So so sorry! Nursing bra sizing help please!

[HelgatheHairy]

I'm so sorry, I know you must all be sick of bra size threads. I'm 38 weeks and to be honest the whole bra size revolution has kind of passed me by. I bought 2 pregnancy bras after my normal ones felt uncomfortable (in COMPLETLY the wrong size as I now know) and that was that.

But now I need to sort out nursing bras. I live near a small town in Southwest Ireland, there is NO WHERE I trust to get measured, so I took the tape measure into my own hands and I couldn't have gotten my size more wrong. I'm currently in a 40C when my actual measurements are 34 under bust and 41 on bust bent over which makes me a 34F??

So what size of nursing bra should I be looking at? 34FF, 34G??

It's difficult to say about cup sizes tbh, as you could be two or three sizes different across the day depending on when you've fed, is it three weeks or three months in, etc. Also your rib cage is likely to shrink back a bit after you give birth. The 34G is a good place to start though, and I know postage might be an issue but if you can do a few very large internet orders with four or five sizes of every style you like you can then do some extensive trials once the baby is here and send the no good ones back. I think you'll probably end up with a bra or two to start with and then have to order more a few weeks in. There are a number of underwired nursing bras out there, which if fitted well, should give you no trouble with ducts etc, but will give you much better lift and support than a non wired soft cup.

I can get to a Debenhams to try a few on, at least I have a starting point now! I'd like to have one or two at home to be getting on with, rather than having to go shopping just after I get home with baby.

Delivery isn't ideal because of postage costs as you say but needs must! And it would definitely be easier to try things on at home.

I had these super soft, stretchy jobs for the first couple of weeks - not massively supportive or attractive but OK, the main bonus is no risk of bad fitting causing discomfort / blockages / mastitis. I just used them to sleep in once my size had settled enough to fit myself with proper nursing bras.

Oh, and it's wise to buy nursing bras rather than normal / maternity bras throughout pregnancy - they all fit again at some point during nursing. it's far too late now of course, but maybe handy to know should you have more DC.

I think you're likely to go up a couple of cup sizes when your milk comes in. Your back size will go down as well. I'd give the lovely fitters at Bravissimo a call for sizing advice tbh.

Quick post, try the Royce Blossom.

Just a couple?!

It was quite a while ago but IIRC, my breasts were suddenly 4 or 5 or so cup sizes bigger when my milk came in with each DC. Would change maybe 2 or 3 cup sizes during the day at first, depending on how recently DC had fed. Was probably about 2 or 3 cup sizes bigger than before birth once the worst of the engorgement had settled.

Thanks ladies.

MrsLettuce I like the look of those stretchy bras.
marriednotdead loving the look of the Royce Blossom as well.

Think I'll order one of each as a starter!