Breastfeeding bras

[Tia]

I have been looking at breastfeeding bras in preparation for my second child. Last time I found some lycra, seamless bras at Mothercare, but they have discontinued them. All the ones I have looked at are very thick cotton, and have a heavy seam in the middle which seems to cut right across my nipple. I still remember my painful nipples, and wince at the sight of them! Does anyone know where you can get seamless breastfeeding bras?

Not seamless but I do have some Emma Jane feeding bras that have the seam positioned in such a way that it should not come in contact with the nipple. Prior to this I had two Berli bras, front opening, I wouldn't recommend these as they both burst at the opening part. HTH.

Not seamless,but very nice, comfortable and actually rather pretty - the Elle McPherson breastfeeding bra from figleaves.com. It's lilac or black which makes a real change from the slightly industrial styles most other people do. Breast pads would cushion any pressure from a seam and give a seamless feel, I think. I never had an probs with bras, and no painful nipples either, so can't judge. Sleep bras are usually seamless, I think, and the NCT webside has some of those. Maybe worth a try?

I had wonderful breastfeeding bras from Blooming Marvellous which were cotton, seamless and fastened with poppers rather than hooks (just not co-ordinated enough) or zips (not made for people with large sagging breasts like mine!). Don't know if they are still available - fingers crossed as I want some new ones in January. Only drawback was that they are quite like sports bras and didn't feel as supportive as my treasured non-bf underwired bras.

You could always get some reusable breast pads to avoid the whole seam-position thing!

I think the Bravado bras are quite comfy if not the most stylish - the seam is actually at the side, a long way from the nipple. Plus they are multi-sized so they last a long time as your weight sloooowly goes down. Available from Blooming marvellous and Jojo Maman Bebe by mailorder.

I'm glad someone has started this thread as I am starting to think about what nursing (what an old fashioned word!) bra to get. I am currently wavering towards the Bravado bra as I like the idea of the popper rather than a hook and the fact that you just pull it on rather than fasten it at the back. Not sure about the leopard print though . Has anyone else had any good experiences with this bra?

Lucy123 where did you get the reusable breast pads from? I got through loads of disposable ones last time so they sound good.

Aloha, have just been to look at the bra that you recommmended on figleaves.com and have to thank you! Have bought one as they look so much nicer than any of the nursing bras that I have been wearing for the last 9 months. I was starting to feel fed up with breastfeeding as I was so sick of the disgusting underwear that it forces you to wear - and horah they do ones with a 32 back measurement, which nowhere else seems to do, so they end up not fitting properly and giving no support at all.

Also, does anyone know of any pads that are really thin and don't show through clothes as I haven't been able to wear any light-coloured or thin tops for ages now. I am using Johnson's Nursing Pads and have also tried the reusable ones, but both still show through - what are other people using? Am unsure of why after 9 months I still need them as I would have thought it would have regulated itself by now, but my body obviously mistakenly thinks I've had triplets and so is producing milk for them all!

Debster - I use the bravado bra (and even have a leopard print one!!!lol) and they are great. I have about 4.. I like them because they come in black as well as white and are Really Comfy!!

Always check you can re-fasten a feeding bra one handed!! You can end up rummaging about when you're trying to be discrete otherwise.

Glad to help Ellaroo! I do like mine. Have you thought of donating to a milk bank? I wish I had when I was full of milk. Or is it too late for us? (My ds is 9months too and I felt just the same - fed up with breastfeeding bras even more than with breastfeeding!)

I donated to a milk bank up until dd was 14 months. The milk is pooled so it is not necessary that it is produced for babies of the same age. They did say that usually they stop collecting it after your baby is a year old but they were really short.

Ellaroo - do you know the trick of pressing the heel of your hand against your breast exerting pressure when you feel a tingle of letdown which stops you leaking? You can do it quite subtly.

Yes, don't get the zip up breastfeeding bras. You need three hands to close them: one to zip, one to hold the bra and one to keep your breast from getting caught. I looked at breastfeeding bras while still pregnant with my son and decided that I was going to have to go braless if what I saw at mothercare was indicative of what was out there. I did settle on a M&S one that wasn't too bad, but seamless it isn't. I still feel prepared to go to battle in it.

My Elle McPherson bra has arrived this morning. I am thrilled - it is utterly different to any nursing bra I have ever come across, complete luxury and is even making me feel like I may want to bf longer in order to continue wearing it. I feel like I could be coming out of the 'feeling like a sack of potatoes' stage, finally! DH is trying to encourage me to get the matching knickers now, but they cost £15 so think I will leave it, as to match for the whole week would cost over £100!

Also, Mears, have tried the pressure thing and through some freak of nature this just makes it come in faster! Really like the idea of donating to a milk bank though but am worried about increasing my milk supply further as I am very deficient in all my vitamins and have always been very anaemic and pregnancy and bf have made this a lot worse. Am still on triple the recommended dose of iron tablets and this just maintains my iron level rather than making it come up!

Thanks for all the suggestions. I am so glad that someone mentioned the fact that they show through clothes - this is actually a major concern! Fortunately this time most of my breastfeeding will be in winter, so it is not as much of a problem. I remember well the sight of those circles around my boobs - they are quite large anyway and I just looked like I had 2 headlights on my chest!

Thanks so much for the figleaves.com tip! Love those Elle mcp bras, can't help myself...must buy matching pants too...conditioning from early age...

Re the Bravado bra, I've been told that the 'pullover-your-head' style makes them really difficult to get on if you have sore boobs or nipples. Last time around I used the Active Birth bra which, although it's also a 'pullover' style, has hooks at the back of the bottom elastic bit, making it softer and stretchier to pull on. Also means that you can pull them up over your hips and fasten the hooks while the bra is still round your waist - much easier! It's also conveniently multi-sized; but I've gone from C-cup to DD-cup so I'm in the market for new bras again too!

Bravado Bras - have two, both have annoying habit of the wide elastic support band folding over and v uncomfortable. M and S do a comfy one which doesnt look like a battledress - lacy one for £19