Nursing bra sizing post-birth

[scubamummy]

I'm confused about nursing bra sizing. I know that you should get fitted around 38 weeks when the baby has 'dropped' and that you should get a bra that's big enough in the cups to cope with engorgement after day 3.

But what I don't know is how long it takes after the birth for your ribs to go back to your pre-preg size, and also how long after the birth it is that your boobs are huge. Do they stay huge until you wean? I don't want to spend loads of money on nursing bras that are only going to fit me for a month (nb. not planning on weaning at 1mth!).

I would only get one or two and then get yourself measured again when the baby is 2 months or so.

I didn't take my own advice and am still wearing the same bras I wore when I was pregnant - I made sure I got maternity bras that had nursing clips. But they are now massive and give me no support whatsoever so don't follow my example!

I went from a 36GG prebirth to a 34H postbirth. I don't feel like my ribcage has gotten smaller since about a week after birth. I've never had particularly engorged boobs so just one cup size extra has been fine so far. That might be different if you don't have especially big boobs though.

Try getting a bra that just fits on the loosest clips so that as your rib cage goes back down you can adjust the clips to make the bra smaller. Your back shouldn't get bigger once baby has been born so if it just fits at 38 weeks it should be fine once baby's out.

For the cups try putting your hand down the cup to see if there is any room. You don't want the bra too tight but not too loose either. You may need room for nursing pads too.

You could try getting a sleep bra or a nursing vest with support for the first few days/week until you can see what size you settle to (though you may settle down further once a few months have passed).