When do I need to get nursing bras?

[Miffster]

Am 35 weeks and don't think I'll be up to much in the way of bra shopping soon, or straight after giving birth either for that matter.

I want to get a couple of soft cotton nursing bras to wear after the baby comes so I don't leak everywhere, or to support my boobs if they are swollen and sore as the milk comes in. All the 'pack your nag' lists indicate you will need nursing bras, but how to buy when you don't know your size?

Please can someone tell me how much bigger they will need to be?

Am 40D at the mo and I really really HATE anything that is tight round my ribs so am mainly in soft cropped tops now. Am I likely to be smaller in rib circumference after having the baby but much bigger cup size? In which case, should I be looking for a 38DD or 38E?

I was thinking H&M as they are cheap...unless anyone has any other ideas?

Cheers

should say 'pack your bag' lists, not 'nag!'

Atm I'm planning on wearing sleep bras for the initial week or so as I don't think my boobs will follow the "usual rules". I don't want to spend lots on bras that may never fit and if I'm going to be in an ill-fitting bra, I'd prefer it was a soft thing like a sleep bra. Plus they're easy to get boobs out with!

The usual rule I've read is go down a back size and up 1 or cup sizes from what you are at 36 weeks. That assumes you've gone up a back size during pregnancy (I haven't).

Should read up 1 or 2 cup sizes.

When I was getting fitted for maternity bras last week the lady at Bravissimo said to go back two weeks before I was due to be fitted for nursing bras. HTH.

Thanks for that!
I think I will look for a couple of cheapo cotton 'sleep' bras for now that have room for boobs to grow in, which I can wear in the daytime and can hold a breast pad and worry about what size I eventually end up at after a few weeks. I assume that your boobs settle down after a few weeks once the milk has come in?

It does seem silly to be buying bras when you don't know what size you'll be. I am sick to death of wasting money on bloody bras this year.

I have got a few of the cotton sleep bra's (more like crop tops with the catch) and i'm wearing one now (37weeks) and there so comfy! You can buy them from mothercare. I got measured am i'm now 40DD and got told i'll be 38e of f after babys here. I've been looking for cheaper ones from ebay in both e and f to put me on then once babys here after a couple of weeks i can invest in more expensive ones that are gonna last (and also if i take to bf well)

At the end of my pregnancy I bought a couple of Carriwell bras (from Boots online) which just come in S,M,L etc sizes - each covers a range of cup sizes. Turned out to be a good thing as my boobs didn't increase in size at all until 3 days post-birth when the proper milk came in, so I would have had no idea what size to get. DS is eleven days old now and I'm going to go and get fitted for more bras this week. I didn't actually need the bras for a few days though - everyone's different, but when I was just making colostrum in the first couple of days I didn't leak milk at all so I just didn't wear a bra - much easier to get breastfeeding established too when all you have to do is lift up your top and shove baby up there! I've only got small boobs though so this wasn't uncomfortable as it probably would be for more generously sized ladies!

Cheers for the tips ladies.
:)