Nursing bras (really dumb question(s))

[Gennz]

Hi all,

Bear with me with these dim questions. I am 30 weeks and trying to buy as much stuff as I can before I knock off work at 36 weeks. When do I buy nursing bras?

I went up from a 32D to a 34DD at 6 weeks but am still comfortably wearing those bras. Am I likely to have another boob growth spurt (unfortunate pun sorry...) between now and D-Day?

I know that my boob size is likely to change when milk comes in etc so should I buy a bit bigger? Or is my current size ok?

Also I'll probably buy non-underwired for when I'm establishing BF-ing & slobbing round at home, but I'd really rather not wear them out and about, they make my boobs look like I'm about 90. Could I just wear the bras I'm wearing now, just making sure they're properly fitted? (I've been wearing Elle MacPherson Intimates Dentelle for the last 15 years and have never found a bra that fits as well... I'm very change averse!)

Help! Am clueless.

You are so lucky! I went from a 32E to a 36G when I was pregnant. It hated it, DH loved it
I would probably wait a bit as your ribs expand in later pregnancy (or mine did anyway) so you may need to go up in back size as well as cup size.
I think I bought my nursing bras when I was around 36 weeks and didn't change that much after that.

I got fitted for nursing bras at 37 week but my bra size hadn't changed since about 16 weeks :)

Yes I think I am quite lucky - I was whinging about my boobs to my sister who started off as an E cup and I got short shrift from her! She told me that at one point she was buying a new bra every week!

I'd wait a while, I went up a couple of sizes between 30 weeks and my milk coming in.

I ended up at a 32H, and didn't have much luck with finding nursing bras. After getting fitted and buying a couple, I just went back to my favourite brand (in my new size obviously) and scooped my boob out over the top of it. I found it didn't make any difference to the support while I was feeding, and saved faffing around trying to clip it back together while holding a wriggling baby. Maybe not the most helpful advice, sorry...

You really can't get them until after the baby arrives, if you want them to fit properly. Like a PP said, your ribs expand to accommodate the baby. However, this measurement goes down again after the birth, while your cup size increases when your milk comes in.

Thanks ByTheWishingWell I think that's what I'll do.

Had no idea re the ribs expanding thing! (I told you I was clueless...) Might need to get some sports bra type tank arrangements to see me through the final few weeks.

Your sister sounds exactly like me - I spent more on bras when I was pregnant than the 10 years before.

Sports bras (non-wired) are a good idea, that's what I wore in third trimester. Then when I finished work I gave up on proper bras altogether and just wore sleep bras.

You can get back strap extenders to add a couple of inches when your ribs start changing that measurement. I'm 39 weeks and still wearing my normal bras - 34gg. Weirdly the cups seem too big now. I've bought one non underwired nursing bra that has quite big cups, and room to expand, but like you said, I won't be leaving the house in that! Will measure myself after milk arrives and order some underwired ones online.

If you want some backup ones for at first Primark do two for £8 and they're actually not bad. Very comfy (believe me, you'll want that).

I only changed bras once as only went up one back size. Milk came in today and I'll be wearing nursing vests from h&m until they settle and I can get measured properly. If you stick with bf you find the size will go down and settle in a couple of weeks and I can't waste money on bras for 2 weeks!

I went and got fitted at Bravissimo when DD was about three weeks old. I've had those bras (non-wired and very supportive) for five years and I'm planning on wearing them again for DC3 if she ever vacates the premises. Before that it was cheapy, comfortable nursing bras I bought from eBay in my pregnant boob size (I think they were M&S rejects) but they are not super attractive! I'm a 32FF normally and end up a 32/34 G while pregnant.

I'm up to a 34GG and find that Hot Milk nursing bras (non underwired) give really good support, look pretty and last well. Expensive but worth it. Best places to get them are on the net - nursingbras online I think or figleaves.

Hiya, been a bra fitter for 10 years so hope i can help. We usually recommended to get fitted for nursing bras as close as you can to your due date. It gives us a best guess at what size you will be when milk comes in. We fit on loosest hook firmly because your ribs will start to go down again when you have had the baby. Nursing bras are non wired so as to avoid discomfort as your size fluctuates at the beginning depending on how empty or full you are. Hope it helps! X

I bought 1 or 2 nursing bras but never wore them as hated the lack of support, even with the expensive ones. I stuck with well fitting underwired bras and just popped my boobs over the top. Much easier in my opinion.

The Bravado maternity bras are excellent and very fluid with the sizing - they go up and down with you very well. I'm a G cup and found them supportive enough.
Super comfy too.

www.bravadodesigns.com/uk-en/home/

www.bravadodesigns.com/shop/uk-en/the-body-silk-seamless-nursing-bra
this was my fav one

Just jumping in to say that you do not have to wear a non-wired nursing bra (well, unless you want to, of course). Especially with bigger boobs, the non-wired bras simply won't give the same support and personally I hated the droopy sweaty monoboob look. As long as the bra fits, it's fine to wear wires.

I would agree that, in the early days, you probably need something fairly soft and able to cope with engorged boobs, straight after feed boobs, bigger/smaller rib cage, etc.

However, once things settle down, a well fitted underwire is fine. Have you thought about converting normal bras using the kits off ebay? I can't sew to save my life but found it really easy.

Oh, I have never been able to pop my boob over the top of a normal bra personally. I tend to have quite a supportive full cup and the fabric just pings back and slices my nipple. Ouch!

Personally I've found nursing bras a bit of a nightmare and have spent a fortune trying to get the right fit. I was a 34A before pregnancy and a 36D by 40 weeks. I wore maternity bras from mothercare and just thought I'd get the same design in the nursing variety (black polka dots) but found the padded cups really annoying while breast feeding, and also found that my sore nipples stuck to the inside of the cups. Even breast pads made them very sore.

So about 6 different bras later I've ended up going for a 'wear your own bra' body suit from M&S which gives me the support I need, but wearing it without a bra and with an Emma Jane feeding vest over the top. Also squashes my flab in nicely! ;) or on occasions where a bra seems necessary to avoid nipple show through/side boob, I've got a Bravado soft cup nursing bra which does the job nicely.

I've found all bras too tight tho - hate cups that cling too tightly.

My one piece of advice would be buy maybe one bra in advance but get fitted after 2-3 weeks of breastfeeding. I was majorly squeamish at the thought of breastfeeding and particularly the thought of whipping out a boob not at home. I tried on the Emma Jane nursing vest when I was pregnant but actually returned it because it felt so weird. I've ended up loving them tho and have bought several. You get so used to breastfeeding after a few weeks that it becomes completely normal, but it all felt really alien before DS was born...

HTH x

I jumped from a 32f to a 36J. Horrible Anyway after misery of non wired with DC1 I vowed not to wear them with DC2, I had had no problems with mastitis but horrible side effects from bad bras and always got properly fitted. So I converted my own underwired bras, with a bit of ribbon and some rucksack clips from ebay. I just copied a nursing bra I had and luckily placed the huge clip in the hollow of my shoulder so it wasn't visible under clothes.
My boobs refused to follow any pregnancy plan growing, had a life of their own! So if you can bare it wait a couple of weeks to a month until after birth and get fitted. Ahh style bras are good, those stretchy one piece things. Primark do a nice double thick ones for £2:50, if nothing else you may need something to keep breast pads in place at night.