Nursing bras

[friedrice]

I am 36+5 weeks pregnant with my first baby and need some help with nursing bras.

I live in a country where the women are naturally small-boobed (even compared to me) which I assume is why I can't find any nursing bras here.

My lovely mother is arriving laden with goodies a few days before my due date, including nursing bras. I already have some mothercare sleep bras in case of an early arrival.

I've looked at various measuring guides online, and the first obstacle I'm up against is that it says to measure when your baby has engaged as your rib age will shrink a bit. My baby is still very high, and I'm fully aware that he/she won't necessarily engage until it's too late for my mum to get to the shops.

Secondly, none of these websites mention how to measure for wearing breast pads, which I assume take up a fair amount of space.

Can anyone advise me on the best way to measure now/in the next week? FYI I'm wearing an M&S 34B bra at the mo - although it's getting a little tight. A friend lent me a mothercare 34DD nursing bra. It's a pretty good fit with a breast pad in. The sleep bras I have are a size 12 from mothercare (no support, but roomy!) and a small (too tight in the back at the mo, and "snug" in front). Maybe I should just get my mother to bring me 34DDs... What do you think?

Thanks!

I would suggest getting at least a 34E or F cup. It's amazing how full they get!
Have a look at this fitting guide for a realistic size guide.

ok I am normally a 34b and whilst pregnant didnt really get much bigger until near the end and was measured 2wks before and was 34c so brought a 36c and it has been fine 16mth on still wearing as still do 1 feed a day and they are very comfy, mine are the miriam stoppard ones. I also had mothercare nighttime ones in a sz12 and an emma jane one in a 34-38 a-d think they come as wide size guide thing.

I did get very very fully and actually for 1st couple weeks just wore the night time ones as were more comfy.

Thanks - v.helpful!

I wAs a 34 A before pregnant and am now in a 34 D nursing bra. Once the milk comes in you won't believe how big you will get! I didnt measure as I didn't know where to start, my mum just advised me to go up three cups and start from there. I bought two debenhams own and once I had established if they fit or not, I just sent dh to buy some more. I would recommend them too, they have lasted 7 months! X

I sagree with Jakey - you shoot up, and it's hard to know what size to aim for - I aimed for a few sizes bigger, but needed truly enormous ones with both DS!! I recommend these because you need an approximate size, and they're serving me well. I wish I knew about them when I had DS1 because I bought 5 different sizes, and with my overactive supply, I really got through them with leaks as well!
V. comfy, and you can use for night time once your supply and size have settled down. (Incidentally, I'm 6 months in, and have just developed mastitis - I'm back in mine because they're far softer than my smarter nursing bras.) Also the cost isn't crippling - some are really £££.

p.s. both pregnancies I stayed exactly the same (my band size has never changed and remains the same!) but shot up several cup sizes.

I was told that usually in pregnancy you will go up one band size and three cup sizes. So for me 32b to 34dd. Then when nursing, normal band size and up yet another cup size, so 32e for me. Turned out to be good advice.

It's only a general rule though - this time I have much highe bump and am in a 36 band size. Good starting point though.