Bra size post pregnancy

[Trillian42]

Hello all,

Quick question re bra size post pregnancy - how long does it usually take to go back to your original back size? I understand that obviously cup size is going to be dependent on the weight you put on during pregnancy, and whether you are breast feeding etc, but when you have the baby, does your back size go back to normal pretty quickly?

My weight gain has been limited to the bump itself as far as I can tell (at 37 weeks now), so when buying my nursing bras I'm wondering if I should go by my original back size or not. (Trying to save a little money here to avoid having to buy yet more bras in 2 months time !)

I think it all completely depends and I don't think there is any way to know!

I was a B cup, went to a DD just before end of pregnancy. BF for 3 weeks and went to E. Stopped BF at 3 weeks and went up to EE once I stopped. Five months on and I'm still EE. Not complaining though!

I bought bras a back size bigger than usual in pg and now am having to buy a smaller back size (and a bigger cup size) as although I still have a fair bit of weight over and above my normal, it all seems to be on the bum (and breasts, obviously). Ds is one month old.

i think mothercare usually suggest going for a nursring bra fitting around 37/38weeks, but you wont truly know what size until your milk comes in, which is about 3 days after delivery.

everyones boobs have a different hormonal reaction to pregnancy hormones and breastfeeding hormones, its best to buy new bra sizes when you think you need them, not to waste money preempting what size you think you might be - but hey it depends on your ability to get out to the shops!

throw a dice.

or..just buy a couple before birthing, then moreas you find the need after ..
my boobs were all over the place (not for the fist time says DH..)

OP here - I actually have 1 - I got it instead of maternity bra at around the 6 month mark. But I'm worried it'll be too wide around the back soon afterwards (it's 36 and I'm normally 32). My friend said to have at least 3 because of leakage at the beginning - one to wear, one in wash, one as spare, and I'm not sure I'll be up to a trip to the shops to get measured the first week after the birth.

Maybe I should hedge my bets and get a 34 - at least that way I won't be swimming in it if my rib-cage goes back to normal quickly.

I had the same dilemma and opted for one of these:

nct soft bra

I have F cuppers, but was a D before pg. This bra is stretchy with soft cups, and has done me through the later stages of pg and now afterwards. It is comfortable, washes well. It doesn't give an awful lot of support, but it's enough to keep the boobs in and not drooping if you adjust the straps. Also I was 34 and now need a 38, so this bra is ultra stretchy and can cope with the increase, and also the decrease of the rib cage....HTH

i had mine measured 2 months after the birth (wasn't breast feeding) and they had changed size again 2 months later (shrunk further) so wasted my money buying new bra's!

Don't panic too much about it now, just take yourself down to Mothercare or a similar shop after your DC is born - about a week after should be fine. Buy 2 bras then, wait a month then go and get re-measured.

That isn't 'official' advice, but it's what I did

Pre-pregnancy I was 34D, during pregnancy (at 35 weeks) Mothercare measured me as 38B . Was 36D a week after DS was born. A month later I was 36DD, which I still am now 10 weeks after DS's birth.

Things seem to take a wee while to settle down. I'm bfing though, so not sure if that's having an effect on my size.