you sure you're measuring it right?

The "size" is based on the measurement under your boobs, not around them.

Emma Jane goes up to pretty big sizes and I have found their plain,light underwired one to be the best I've had (better than the hot milk ones) and they give a nice smooth line under clothes as well.

www.emma-jane.com/maternity-bras-size-charts.htm

I got 5 bras in total.

I'm changing every day ATM (11days) even with breast pads. Sizes can change massively so don't depend on knowing now. I'm currently about 4 cup sizes up from pre preg and 2 back but starting to go down again now. I didn't grow this much with the others though.

I've got 4.

Markies one is my favourite.

Your size will change - I am normally a 34 A but am now a 36 D! Reason enough to bf imo.

TBH Cupcakes, I didn't use nursing bras as the bras I already had supported well and were very comfy, so I didn't see a need for them.

Bravissimo would probably be a good place start looking, as well as Mothercare.

I got four M&S ones, two white, two black and that seems to be sufficient - at first I was sleeping in a bra too.

I went from a 34C in pregnancy to a 34DD now.

Oh, the Mothercare ones are rubbish - I bought them and have never been so uncomfy!

(sorry chilled! )

M&s ones are ok. Hot milk are good but no idea how big they go. Expensive so save them for when you know what size you are

I got mine from here they go upto a 48, have free delivery and returns and lots of choice. I only have 2, one to wear and one to wash but then I never have a lot of bras anyway. Mothercare never have my size and my local M&S don't have nursing bras so I had to resort to buying online, hence why I was happy about free postage and returns so I could buy a few and try!

Tis fine Nicky.

Mothercare was just a thought off the top of my head.

Passing thought Nicky. Put the Mothercare bra on your head and keep your ears warm with the cups

The fitters always add a band size and a cup size, but I've always gone down a band size (makes sense as I no longer had a baby wedged under my ribs) and up 2 or more cup sizes. I was a 34B, wore 36C while preggers and now have 34E nursing bra and would try a 34F if any shop in my town actually stocked one.i think 34f is a very popular size! So don't spend loads of money unless you can be sure you'll be able to return them.

Anyone know why you always have to buy nursing bras in pairs?

Hi all, this is the second thread on nursing bras today!

OP, you probably shouldn't look at nursing bras until you are about 36 weeks, as your body will change a fair bit over the next couple of months.

I fit bras for my local NCT; it's definitely worth finding out if your local branch has a fitter - we often go out to people's houses so that they can be measured in their own home. Then you can either buy or order through her. She will be a volunteer, so no sales pressure but it's great to know your proper size.

Many underwear shop fitters are not trained specifically to fit nursing bras (Marks and Spencers, Debenhams etc) so it's worth getting yourself properly measured. John Lewis and House of Fraser were quite good, but the properly trained NCT fitters are your best bet.

You don't need to buy them in pairs, Loo but I guess maybe they are often sold in pairs because you'll generally need at least two!
There are some lovely ones out there, Hotmilk are gorgeous, and the NCT have a couple of nice ones in their catalogue (plus 10% of their price goes to your local branch).

oh and I meant to say, proper fitting is really important because a poorly fitting bra can trap the breast tissue and may lead to blocked ducts or mastitis! (ouch!!)

I got the plain boring ones from M&S too, didnt want to spend too much at the time. However 4 months of BF and am so sick of wearing black or white plain bras.... they do the job though.

I manage with 4, 3 black and 1 white. I'd say get more White ones as you'll probably be doing more light washes as baby clothes are mostly light colours.
Also, a bit off topic but any breast pads other than Lansinoh are a waste of money imo - they're available in Waitrose.

Wow - super! I'll look into the NCT measurement. I was a big girl before pregnant - and have always had a larger back size... so that's why i'm an odd size!

Think you're right about leaving ti til maybe 36 weeks.... might have to make a trip shopping!

leave it until 2 weeks post-birth to spend much - things will have settled down a bit by then...

Bravissimo don't have any underwired nursing bras, although the Royce onces I got from there were surprisingly supportive without wires. I preferred Anita wired bras to Emily ones. nursingbra.co.uk has a good selection.

Bravissimo do a fantastic fitting service, I'd defo recomend them. However I love the Miriam stoppard nursing range at debenhams.
Very soft and comfy, easy to fit under massive boobs when BF.
www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10001_10001_152010302860_-1?breadcrumb=Home%7Etxtnursing+bra
Mothercare formed nursing bras are soooo uncomfortable and I'm boycotting them anyway as they are closing down all the nursing rooms in their high st stores.

I was fitted before the birth but had to go out and get more in a bigger size once my milk came in...

It's worth waiting til post birth...

five (sorry to hijack thread) is that true about mothercare???? Is there another thread about it? WHY are they doing that?

I like the Elle MacPherson La Mere bras, I have about a million of them. I found the M&S ones shit, but they were a cheap stopgap until my boobs settled down. Mind you, I only went from a 32b to a 32dd so it was relatively easy to find stuff in my size.

The Lansinoh pads are excellent, they have 2 adhesive patches which keeps them in order. Lansinoh also do the best baby wipes too but I have only ever found them in the US.

Elle McPherson only go up to an E cup I think. But they are lovely looking, if you can get one in your size.

Pookamoo, I've done two threads about it. They are closing feeding/changing rooms in all high st stores. Our local manager doesn't give a toss, neither do head office.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1037016-to-be-annoyed-that-my-local-mothercare-are-closing-their

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/breast_and_bottle_feeding/1048812-Mothercare-sticking-two-fingers-up-to-breastfeeding-mums

You wont catch me in there again!

TBH, I'd go and get fitted in Bravissimo now. You may be surprised at what size you come out wearing! Wearing too big a back size is a very common problem with bras, partly because most shops don't stock much in larger back sizes, so they have to sell you bigger back size/smaller cup size bras to get them on you.

I really hope my Mothercare isn't closing down the feeding room and loos! Hopefully not as they already have ELC.