Is there a way to go without nursing bras?

[brenna80]

I went to a maternity store to try on nursing bras yesterday and they were all weird, bunchy and you could see the ring that your nipple goes through from the outside. Maybe I tried on the wrong brands/wrong sizes (I was fitted at the store, though). Does anyone not use nursing bras? If so, what are some good alternatives & clothing configurations?

I am mostly concerned with the discretion that nursing bras/tanks offer for NIP. I am very shy, but I'll be damned if that will stop me from nursing my baby (due in Oct.) whenever/wherever they want to. I really can't imagine wearing one of those big apron things either. Help!

[lach]

I loved the Medela Softcup ones: they were the only ones that gave my brand new Ds the support they needed. They're not cheap, but they worked really well. I got 3 pairs in the flesh colored, so I could wear them with anything.

I'm sure there are lots of people who go without nursing bras, but I found them really helpful for discrete nursing. Nursing tanks are pretty popular, but I don't see how they're be practical if you're above about a B cup.

And here's some unsolicited advice, because it took me ages to find out about these: you'll probably be kind of leaky at first, so you'll also want some breast pads. I liked the cotton reusable ones, but you can also buy disposable ones. You might also want to look into having a few sleep bras around. They're like super loose sports bras which offer just enough support to keep the breast pads in and alleviate some of the painful bouncing. They're really nice to wear around the house and sleep in, so you don't wake up in a crusty ring of leaked milk

[possum]

You can certainly nurse discretely without a nursing bra. They can make life quite a bit easier, so I would encourage you to look elsewhere.
Not all nursing bras have a ring around the nipple. Some move to the side (breast sort of pops out of the top of the bra); some flip down and have an elastic or a strip of cloth along the outside edge of the breast that keeps the bra up.
I also have some regular tanks that are low enough I can pop my breast over the top (when I have another shirt on top) and some Old Navy ones that I can shift the bra part up and the shirt part down to nurse. You can shift a soft bra (underwires are really not the best - especially for nursing) up easily, so soft-cup bras and sports bras are useable.
I would go with less fitted options (tanks, sport bra styles) until your breasts return to a new normal around 6 weeks or so after the birth.
Melinda

[KarlaC]

I picked up some nursing tank tops at Target for $16 each. I have a few nursing bras too but I really prefer the tanks especially around the house or under my Moby.

They're a lot cooler than a shirt with a bra under it if my body decides to go into meltdown sweat mode before ds is ready to eat.

[YayJennie]

Originally Posted by KarlaC

I picked up some nursing tank tops at Target for $16 each. I have a few nursing bras too but I really prefer the tanks especially around the house or under my Moby.

They're a lot cooler than a shirt with a bra under it if my body decides to go into meltdown sweat mode before ds is ready to eat.

I do the same. I have one or two nursing bras, but I find them all uncomfortable (but I was never a bra person. I only ever wore sports bras.) I live in nursing tanks, and that way I can nurse discretely and use breast pads (I leak like crazy), but don't have to be in an uncomfortable bra. The only thing I recommend is at least one good "sleeper" nursing bra. They're the V shaped bras that let you pop a boob out real quick, and I wear those to sleep in. They're pretty cheap and pretty comfy, so I think they're worth it.

And for nursing tanks, Target is the best. Cheap, effective, can be worn under anything...I've bought other more expensive tanks that are either uncomfortable or don't fit right. The Target ones are the best.

[marrymeflyfree]

I've never really worn the few nursing bras that I have...just found them uncomfortable when my size was changing so much in the early days and never got much into the habit of wearing them afterward. I had some nursing tanks that I liked much better, but honestly I mostly have worn some simple, stretchy camis under my shirts. I just pull the cami down below my breast and lift my shirt up from the bottom. The cami keeps my belly covered and the shirt can hide the little bit of breast that may show if I'm wanting to be very discreet. The downside is that they offer virtually no support, so perhaps not a great option for very large breasted mamas.

[vegemamato]

I used a nursing bra with my first, while I was still shy

with my second, I occasionally wore a bra, but found them to be more of a hassle than a help. I switched to tanktops, and occasionally padded them with baby socks for leaking.

Now that I have three, I don't have any bras or nursing tanks- which has worked out but def has it's 'risks'
(an example.. I was at the store last night getting to the point where I *knew* I'd leak soon if we didn't get out of there. So, we got to the checkout, and milk started dripping through my shirt I think the 18 yr old checker was more embarrassed than I was though He tried to look away, but seemed to forget that I have a face, lol!)

so, while I have no real advice, I do have to say that as time goes, you'll probably be less phased by the inevitable 'surprises' that motherhood will throw at you

[aet.tea]

I am liking the nursing tanks now, although I didn't at first - I had Glamourmom ones and found them too tight (I was prone to mastitis in the first 8 weeks or so). I found that Motherwear tanks are comfy but not supportive. I've heard the Target ones are great (don't have any); my fave that I have is made by La Leche League.

I also have a couple of nursing bras made by Bravado and find them pretty comfy - they are t-back, sport bra style, and don't have the visible ring (the panel snaps up and down w/ just a thin strap that stays in place).

Ditto the sleep bra suggestion above - definitely the most comfy for around the house.

[woodensandals]

you can make a normal bra into a nursing bra if you buy the hook hardware and sew it to the tops of the cups and straps.

I also use cotton nursing pads. They have lots of cute ones at Etsy.

[curious&eager]

My nursing bra is very similar to a sports bra except for it opens very easily. It's all cotton and very comfy. I live in it day and night. I leak a ton so there is no way I would go braless. I've never tried nursing tanks, the concept seems weird to me. The bras I got are cheap and good- $20 including shipping from yes! breastfeeding. There is no ring that you were talking about. It just like a regular soft bra except for it unhooks at top to pull the cup down.

http://yesbreastfeeding.com:8080/yes...initContext.do

They seem to be on vacation or something because nobody is answering my emails to order another one unfortunately.

BTW- Leaking is a big problem for some people like me. Pads are a must and have been my best friend. I'm not sure when this stabilizes. But, at two months now I still had a soaked to the brim pad when I left church tonight. DS was being weird and refused my right breast three times in a row today which cause lots of leakage. But, I have tons of letdowns in a day anyways. Whatever you do, make sure you have a place to put pads if you need too.

[seafox]

my breasts didn't get all that huge (once the first week was over!) so I just wear a stretchy patagonia bra or something like it (I have a few of this type, no cups, no real structure, basically like a lightweight smaller sporty bra) and a tank top over it. It holds my nursing pads, and then i just pull the whole boob out for feeding and its way faster than any nursing bra (speed is needed w/ DS!)

[KangaTwo]

I can't hardly find any A nursing bras, so I just use my regular soft-cup bra. Sometimes I wear my nursing tanks, but not so often with this baby. I wore them all the time with my older boys. And I have a Medela sleep bra that I don't wear too often because the straps tend to show and that drives me nuts.

[Anastasiya]

I love using tanks when I'm nursing! You know - the kind with spaghetti straps that are real stretchy? And it's very modest too. I never use a cover. I pull the tank down so my boob comes out the top, then lift my shirt up. Baby's head/face covers my boob, my shirt covers the top of my boob, and the tank covers the bottom and my belly and sides.

LOVE tanks.

[mommac2006]

I use regular soft cup bras not full coverage), sports bras, you name it. This way, I can just pull my whole breast out of the top, no problem. I agree with another poster who said its much quicker because it is. I've found that its more of hassle reaching in my shirt, unlatching my bra and pulling the flap down than just reaching in and pulling my breast out of the top of my regular bra. Plus, if I wear an underwire, I kind of get that extra support needed to lift my boob up for baby to have better latch while in my mei tai.

[Kirsten]

Originally Posted by aet.tea

I also have a couple of nursing bras made by Bravado and find them pretty comfy - they are t-back, sport bra style, and don't have the visible ring (the panel snaps up and down w/ just a thin strap that stays in place).

Loved the Bravado nursing bras back in the day! Bought them at Birth and Beyond.

Originally Posted by lach

I got 3 pairs in the flesh colored, so I could wear them with anything.

I'm sure there are lots of people who go without nursing bras, but I found them really helpful for discrete nursing. Nursing tanks are pretty popular, but I don't see how they're be practical if you're above about a B cup.

you'll probably be kind of leaky at first, so you'll also want some breast pads. I liked the cotton reusable ones

Yes, yes, yes. A few of the flesh colored nursing bras - in whatever brand/style you end up liking best - are super helpful IMO.

Cannot imagine how you could go without a bra while nursing. Are you asking if you could just wear regular bras or if you could go without a bra? You'll need to wear a bra! And every "regular" bra I've ever had wouldn't have worked for nursing, especially the first kid when you are learning along with the baby.

And the cotton reusable breast pads are required IMO. I liked the ones that had some concave shape to them already as opposed to the ones that were just flat discs of fabric.

[justKate]

Originally Posted by mommac2006

I use regular soft cup bras not full coverage), sports bras, you name it. This way, I can just pull my whole breast out of the top, no problem. I agree with another poster who said its much quicker because it is. I've found that its more of hassle reaching in my shirt, unlatching my bra and pulling the flap down than just reaching in and pulling my breast out of the top of my regular bra. Plus, if I wear an underwire, I kind of get that extra support needed to lift my boob up for baby to have better latch while in my mei tai.

:

I wear sports bras at home and inexpensive no-wire soft cup bras to work and out. I just lift them up to pump/feed.

[BirthKathy]

I wear the Medela sleep nursing bras during the day. In the first month or so, I wore them at night too because I leaked so much. Now I don't need to wear a bra at night any more. When I go out, I wear nursing pads just in case but I don't leak much during the day any more either. But the nursing pads give nipple coverage that the sleep bras don't. The disposable nursing pads were super itchy to me, so I tried the Medela cotton ones but they looked crazy under my clothes. I found some nice ones that a lady custom makes on www.theecstore.com. You can choose your fabrics, and they are larger than the Medela cotton ones and shaped nicely.

Once my boobs became more normal sized and less engorged, I was able to go back to my regular bra also which is just a simple crossover from American Apparel. Great for nursing, but not a lot of support if you are large chested. I'm about a 36-C.

[MamieCole]

It all depends on the size of your boobs.

I haven't worn a bra since I was pregnant with DS over 3 years ago. I bought a few Bravado nursing bras before I knew any better. Tried them once or twice and decided that there was no way in the world I was going to be that uncomfortable for however many years DS nursed.

Like many of the PPs, I wear a regular cami tank (Old Navy) with a shirt over it. Lift the shirt up, pull the tank down and voila, baby can nurse and I am completely covered. I've never tried a nursing tank, but figure it would just require one more step that I can avoid by simply pulling the tank down under my boob.

But I'm a 34B on a good day. (At least one of my boobs is that size. The other is smaller. Doncha just love that?) I can see how larger breasted women need the support of a bra/nursing bra.

[stormborn]

I love the UnBra. You can get them with nursing flaps but I just wear the regular ones and pull up the bra under my shirt. I found this to be much more discreet than fooling around with the flaps/slits in nursing tops; I always seemed to pop out at the wrong time, and I'm not that big (D cup while nursing)!

[Earth Momma]

I hate nursing bras - you have to reach under, to unhook, to pull down, to lift shirt, while baby waits unpatiently......
I wear a spagetti strapped sports bra and I'm on or off in a second, just ift the shirt and your in business!!!!

i was shy with #1 til I got the hang of it .......I wore one of my husband "wife beater" under shirts and then my regular shirt.....the "wife beater" has very low arm openings that can be pulled over a breast leaving your midsection covered!!!

good luck!