Teach a first-timer about boobs!

[PirateWeasel]

I'm currently 22 weeks and my boobs have barely grown since I got pregnant. I don't know if that means they won't until I start making milk after the baby's here, or whether they'll suddenly balloon in the next few weeks... What have other people's experiences been? I guess it makes sense to wait and see what happens, but how do I know what size bra to buy for after the birth?! I don't want to be caught unprepared, but also don't want to spend money on bras that end up being the wrong size! #tightwad

Some women's breasts grow in pregnancy, others don't, some leak, others don't. Mine neither grew in size or leaked in either pregnancy, milk came in fine after 3ish days on both, an emcs and an elcs (elected by consultant). I bought nursing bras in my usual size first time round, mine never changed size, I was measured when ds was 4 weeks and was a 34DD, same as ever. I hate the clasps on nursing bras so second time around I just bought h&m sleeping bras, still wearing them every day and night and ds2 is 6 months old.

My breasts didn't grow much during pregnancy and even when engorged afterwards weren't much bigger than normal. I found soft stretchy nursing bras with a wider range of back clips was helpful, especially in the first few weeks. You may want to get nursing sleep bras as you will probably need to wear breastpads at night for a while.

Proper milk doesn't come in until a day or two (or sometimes longer) after birth. Some women get colostrum leaking before birth, but not all by a long way.

It's going to sound like I work for them, as I just promoted these on another thread too (! I don't, I promise, I just find them comfy!)...

At jojo maman bebe (and other places) you can get sort of stretchy bras (a bit sports bra like but not firm holding - just supportive with some stretch) I think they're called Emma Jane or something. You could get one in your current size (or nearer the end) and it should stretch with you in the early days. I wear them for the last weeks of pregnancy and the first several weeks of feeding before my supply settles, then I get fitted for something proper when I know my "final" size.

It is a bit of a guessing game though, trying to figure out what will go on with boob sizing!

www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/emma-jane-seam-free-maternity-nursing-bras-b7522.html

This sort of thing. Lots of this style around in various places. And not horrifically expensive unlike some nursing bras!

Your milk doesn’t come in until a few days after the birth, so any breast changes during pregnancy are hormone related, not milk related.
I can’t remember mine growing much at all in my previous two pregnancies. I successfully BF both (and had over supply)

My boobs grew a bit but not loads, probably up one cup size. Mine were super sore all the way through pregnancy though so I ended up getting a few stretchy comfy crop top/sports bra type things (from Sainsbury's I think) which are just sized by dress size. (Caveat: I was a 34C pre-pregancy, these may be no good to you if you're more voluptuous!). Now I've got a few nursing bras which are very stretchy (Amazon) and come in a S/M/L type sizing. I will wait until I stop feeding DD I think to get measured again, as I really have no idea now what bra size I am