Shopping for nursing bras (annoying but somewhat funny)

[allisonrose]

I really want to get some more supportive nursing bras. I purchased two that have decent support when my first was young. Now one is falling apart and the other has no support left to it really. But I hate purchasing bras online and several different sites have told me different sizing (using the same measurements).

I decided to try my local options. No luck at Target. Went to Motherhood Maternity. First the clerk asked me if I was expecting or had already had a baby. I pointed down to my nearly 10 month old sitting in the stroller I was pushing.  She asked if I knew my size and I told her I thought I was a 38D or 38DD. She measured me and told me I'm a 36F but they don't carry that size.

Considering that boobs get bigger when you nurse, you would think that more retailers would carry nursing bras in larger sizes. I might end up ordering some bras from Amazon because I feel comfortable with their returns.

[Mom31]

Ugh. WOW mama- You have some big ones!  Good luck.

[wishin'&hopin']

Try the Bravado ++ bras (I am a 34F and wear the S++).  And, despite the prior poster's amazement...a 36F is not at all unusual or large :)  I was a 36J from my DS's birth up until he was about a year.  A 36F is the same size as a 36DDD (so you are only up one cup size).

[allisonrose]

Originally Posted by Emilie2 

Ugh. WOW mama- You have some big ones!  Good luck.

If you have a spare moment, you might consider checking out breakoutbras.com: they feel that the majority of women are wearing the incorrect bra size. By their sizing, I'm a 36F (as the lady at Motherhood Maternity said) but another site said I was a 40A and another a 38C. But my boobs were definitely overflowing the smaller cup sizes I tried on yesterday. You might find that you might benefit from wearing a larger cup size.
 

Originally Posted by wishin'&hopin' 

Try the Bravado ++ bras (I am a 34F and wear the S++).  And, despite the prior poster's amazement...a 36F is not at all unusual or large :)  I was a 36J from my DS's birth up until he was about a year.  A 36F is the same size as a 36DDD (so you are only up one cup size).

I had the Bravado Body Silk when my older was a baby. Comfortable but gave a bit of uniboob appearance and not as much support as I would have liked. I am so done with uniboob and unsupportive bras! Except for a 5 or so month break, I've been in nursing bras for three years. I'm okay with my bras not being "cute" but I want them to fit and be functional. I might give the Bravado Allure bra a try.

[Mom31]

I am sorry if I offended.

[Megan73]

Originally Posted by wishin'&hopin' 

Try the Bravado ++ bras (I am a 34F and wear the S++).  And, despite the prior poster's amazement...a 36F is not at all unusual or large  I was a 36J from my DS's birth up until he was about a year.  A 36F is the same size as a 36DDD (so you are only up one cup size).

We have a great local nursing wear shop and I was amazed when I actually got measured for a bra. I'm at 34 DD/F! I've always thought of myself as small-chested and wore what I now realize were poorly-fitted 38C bras. Now I know why I had to have the straps so tight they dug into my shoulders! It's because the band was too loose to offer any support.

[wishin'&hopin']

The Anita bras are pretty good as well, and they do seperate...just pricier and I didn't think they held up terribly well (but then again, wore them every day for like a year before my breasts decided to drop a couple of cup sizes and I could wear the bravado ones...).

[allisonrose]

I did try an Anita bra when ds1 was still pretty young but it wasn't comfortable. I ended up selling it but losing money on it, of course.

I ended up ordering a grabbag from Breakoutbras.com. $35 for two nursing bras is a good deal and even if only one works out, I'll still be okay with the price tag.

[allisonrose]

I am so excited! I got my shipping info from Breakout Bras and will be getting a Bravado Allure and a Hotmilk bra. I've been curious about the Hotmilk bras. I'd say the grab bag was very much worth $35!

[allisonrose]

And neither one is what I hoped for. The Bravado was too big in the cups (it's a f/g cup). The Hotmilk doesn't have the support I'd hoped for. I definitely need to sell the Bravado and think about whether the Hotmilk can work out somewhat. I hate bras.

[dejagerw]

TBH I would not go by what the measured you at Motherhood Maternity. When I measured myself I was a 38F, but the lady there measured me and told me I was a 36C or D? She gave me some bras to try in this size. I knew she was crazy and they wouldn't fit, but I tried them on and they were ridiculously small. Like, no way were they even close to fitting. I hate buying bras too. It's so trial and error IMO. Even when I find a bra that I think fits, I often end up changing my mind after several days of wearing it. Hope you end up finding something!! I think Bravado has an ok return policy. Maybe you can trade it in for one in a smaller cup size, or if you've already washed it, maybe try throwing it in the dryer.

[akind1]

I am not sure where all of you are, but I was SHOCKED to find out that a couple of our local hospitals have lactation shops (the one I delivered at doesn't, which is why I didn't know). I went there to be measured, and while I did have to correct her measuring (when she first measured me, she was going from the 1 on the the tape instead of the 0,and since the bra I was wearing was obviously too big in both cup and band size I knew the number she was getting wasn't right), we did get it right. Very surprisingly I went from a 42G (which is what I was while nursing my first, who I was still nursing when I got pregnant with my second, current nursling) to a 40/42 DD. Tried on bras to be VERY sure (I didn't buy anything there; I always wait and buy online).

I love my Bravado Bliss bra, I found it very supportive for a soft cup. However, because BuyBuyBaby had all their Medela bras 40% off, I am trying one of their underwire bras, and I like it, and it is surprisingly comfortable.

I bought an Anita while nursing my first, and IME they aren't well made at all. I think I might have washed it once or twice and it lost a hook in the back. for the money, that was very disappointing.

[allisonrose]

Originally Posted by dejagerw 

TBH I would not go by what the measured you at Motherhood Maternity. When I measured myself I was a 38F, but the lady there measured me and told me I was a 36C or D? She gave me some bras to try in this size. I knew she was crazy and they wouldn't fit, but I tried them on and they were ridiculously small. Like, no way were they even close to fitting.

The salesgirl did give me some bras to try on. One fit okay and that was a 38E (DD) hooked on the second set of hooks rather than the first. So I think for Motherhood Maternity, she got my size right. But it is true (and completely) frustrating that sizes can vary across manufactorers. 
 

Originally Posted by akind1 

I am not sure where all of you are, but I was SHOCKED to find out that a couple of our local hospitals have lactation shops (the one I delivered at doesn't, which is why I didn't know). I went there to be measured, and while I did have to correct her measuring (when she first measured me, she was going from the 1 on the the tape instead of the 0,and since the bra I was wearing was obviously too big in both cup and band size I knew the number she was getting wasn't right), we did get it right. Very surprisingly I went from a 42G (which is what I was while nursing my first, who I was still nursing when I got pregnant with my second, current nursling) to a 40/42 DD. Tried on bras to be VERY sure (I didn't buy anything there; I always wait and buy online).

I love my Bravado Bliss bra, I found it very supportive for a soft cup. However, because BuyBuyBaby had all their Medela bras 40% off, I am trying one of their underwire bras, and I like it, and it is surprisingly comfortable.

I bought an Anita while nursing my first, and IME they aren't well made at all. I think I might have washed it once or twice and it lost a hook in the back. for the money, that was very disappointing.

I pretty recently moved. So I barely even know where the hospitals are. I went to a LLL meeting and the ladies didn't have any great insights on where to purchase nursing bras.

I've been wearing two Medela underwires for over a year. They are good bras but I don't like their straps. The wide part ends up in front of my shoulder and then I had to be careful about the necklines of everything I wear to accomodate those bras.