when to buy nursing bras

[momof2girls1boy]

ok so here's the deal. a few months ago i bought some new bras b/c obviously i grew out of mine so now i seem to have grown out of them again.i'm almost sure i'm a 34dd b/c a 36 is too big around and rises up in the back,however i don't want to spend a lot of money on regular bras but i don't think walmart or target has my size(most dd start at 36) so do you guys think it's too early to buy nursing bras? i'd rather spend money on those anyway,kwim? btw,i am 30 weeks. somebody give me some advice quick my boobs are killing me wearing these bras that are too tight!!!
theresa

[wombatclay]

Hmmmm....my "solution" was to buy Maternity Tank Tops in a large size (with the thin straps and the built in shelf bra) and then wear those instead of bras during the third trimester and for nursing. Since my breast size was changing so quickly, and would even change during the course of the day due to swelling, this worked the best since the shelf bra provided support but didn't get unbearably "tight" by evening.

Then for the early weeks of nursing I wore these tanks and just had the straps a bit loose so I could pull a side down over my breast and nurse...which was nice since it left my belly covered and provided a BIG space for a towel or cloth dipe since I leaked a lot. I found that a maternity tank top combined with a tshirt or large button up shirt was the perfect blend of "modesty" (though honestly I was never body shy and looooved NIP) and easy access...even when wearing dd in a sling or wrap.

[momof2girls1boy]

i thought about that but i don't feel like i get enough support from the tanks plus i always feel like moboobs are going to fall out.btw, i also looove nip and sometimes i secretly wish that somebody would say something to me so i can read them the riot act,but that's the hostile Lynn girl in me!

[wombatclay]

In that case...if you hurt, I think it would be worth buying some well fitting bras! Even if you find later on they're not exactly the right fit for long term nursing it would probably be worth the comfort now, you know?

Is it the cup size that's causing a problem? Or is it the straps/chest? You mentioned the 36 is too big around but the 34 is too tight...if it's the cups, maybe a sports bra or front closure style would help since those have a lot of coverage but don't really have "cups", or if the chest is tight maybe one of those extenders?

I went from 34 b/c cup to a 42ddd and then back down to a 36dd with my first...so far I'm still comfy in the dd cup but the 36 chest is getting a little tight (I've moved back into those oh so comfy tank tops under my shirts ). I'm guessing I'll probably havea week or so of "va va voom!" in the ddd department and then be back to where I am now. At least, that's what I'm hoping. Bra shopping rates just behind the evils of blue jean shopping in my book!

ETA- your NIP comment made me laugh...I live in an uber crunchy town and always sort of hoped someone would make an issue of NIP so I could go all righteous on them. But no one does. I'm nursing a 2 year old and no one says anything...mostly because they're all nursing their 4yos. Even my OB nurses her 2yo in the office between clients.

[momof2girls1boy]

i'm wearing a nursing tank right now and i'm loving it, maybe i'll give them another try!
sometimes when we were eating out i would nurse her even if she wasn't asking just hoping someone would say something but they never did!oh well maybe this time

[scrappingmom]

there are also those liesure bras i think they are called??? its been a while since i looked
I've had it with bras! lol i went from a 34/36d/dd beore my first racing thru sizes to God only knows what cause nothing ever fit right.. to a 38LL well thats the closest to fitting i found, to big around and cups a lil small but..oh well...back down to a 38H/I befoe getting preg with #4 back up to who knows what...... I tried makingm y own but was unseuccessful

momof2girls1boy - where in maine are you? msg me,always cool to find a mainer around... theres alot of us due june/july up here!!!!

[awallrising]

I ran into the same problem a while back. My friend suggested getting all nursing bras as I grew. She regretted not getting them while PG & then had to buy more nursing bras & had no use for the other bras (she's on a super tight budget though). Unfortunately, no nursing bras I found seemed to do the trick so I just bought 2 well-fitting "regular" bras & 1 night nursing bra (it's super light weight & I wear it at night & sometimes around the house). If I never wear them again, that's ok. You have got to be comfortable & get the right support. An uncomfortable bra can ruin my day. If you're worried about wasting money, just buy 1 bra to tide you over until you find the right nursing bras.

I was a 38C when I started out, then crept up to a 40D. Eek! Am I going to get as huge as some of you Moms?? What size will I get to be prepared?? It's not like I'm going to shop the day my milk comes in. I've been looking into Bravada or Medela bras which look super comfy. Maybe I'll try a nursing tank too.

So many decisions.....nursing bras, the best car seat, the best CDs, the best disposable. No wonder I'm :

[willoLevin]

As a lady with an ample bosom (36 D) that tends to be more sensitive to pain than many who also had low milk supply issues nursing her first child...

I was advised that it is VERY IMPORTANT to wear a well-fitting nursing bra, especially during the early stages of nursing. Later, if your supply is good and you aren't prone to clogged ducts, then you can safely try pulling aside the cups on other types of bras. (Advice from an IBCLC.)

I pray that you have no breastfeeding problems! They stink! But I do like to share this info with new moms, just in case...

I love this particular web store for nursing bras.I've never seen as much selection elsewhere, and they ship for $1 and encourage you to order lots and return most to get a good fit:
www.birthandbaby.com

Last time, I maxed out at a 38 G. Crazy big! I'm about a 36 E right now... Nursing bras allow much more room for cup size expansion/contraction than typical fashion bras, so you don't have to buy quite as many as it sounds like. Whew!

Blue Canoe (brand) "Jane's Bra" (plus size cup) and "Yoga Bra" styles work for me as backup bras (for those super-sensitive days) and also as sleep bras. Since I want to encourage you to shop really, really carefully for an excellent fit in a nursing bra, I offer these as ideas to keep you from being forced to go painfully braless in the meantime. (It would be painful for me. Some women seem to do fine without a bra. Baffles me. )

Looks like Birth & Baby carries some Blue Canoe products, too, though I got mine elsewhere. Also, I just found a new nursing bra (Melinda G brand) that I hope will be my "comfy days" bra for this time, because I had latex allergy reactions to my Bravado double+, and they weren't really supportive enough for me anyway. If you like that idea but want a touch more support, look at the Melinda G:
http://www.birthandbabyorders.com/index.php?c=53

--willo

[sbandjsmom]

I'm a big fan of http://www.breakoutbras.com

They have an excellent selection, and good sizing advice via email. It's usually recommended that if you buy something during pregnancy you go with something forgiving -- something that accommodates numerous band sizes and cup sizes -- since your rib cage will contract when your internal organs return to their normal places, and your breasts will get larger when milk comes in. I bought a few bravado bras through them.

If you want something more structured, then 2 or so weeks pp you can measure, and then buy something once your size has settled down.

hth

-Michelle