Bra advice for *during* breastfeeding!

[GeorginaA]

Inspired by the other thread, I was wondering about getting some "proper" breastfeeding bras.

I'm currently using some "sleep" breastfeeding bras because they're nice and soft and were easiest to pick out pre-birth and know they'd probably fit. They're perfectly comfortable enough to wear during the day as well, but I'm wondering if I should get some "proper" daytime bras.

Last time around with ds1 I got mastitis twice, although I'm pretty sure it wasn't bra related, I'm rather twitchy about getting anything ill-fitted. Also, going into town to be properly fitted is going to be a major expedition that I'm not sure I can be bothered to do.

Will the soft sleep bras be good enough or should I be looking for better support?

It depends on size on them I had fitting at Mothercare but can you measure yourself La redoute do mail order Bf bras

My dd is 4 months and I'm still wearing soft bras with very little support from Mothercare. I have to admit that I didn't have them fitted in the shop but did manage to get the right size. I've never felt they didn't fit peoperly or offer enough support but I might have been lucky. After pg and bf I need more help than a bra to get them looking at their best so I wasn't too bothered about lack of support but you might feel differently!
It might also depend on waht size you are- I'm a 34B- but if you're lucky enough to be well endowed (I'm so jealous if you are)you might feel more comfortable with something more supporting. Although I don't think you can wear underwired bras ( I don't) so there is probably a limit as to how much support you can actually have.

Are you confident enough to do the measuring at home?

I was measured by Mothercare to be 36, but I found them to be too small and am now wearing a 38/40 Mothercare sleep bra. Pre-pregnancy size is 32A so not particularly well-endowed I don't feel like I need more support, but wondered if it was likely to do any damage not having "proper" support.

I'm a bit wary of measuring myself because the professionals got it so wrong when I was looking for pregnancy bras, I'd at least like to be actually in the shop where I can try the next size up easily.

John Lewis do a measuring service and have a not bad range.....

Am very well endowed and am jealous of both of you!!!

BR

Depends on when you were fitted GeorginaA - you keep changing throughout your pregnancy. M&S recommend 2 if not 3 fittings whhile pregnant and then again after the birth.

I used to be a 34B and progressed through 36C to to 38B! I was extra careful to get fitted during my preganancy as I insisted on wearing underwired bras to quite late on.

John Lewis fitters can be good - but not always. What you do need to do is take your time and try different bras. There is a nice nursing one in your size done by Emma Jae (? - something like that). It looks quite lacy (broderie anglaise), not too much like a battleship and with easy to un-do/re-do catches. I think I got a black one form John Lewis (the only colour they did) and a white one from Blooming Marvellous.

Post pregnancy/breast feeding, I am now a 36B - although it does depend on the bra - sometimes I am a 36A and occasionally a 34B.

I was paranoid about wearing good support through my pregnancy and breast feeding, as I (and dh! ) like the shape of my boobs and wanted to keep them looking good - and also knew that my Mum had succeeded in doing so. She was the one that recommended to me sleeping in a bra.

Don't know if that was what did it, but my boobs still look good!

JanZ: I was measured, she told me the size but when trying to fit the bra it was blatantly obvious that it wasn't going to fit - couldn't even do up the loosest setting! That's what I meant by so wrong

Does look like I'm going to have to go somewhere to try lots of different bras out though

Fair enough GeorginaA - I hadn't realised that it was SO wrong!

The bra I was talking about is here - Emma Jane Drop Cup Nursing Bra . It was the only one I found that looked anywhere close to the sorts of bras that I would normally wear, and, as I say, wasn't too "battleship-ish". I liked the fact that it was cotton too.

Ooo... that looks almost wearable! Thanks for the link

I agree with JanZ. Get measured properly. I was 34B before and went up to 36C during pregnancy then wham - they ballooned to 34DD. Given the immense weight on my slight frame I really needed the support a good bra gave me. Interestingly, I got measured at M&S. The irony of it all is that they didn't do nursing bras in 34DD so I ended up with a 36D one instead. I find it odd that they promote getting measured properly then don't provide bras in the size you measure in at!!

Footnote: Since weaning, they have now shrunk back to normal (sob sob)

Your local NCT branch might have a Mava bra agent who can come to you to measure/fit you with some nursing bras. Once you have the size, you can order your own from anywhere. Order several around the measured size as bras often come up slightly differently and return the ones that don't fit (but check the returns policy first)

I am so completely amazed by my new big boobies I can't bear to wear anything other than a sports bra. I have a few Emma Janes or whatever they are called but was abit jiggie withit, they are handy for discreet feeding but not very supportive.

Recommend the Elle MacPherson Maternelle. It is super comfortable and has great support for those of us who are a lot larger and an added benefit of no seams poking through your clothes.