Maternity/Nursing Bra Help! « Back to Group Discussions

[eminvc]

For the experienced mamas out there, I could use some help on maternity/nursing bras. I have outgrown my regular bras (duh) and am currently measuring at the same band size but two cup sizes bigger. So I got two nursing bras as these seem to be synonymous w/ maternity bras. But I have some questions before I buy more:

I'm currently 21.5 weeks. I assume I may grow a little more. I have read that I should buy nursing bras in my 8th or 9th month, so was thinking of buying 2-3 more at that time. Will the bras I bought now fit me at some point in my nursing era?

I guess what I'm asking is, once the babies are born and I'm nursing, will my cup size change again? Up or down? After you BF a few months, do they return to a more normal size, or do they stay as big as during pregnancy?

One friend recommended not buying any nursing bras until my milk comes in, but I don't see myself running out with twin newborns or having the brainpower to buy bras online a week or so after birth!

Just wondering what your experiences were in terms of cup/band size changing throughout the process.

Also, any recommendations as to brands would be helpful...it seems Bravado and Medela are popular, but I also seem to only be able to find these online, and I'm a little hesitant about ordering bras online without being able to try them on.

I do not have any friends who have BF'd, much less with twins, so I appreciate the help!

[odinsmama]

You can expect your cup size to change during the nursing journey.
Most of us find a few weeks or months of being very large and then, as the milk supply gets used to the demand, things may calm down and you may get smaller.
So I'd say, yes, you'll be able to use the ones you have now again at some point.
If you buy more at 8 months they may work for the early months or they may be too small, there's really no way of knowing ahead of time.

Just make sure you're not wearing bras that are too tight! Lots of mamas end up with plugged ducts or mastitis from too-tight bras.

[kellybeth]

i got some lamaze nursing bras on sale for $5, and they fit wonderfully.. i snagged one white and one black and they are both larges, with boob room to grow and still fit great.

[mama3blessings]

I have the nursing tanks and really love them. There is enough room to grow as well. I used them while nursing my dd and am still wearing them now that I'm pregnant with number 4. I have never been a huge fan of the nursing bras as I don't like the belly showing while I nurse. I would just wear the nursing tank and a t-shirt and never had to cover baby with blanket to nurse either.

[typebug]

This is great info. Thanks eminvc for posting your question. 

Anyone had advice on sports bras? I have a few moving comfort brand that I adore but they are hard to get on now. I figure I should go up a size at this point. The band under the bust is going to get tighter soon though so I wonder about getting styles that fasten in the back rather than pull over the head so I can put in a bra back extender later? 

[LadyCatherine185]

In my experience, your cup size will go up once your milk comes in, and then go down a little but will still be bigger than it was while pregnant. My cup size didn't go back to pre-pregnancy until I was no longer nursing (and that was at almost 2 yo for both boys).

My suggestion- get a couple nursing tanks or sports bras a size up from what they are now to use in the first couple weeks PP. Then if you decide to buy a nursing bra, you will know what size you need. I personally have never liked nursing bras, I just get a regular bra that has some stretch to it and not a ton of padding and lift it up when nursing.. When I am at home I don't even wear a real bra, I wear either a shelf-cami or sports bra

[loveandgarbage]

I go up two cup sizes when my milk first comes in. I find I need three stages of sizes during the nursing process-- newborn, baby, toddler. Nursing tanks just don't give me enough support but I really like them. I find that my boobs are heavy and hurt and need a true bra. I even shower with a bra the first couple of months!

As for sports bras, I just bought a size large and that worked for me.

[LadyCatherine185]

Originally Posted by loveandgarbage 

I go up two cup sizes when my milk first comes in. I find I need three stages of sizes during the nursing process-- newborn, baby, toddler.

^^yes to this!

[HouseofPeace]

Originally Posted by loveandgarbage 

I go up two cup sizes when my milk first comes in. I find I need three stages of sizes during the nursing process-- newborn, baby, toddler. Nursing tanks just don't give me enough support but I really like them. I find that my boobs are heavy and hurt and need a true bra. I even shower with a bra the first couple of months!

As for sports bras, I just bought a size large and that worked for me.

This is right on- my breasts are still growing, then when my milk comes in i'm up 2 sizes.  I bought a giant, heavy duty bra nursing bra for that first stretch (this is my 5th, and i wash and store bras well as i know how important they are to my comfort and especially to feeling comfortable and attractive), then have a mix of nursing and regular bras that i can pull down over my shoulder.  I can't second the "heavy and hurt and need a true bra" enough- sometimes i wonder if the baby will ever catch up with the milk supply....

somewhere along the way i got fed up w/ nursing bras as they weren't supportive or the right size (narrow ribs)- so if you can find the right size and a good fit for support, great.  but if not, using regular bras and combos of tank tops/sweaters/shirts has worked for me for many moons of nursing.  Newborn size lasts only around 4 months, then i stabilize until about a year, then i'm down again to toddler size (or pregnant :)

[loveandgarbage]

HouseofPeace, I think you posted a good link on another thread for bras with small band sizes? Maybe it was someone else. I'm usually a 30C and might go up to a 32 during the last part of pregnancy/first part of nursing. In the past I made do with size 36 to get a big enough cup size (G? haha), but the bras always rode up in back and didn't give the best support. This time around I've told myself I can splurge on two nursing bras that are well-fit. I'm hoping to find some that are $60 or under and carry large cup sizes with my small band size. The two 30C bras I have right now were almost $100 each but they are WONDERFUL and I will keep them forever if I can.

[HouseofPeace]

http://www.decentexposures.com/

this was what i suggested- it's actually one i'm thinking about ordering from soon.  where did you get your 30C bras?  i'm up to a 32G right now, and have a few bras, but i don't know how much longer they'll last.....

[loveandgarbage]

Just noticed your post! I'll def check out that site. The non-nursing bras I have are from Marie Jo L'Adventure. They're underwire, which I'm not crazy about, but they support me well. I measured myself the other day and I'm up to a 30F. My belly is still kind of low, but once I fill out more I'm sure I'll go up to a 32.

[MnJ3]

I normally wear a 40 DDD but now a 42 feels so much more comfortable but having trouble finding my cup size which a F was way too small never been this size not even with other 2 boys....Motherhood Maternity said I would have to go to a speciality store but I'm gonna have to look online...Can someone give me some websites to some who may carry the bigger breasted brs in need of ASAP....Thanks for your help

[HouseofPeace]

i'll repost this in response-

they custom make all sizes

http://www.decentexposures.com/unbra.shtml

[typebug]

I finally reached my breaking point with all my bras today and put on the maternity bra that has about a dozen hooks in the back and straps that could haul a piano. It's like needing a can opener and having someone hand me the jaws of life instead. I'm making matronly the new sexy, just you wait. 

[kellybeth]

Originally Posted by typebug 

I finally reached my breaking point with all my bras today and put on the maternity bra that has about a dozen hooks in the back and straps that could haul a piano. It's like needing a can opener and having someone hand me the jaws of life instead. I'm making matronly the new sexy, just you wait. 

[HouseofPeace]

Originally Posted by typebug 

I finally reached my breaking point with all my bras today and put on the maternity bra that has about a dozen hooks in the back and straps that could haul a piano. It's like needing a can opener and having someone hand me the jaws of life instead. I'm making matronly the new sexy, just you wait. 

oh yeah!!!

someone yesterday asked if it was twins or if i was extra large this pregnancy, and my husband was like "no way!  she's right on track and looks great!" and later we laughed that 20-23 lbs (it depends on when i weight myself) sounds like a lot, but i've gained about 10lbs of it in my breasts!!!  love having an observant and complimentary man on hand to encourage me when i'm feeling rather large and lumpy!

[lovelylittle]

This is really helpful information everyone, thank you! I started out 34A pre-pregnancy and now I'm on the very last hooks of all my bras and the elastic is getting stretched out. I think it's time to get some new bras... Ha! I definitely don't want to spend too much on bras that won't fit later on so it's good to know that breast size goes down a bit after a while of nursing.

[eminvc]

Thanks for all the help, everyone! I wound up getting 2 maternity/nursing bras that I LOVE--wound up getting Pea in the Pod brand @ Destination Maternity, they were pricey but feel like I'm resting my boobs on the softest, most heavenly pillows ever so it was worth it. I realize now I may have to buy more later on so will just wait and see what happens.
 

[typebug]

If anyone else is having a meltdown when they put on the maternity bras here's a little resource for a little va-va-voom in the ol maternity bra drawer http://shop.hotmilklingerie.com.