Hospital bag - er, which bra??

[Essie3]

Maybe this message should be in childbirth actually!

I've read that I need to pack a bra or two for the hospital, but how? I mean, I have some maternity ones which I'm wearing now, but do I need nursing bras, and how do I get the size right if my breasts are (by all accounts) going to become gigantic zeppelins?

Also, if I have to wait for the zeppelin effect, how do I manage, because I'm in a really rural area (nearest M&S is 40 miles away) and internet shopping is my best bet. Do I, what, go without?

God, I regularly feel like I need a PhD for pregnancy. I have one in medieval history - maybe that's the problem!

How many weeks are you? Can you get to M&S to get measured beforehand (about 36+ weeks is best)?

I think you'd be best with nursing bras if you're planning on breastfeeding.

You won't be gigantic until about day 3-4 and hopefully you'll be home by then

I didn't get the gigantic zeppelins (thank goodness) they're already rather large, and a nurse who took a BF class while I was pregnant said you should wear a bra the size you are because if they swell it will only be for a day or two and there is just no point is buying a massive bra for two days.
green cabbage leaves! have you heard that one? leaves in the fridge then on the boobs - it is sooooo good. or standing in the shower letting the water run down your chest really helps ease things up.

I bought a few nursing bras in the size i was measured at a week or so before the birth and also bought 2 in the next size up! My breasts ballooned when my milk came in but went back to pregnancy size!!! once feeding was established. Hope thats helpful x

Hello, just been reading your post on another thread you brave girl. MW told me to take nursing bras to hosp and to get measured 2wks ish beforehand as this will be close to your size after the birth. Apparently the zeppelin effect comes a few days later again, when your milk comes in. I've no intention of going shopping again with newborn in tow, so I'm going to buy one in the next size up from Tesco (£5) and see how it fits!

I took my maternity bras, and also the feeding bras I had bought. At around 36-37 weeks I bought some feeding bras from Figleaves.com online. They do free returns if I recall so if they don't fit you can return them.

I bought one size up (ie 34DD instead of 34D) and they were fine, even when my milk came in. I bought lovely soft stretchy ones though so they had a bit of give. I got these (I bought 2) and they were lovely.

and oh yeah - i only bought two nursing bras at first - silly me! you do realise they leak like billy-o dont you!

Good point. 33 weeks, and not increased in size during pregnancy (much to DH's disappointment - but I've promised him a treat when it comes in!).

So do I buy for my last-days-of-preg size, then buy more once I know my bigger feeding size? What do I do with the first nursing bra after that - will they fit in it temporarily?

I really am a dunce, sorry!

I went to M&S about 37 weeks and they measured and then added a little to estimate the size I would be when milk came in. They got it spot on, was very impressed.

I'd go get measured, buy a couple of the least expensive ones and take those to hospital.

Once you are home, milk is in and has had the chance to settle down a bit then you will know if the size is right or not for buying more/nice ones.

Phone the NCT - they have bra fitters - I went round to her house and she gave me cups of tea and fitted me for a bra - seemed to know how much bigger it would need to be and she was pretty much spot on!

Try and go for soft stretchy fabric and that way they should fit even if you get bigger.

I bought 3 nursing sleep bras for my hospital bag (from mothercare iirc), then ended up getting measured again and buying a couple more later on.

They will get covered in milk so you'll end up changing them quite regularly - you'll need a few!

Buy lots of breast pads and two as late as possible. I changed size three times in the first six weeks and I too had the problem of not being able to get to the shops easily.

Also remember that as well as getting bigger, you may also get smaller - my boobs went between a 34DD and a 32G (and variations in between) in the first couple of months. So don't buy more than you will need.

Or you can get nursing vests for hospitals (couldn't stand having a tight bra on when I was really full)

Agree with WMMC that as well as your cup size going up, your back size will go back down, as you will not have all that baby expanded your ribs out.
I would highly recommend Bravado bras as the designs are a bit flexible in size and so are still comfortable when you expand a bit as the milk comes in. They're also stretchy and comfortable enough to sleep in.

Royce bras are similarly flexible (Debenhams sell them). I find M&S bras not heavy duty enough for the weight of my boobs.

The Bravado bras are fabulous as they are such a flexible fit, and so comfortable too.

The bra fitting ladies are very accurate though - as DS was prem, I had to send DH out to buy me a nursing bra and he just went into Mothercare with one of my maternity ones, and they decided on a size from there - and it fitted. Of course DH chose a raspberry pink one.....

Second the fitting advice on here - I used Emma Jane feeding bras, from figleaves.com. Not glamorous but maybe treat yourself to some nicer ones when you can (a) get fitted properly and (b) are past the milk-coming-in leaky stage!
I was a 34F throughout my pregnancy and the nice lady in John Lewis fitted me at 38w into a 32G nursing bra. This was rather close for 3-4 days when my milk came in but perfect thereafter.
Thumbs down for M&S here too I'm afraid - depends on your cup size I guess.

WMMC - that's good to know (Royce) now that I'm up the duff again! I was just looking at the Bravado web site and they have a new bra for the more generously busted of us, which is supposed to be more supportive. But it doesn't come in a 32 back size. I was so annoyed last time that it was impossible to get "normal" nursing bras over an E cup, and you're right, M and S have NO support. I'm sure that the woman who fitted me in M and S told me the wrong size, just to get me to buy a couple, as they never felt quite right.
I was a lovely 32H when I was breastfeeding. Oh well, at least DH was happy when none of my clothes fit and I couldn't find supportive underwear to save myself.

Royce go down to a 32. I was a 32G for a while and wore them. I looked like Barbie

According to M&S women cannot have a back size below 32. When pregnant they cannot have a back size below 34

Thanks!
Yes, M&S lost me during pregnancy - I'm a 32C and was put in a nasty saggy 34B. I was so depressed! My DH took matters in hand (excuse the expression) and bought me 2 sexy maternity bras which fit, and I felt better about life in general.

Anyway, to get this clear - when the milk comes in, I get big, but that goes after a bit? Or do you stay big for some time?

The books are all very well but they don't help on practical matters like this!

It is a tricky subject - and seemingly the answers are not to be found in books anywhere and they are different for each individual so PhD probably is easier IMO .

Anyway, when the milk comes in you will get bigger cups but a smaller band (no baby pushing ribs out). The big cups can stay for a few days or maybe more then they tend to go down a bit but it's hard to say how much -depends on your milk supply and babies feeding habits. Definitely get something with some stretch in it (but still supportive) to allow for the nights when baby decides to sleep instead of feed - it happens rarely but you won;t get any sleep as your boobs will feel like they are about to explode

Once breastfeeding becomes established your boobs tend to just produce milk without looking like Zeppelins

You get massive and huge and rock hard when your milk comes in (I understand this is often worst the first time) - I sent DH running for a 32H - but within a week or even less it was too big, and I was in the 32G I was fitted into at 38w.
After 2 months or so I went down a cup size, and then another and so on. By the time I stopped feeding at 9 months I was 32E. As I gradually was losing the bit of weight you gain in pregnancy while I was feeding, which makes your boobs smaller, and my boobs just got used to breastfeeding and the early massive "jordan" look went. thankfully.

Essie - Bravissimo can fit you over the phone.

I went in to my "local" store (1.5 hrs away from me - but was worth the trip!!) last weekend and bought 3 nursing bras at 39 weeks. Made by Freya.

I tried on a few makes and styles and the fitter said she wasn't happy about the way they sat on me and could only recommend the Freya. SO I got 3, but I can return them within 28 days as long as they're unworn - I'm figuring I'll take one to hospital and wear it for a week and see how much I change shape.

Great service IMO

Bravissimo

I personally wouldn't trust the measuring abilities of M&S, although I guess some people get on ok. Like others here I'm narrow backed, but have massive boobs - usually 32 GG, but a J or K when feeding.

Slinki - misread your size as 38W

hehe thankfully not quite (maybe close when milk came in though)

Both John Lewis and Mothercare have really good fitting services if you can get to one.

The lady in Mothercare told me that you normally go down a size round your back and up a size in the cup, from your maternity measurements.
I was a 36D when pregnant and bought 34DD and breastpads for going into hospital with. I then bought 34Ds after a few weeks when everything had settled down.