When to buy a nursing bra as boobs seem to have shrunk?!

[Cydonia]

Hi, I'm 37 weeks next week and trying to get myself and my hospital bag organised. I want to get a couple of nursing bras, but how do you know they are going to fit when your milk comes in? I thought this happened before you gave birth but apparently not? After an initial spurt my boobs have stayed the same size for months, and actually at the moment seem smaller as maternity bra is a bit baggy! So do I go shopping now and get something with growing room? Don't want to leave it too late and certainly don't want to go bra shopping after the birth!!

Bravado bras are quite stretchy so you can have a guess at the right size. You may find your bust varies in size a bit over the first few weeks then settles a bit.

I would just get one or two then more when you are ready - widely available online. You will still go shopping once you have had the baby, honestly.

I'm 31 weeks, and went and got mine today. My boobs seems to have shrunk back a bit too, so I'm just hoping that what I've got is going to be ok

When they had the massive growth spurt, they went from a 36C to a 38DD, which is the size I've got the nursing bras in.

I'f they don't fit then I'm fucked

I bought sleep bras and then went for a fitting once my milk was in and I felt like leaving the house which was about 10 days post birth. My boobs had hardly grow at all so was worried about massive growth spurt post birth in the end I went up one back size (although I would tend to vary dependent on style anyway) and 2 cup sizes.

I got measured in Bravissimo when I was about 28 weeks and the lady who fitted me said I'd be better off waiting until I was as close to birth as possible to wait for my milk to come in to get an accurate fit. I'm 37 weeks today and finally on maternity leave, so I'm going shopping next week.

I'm convinced my boobs have shrunk a bit as well because I lost some weight in the early months - they feel heavier, but my normal bras seem baggier (haven't bothered with maternity bras as I'm an F-FF cup so I wanted to be sure I still had plenty of support!)

The other bit of advice the fitting lady gave me when I said I thought I'd shrunk a cup was to go for a cup bigger than would fit me "perfectly" to allow room for breast pads and if I had a second growth spurt. Overall, I found her to be very helpful and was really pleased that she didn't push me into an immediate sale which might not have been suitable for me.

I bought mine at about 36w, in a cup size or two bigger than I was wearing at that time - they fit

You can get nursing bras on fig leaves called emma that are very stretchy and soft. I found then brill as when your milk comes in you will need it, its horrid. Just get the size you are now and thet will stretch then wait till later to get some more if you think you are a different size. In some ways its more important the bra is not too small cos this can block your milk ducts.

I agree with susie the emma jane bra's here are great. I had similar from carriwell in my last pregnancy but these are much cheaper (retail for £10) and very comfy. They fit from a B-F cup, i am an E at the moment and they are fine with plenty of stretch. Have a look!

I think they recommend getting them fitted at about 37+wks. I got mine once I was on maternity leave (so around then) in M&S (a lot of other posters have slated them but I was pleased with my fitting). Got 2 bras in the couple of cup sizes bigger as recommended - the lady said they usually say you go back to your pre-pg/rib expansion chest measurement but your cups stay up higher. Those bras did for the first couple of wks when my milk came in. Then, once they got baggy, back I went for another fitting. That second lot lasted for the remainder of my breastfeeding.

John Lewis is very good for fitting, so if you're at all unsure, why not phone, see if you can check their advice, get an appointment & go from there? You don't have to buy loads of bras in store, you can just find your size & shop online (although personally, I've always found buying 'in the flesh' far more reliable as the style changes the fit & so on...)

Thanks everyone! I have ordered an Emma Jane one for wearing under my nighties, hope they do stretch as am an E-F already! No John lewis near us unfortunately but start mat leave week after next so might go to m&s then. Or maybe try one of the small independant shops, they might have better service.

I had a thought- has your bump dropped? Maybe your boobs seem smaller, it could be because your chest has got more room again iyswim.

I went from 32DD to a 34E/F during pg, M&S recommended a 32GG for when my milk came in, but they didn't do them, so had a 34G. I went back to a 32-34E for feeding, so if you do go up any more, it may not be for that long.

I might be worth trying a local shop, if you're not happy with the service, you can always go elsewhere.

Hmmm it has maybe dropped a little but still high enough for boobs to be sitting on it! Bra shopping has always been a pet hate of mine so was kind of hoping to not have to keep going back for different sizes - oh well! I do have a couple of 36H nursing bras my friend lent me if they get that big....!

To be honest, you'll probably want a really good fitting bra as your milk comes in, to help keep the breast pad/warm pack against your throbbing bosom. After that, its prob less important, or rather, as important as having a normal bra that fits well. I hate bra shopping as well, trying on SO many, all different sizes, none fitting etc hence liking having a bra fitter on hand to get the correct size!!