Buying nursing bras during pregnancy?

[Ola_]

I'm currently about 4.5 months pregnant and my boobs have sure gotten the message - they've definitely grown, I'm guessing 1-2 cup sizes. I went to a local shop to get fitted for a bra and left with a softcup nursing one, which is pretty comfy but darn expensive (a little over $100 after taxes IIRC). I'm looking to get another one online to save some money but I'm wondering about a few things:

- Is my cup size likely to increase more during pregnancy? I know it will jump when my milk comes in and I don't think I can account for that, but I don't want it to be way too small in 2 months.

- How much can I expect the band size to go up as my belly gets bigger and the baby moves up and spreads my ribcage?

I'm thinking about one of those cute HOTmilk bras from BreakoutBras.com btw if anyone has experience with either. Thanks!

[nadia105]

I'm sticking with Bravados new ones, they have a lot of room for cup expansion. I got one to fit 36 band size (up to F/G cup) and one 34 that fits the same cups, I figure I can get a lot of use out of them now and still have them fit for nursing. Bonus is that they are about $45.

I have this:

http://breakoutbras.stores.yahoo.net/bosisenubrab.html

Very comfy, I have even slept in it.

The hotmilk ones look great, but I would wait until the babe is a month or two old and the ladies have settled into their size so you can get one that will fit for a long time.

[ibusymomto5]

I haven't tried this, but it looks like it might be good for the transition phase. I'm thinking of trying one myself.
http://www.glamourmom.com/store/shopexd.asp?id=524

[Marissamom]

with my first pregnancy I gained about a cup size during the pregnancy (I started at an A, so this was a lot for me) I got some cheap regular bras to use during the pregnancy. then, after DD was born, I went up another cup size and a half, and have slowly gone back to being comfortable in a B. my band size hasn't changed at all during the pregnancy, nursing, pregnancy+nursing process, but I also only gained in my belly.

[Ola_]

I'm not sure how good the soft, flexible sizes will be for me though as I'm already a 34H size (that's not even on most of the charts, never mind buying a bra in a regular store! lol). I was thinking of getting one of these for the immediate post-partum period when I won't be heading out of the house as much and I'll bet I will appreciate their flexibility then!

I'm ok with spending $50 for a bra that will only last till April, I just don't want to have to buy three more of them by then, you know? Going the frugal route really appeals to me financially but I just can't get by in ill fitting bras (except for the one I bought so far) till June of next year.

Interesting to know that not everyone's band size goes up, I thought that was a sure thing. Now I definitely won't size up in that area!

[katelove]

I bought a few breastfeeding bras when I was pregnant (including a HotMilk one ) because both my cup and band size increased. Now, at 5.5 months PP, my cup size is about the same but the band size is a fair bit smaller so I have had to buy a few tighter ones.

I found that my cup size went up initially once she was born but then settled back to pregnancy-size fairly quickly.

[Buddhamom]

Even if your band size goes up you can get the bra extenders. I bought some nursing bras from walmart believe it or not and they are pretty comfortable. I was a 34 A and now am a 34 B so not sure if that makes a difference.

[finnegansmom]

I can't tell if you're nursing now or are planning ahead but I'm assuming planning ahead?

I personally wouldn't go hog wild with buying really expensive bras while pregnant, unless you are getting a too good to pass up deal.
I went from a 36c to a 38DD while pregnant with #1, it took a while for my breasts to get back to 36 and a c cup, which they did. So I had 38D nursing bras down to 36C. Then I got pregnant again and continued to nurse so my cup size didn't reall grow much, I just used some of the bigger bras near the end. This time around, my son weaned when I was about 14 weeks pregnant. Maybe because I'm carrying high but my 38 bras sometimes hurt me in the band. Oy. I haven't gained all that much weight my boobs are ENROMOUS. Like, I don't see 40D out of the realm of possibilty. My dh is pysched.
I do want to invest in BETTER nursing bras this time, but I will wait until after the baby comes. from my experience the rib cage does shrink back but some mama's breast stay nice and full while nursing and it seems mine kind of shrink back to saggy bags quickly (although I never have an issue with milk supply at all).
Having had mastitis before, I would say a well fitting nursing bra is kind of important...anything too tight can cause trouble and just because for instance you can wear an underwear now doesn't mean you might be able to tolerate one when nursing...

[Ola_]

Not nursing, just planning ahead - this is baby #1 for us. I didn't even think of getting a nursing bra before the baby was here but that's what the local place suggested for a maternity style because of the soft cup style and stretchiness. (is that even a word?) And I figure if it fits later, that's a bonus!

[lifeguard]

I had to buy nursing bras while pregnant because they were unavailable in my size where we were living so I needed to buy them while home visiting. I was about 7 mos pregnant when I bought mine & simply went up one cup size which worked out quite well for me. I didn't find I gained in my band size but as pp said if you do you can easily get a band extender to fix that.

[expat_canuck]

Ola_ - I don't know if this helps at all, but I was told by a bra specialist type lady that it's best to wait to size/fit nursing bras until 36 weeks - that way, your girls will have done most of their pre-bfing/pre-natal growth, and she mentioned she has a formula that works to find the right size nursing bras based on that more full-size.

I found the bras that I bought when I was 3-4 months pregnant are barely fitting me anymore, but I'm not about to go out and buy more now (I'm 30 weeks with my first, and I've noticed my breasts are growing again...)

[glamorousmommy]

There's no way of knowing how much bigger (chest) will get throughout your pregnancy and once the milk settles. You can always opt to purchase a transition/starter nursing bra that can be worn from pregnancy until you nurse. The transition/starter nursing bras typically runs over a cup size or two accommodating increase.

It should be a cotton bra that is easy to wear, comfortable and supportive. I've worn several but the latest obsession is the Glamourmom nursing bra - which has also been doubling as a sleep bra for me.

I hope you try on several different brands to find the one that works best!

[rparker]

I would recommend *not* buying nursing bras while pregnant. I went up a cup size during each pregnancy and then increased one more size after the baby was born. In my experience nursing bras are a) more expensive b) less cute and c) less comfortable than a well fitted push-up bra.

Also... your breasts will have a period of transitioning back to a smaller size as breastfeeding winds down. Before becoming pregnant with DD2 I was still nursing a two year old DD1 and the (regular) bras I had bought during my pregnancy with DD1 fit me, whereas my pre-baby bras were too small and my nursing bras were a little large and I was so sick of them. And by the time you're nursing a toddler (pretty common on MDC) you won't necessarily need/want to be wearing a nursing bra.

Wear "sexy" lingerie while you still can and while your breasts are still perky and haven't been co-opted by babies Buy some nursing tanks and/or nice sleep bras now if you feel like planning ahead; they're more comfortable to wear while your milk is coming in anyway. (FYI with this baby my milk is "in" and engorgement is over and I still haven't managed to buy a proper "nursing bra" at 4 weeks PP because my new size is a total headache, 34F... and I'm getting by decently with wearing a nursing tank under my clothes as a "bra" when in public and sleep bras at home.)

[Lady Lilya]

rparker, at the end of my first pregnancy I was advised to get something stretchy, like a sports bra, so I could have the needed support (and something to hold a breastpad) yet it would adjust to fit me as my size fluctuated.  

Then about 2 months post partum, I measured and ordered nursing bras online, and they lasted me a long time.  I also loved the Gilligan & O'Malley nursing tanks from Target, but I understand they don't work well for REALLY large sizes (I ranged from a 32 B to a 36D, and I found them very ideal).

After DS self-weaned in January, I went out and bought myself a few nice bras for about $15 a piece at a department store during a sale.  I wanted something a little more flattering and un-nursy.  

And yeah, my toddler didn't care if my bra was the regular kind and I just kinda lifted my breast up and tucked the cup under to support it like a shelf.