When do you get measured for a nursing bra?

[redandyellowandpinkandgreen]

If my boobs are suddenly going to grow when my milk comes in then surely I can't be measured before then? I just don't understand how I am going to take a newborn baby and me, three days post birth, to go and get measured and buy new bras. Is there a simpler way?

Most bra-fitters advise going in for a fitting at about 35, 36 weeks. I left it until 38 weeks! They will fit you for bras that you can get a hand into (over your breast) in order to leave room for the engorgement. Don't worry, you can get this sorted out before the baby! And the initial engorgement does decrease. They will also take into account the way your rib cage will change in size (it will move back to normal after the pregnancy expansion) so it's always best to see a fitter trained for nursing bras.

If you look here you can search for a local NCT bra fitter who will be trained to fit nursing bras. There's no charge for this, though the bras she has in stock all come from NCT sales (they are from a variety of brands, can be found elsewhere) and you can order them through her, through NCT sales online, or shop elsewhere.

Alternatively, a decent department store with a good lingerie dept can fit you for a breastfeeding bra. If you're large, try Bravissimo, though their stock for maternity isn't huge.

i went to bravissimo to get mine fitted yesterday and they said 38 weeks or later is best. they take into account how your ribs will go down and boobs will go up after birth so no need to go with a newborn! :)

I bought soft ones from Bravado which cover several sizes, then went out to get 'proper' ones when dd was two or three weeks.

do not go to Mothercare or M&S - Bravissimo are great and tbh many of us will be a D or bigger during bf even if you don;t think you are normally.

Glad you asked as I had wondered this last night at 3am!
I live too far from anywhere to get fitted, esp that close to due date, but NCT say if you phone with measurements they'll work out what you need, so will def put that in my diary and then go get checked post delivery when we venture further afield.

Do you know, I was pondering this the other day- @32 weeks now, reading about BFing & "engorgement"; type it into Search and good ol' loopymumsy has the answer yet again

Ok, so if you live somewhere with no John Lewis or Bravissimo and M&S and mothercare are both rubbish where can I go to get a nursing bra fitted?

Are Debenhams any good?

Atlhough I did have a proper bra fitting at the start of my pregnancy and I know that my back size hasn't changed so is it possible that I can work this out for myself?

Also I know that boobs grow when the milk comes in but I seem to be thinking that they then decrease in size once milk production becomes established. Is this right? So how do you cope with this?

Sorry for all the questions but really not sure how this is meant to work!

i liked debenhams. nice maternity bras too.