Nursing bras???

aufachse405 · 08-08-2008, 08:55 PM

Im trying to get my hospital bag in order, and everything Ive read says to take a nursing bra. So.....how do you know what size to get? Do I get the size Im wearing now, or do I get one a cup size bigger for when the milk comes in? Any opinions or thoughts on this?

Azlee · 08-08-2008, 09:00 PM

you are supposed to buy the same size that you wore pre-pg. i also recommend getting those sleep nursing bras which make it really convenient and comfy. so if you wear a M tee you would buy a M sleep bra

aufachse405 · 08-08-2008, 09:05 PM

Ughhh Im so worried about buying the same size I work pre-pregnancy because I grew out of it in my 1st trimester! Im worried to waste the money on a bra that won't fit right.

justagirlgirlgirl · 08-08-2008, 09:10 PM

Everyone I've talked to said that it is really helpful to get fitted for a bra around 37-38 weeks. I was just at a local store that sells several brands, and she said that the size charts/measurements can vary a lot by brand, so they measure you and then you might need a different size in each brand you want.

She also recommended just buying one or two right away, and then waiting until the milk comes in to get re-fitted after the baby comes.

Sister66 · 08-08-2008, 09:48 PM

Personally, I would get 1 or 2 ($12?, not the super cheap ones) from Walmart in a size that fits well on the middle set of hooks right now. Most of the cups are at least a little stretchy so you don't have to worry as much about cup size as you do the band size. It really depends on your body what will fit while you are in the hospital and when your milk comes in (which doesn't usually happen until a few days to a week later). When your milk comes in, if you don't get engorged, then would be the time to buy a more fitted bra. Of course, you have to remember that you will also lose weight when the baby is born and a bra bought right now, might not fit for very long, depending on how much you lose and when.

I know you are considering an induction but if you end up with a c-sec, there is usually a good amount of fluid retention afterwards. I don't know if it's the same with a vag birth but they really load you up with fluids witha c-sec.

SparklingGemini · 08-08-2008, 09:52 PM

Wait until after your baby is born, your milk comes in and your engorgement is relieved. That will give you the truest measurement that you will need. If you get your bra prior to that it may not fit properly.

You won't need a nursing bra in the hospital, most likely. You'll be in your gown, or some comfy clothes or jammies. For the trip home you can put on your regular bra and then when you get back home, you can just put your comfy clothes back on!

The last thing I wanted postpartum is to have a confining bra on. I wanted to nurse my baby, sleep and relax in loose, baggy comfortable clothes.

A great thing to try is a nursing tank. Target has some and so does Motherhood.

And IMO, I don't get a the whole sleep bra thing. Unless you regularly sleep with a bra on, why would you want to do it now, when you're nursing? I just use a lot of two piece pajamas and pull my top up for my DD to nurse.

Sister66 · 08-08-2008, 09:56 PM

I wear a bra almost all the time when I am nursing and when I am not, anytime I am not sleeping. I do NOT like wet clothes and for the first few months, I leak anytime I am not wearing one. I bought a few nursing tanks from Target when I was pregnant with DD and worse those when I was at home in place of a shirt. I am one of those people that prefers not to go braless even when not pregnant so I did wear them in the hospital as well. I don't have huge breasts (38DD non preg) but I need the support.

justagirlgirlgirl · 08-08-2008, 09:58 PM

Rhiann - I've heard that a lack of support is very uncomfortable - was that not the case for you? I've had several people say that they stayed in bras 24hrs/day for the support.

I'm just curious because I was already a well-endowed woman, so I'm afraid that I will be in pain or very uncomfortable.

Brienicole · 08-08-2008, 10:07 PM

Hey evyn~ heres my advice.

if you can go to a specialty bra store ( not like a victorias secret) they will fit you properly for a bra. they are trained in nursing and will give you the right size taking engorgement into consideration! It was the best thing I did. oh and I didn't get the under-wire one! normally I prefer under-wire just not while nursing! lol it was pricer than say a walmart one. but I dont really like those and the 35 bucks was SOOOO worth it. in fact im wearing now! (its got a little room but its comfy!)

and yes you will want one at the hospital and may even sleep in one. You will leak and I slept in one so I could have my pad in there. otherwise you wake up in a puddle with your shirt or nighty stuck to your nipple..NOT FUN..lol and I got so engorged I needed the support 24/7! Rhiann was lucky she didn't need one.. and later on I didn't but definitely at the beginning! so ya bring the bra pads with you. ( hint: I found the contoured ones were most comfortable and didn't show through as much)

anyhow.. yay its so exciting your packing your bag already!! yay.. and let us know what you decide!

SparklingGemini · 08-08-2008, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brienicole
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

if you can go to a specialty bra store ( not like a victorias secret) they will fit you properly for a bra. they are trained in nursing and will give you the right size taking engorgement into consideration!

This is exactly what I did. And my bra turned out to be too big!!! This is why I suggest to people to wait.

We just had a conversation about this at my last LLL meeting and the majority of the moms who were fitted prior to the birth of their baby and before their engorgement went down all had bras that were too big.

As for the leaking at night and wearing a bra for support, I DID leak and still didn't sleep with a bra on. For one thing, it was hard to undo my bra in the middle of the night to feed my DD and for another, it was just TOO confining. And I am NOT small busted but still didn't want to be constricted by a bra the few days after birth, support or no.

Evyn~If you DO decide to get a bra before hand do yourself a favor and try a cheapie one in case it doesn't fit properly. Save your big $$$ bra purchase until your breasts have "settled."

MomOf4 · 08-09-2008, 12:08 AM

I was going to suggest a few things that others have already said. Try a sleep nursing bra, they are comfy and give you a lot of room OR try a nursing tank.

Azlee · 08-09-2008, 12:19 AM

i wear sleeping bras for a couple of reasons....for one, there is no buckles to undo, you just pull down. also, i dont wear a bra for sleeping either but if i dont wear some pads i wake up soaking wet. and i def know because i just home from the hospital wed! also in terms of size, since the only go xs, s, m, l ,xl, it would be pretty hard to get a size that wouldnt work. its more about under the bust then anything. ive been wearing them non stop for the past 5 days and sooo much easier than snapping those damn buttons on the hospital robes. i def wouldnt wait. they are about $14 from motherhood so nothing that breaks the bank.

danibell · 08-09-2008, 12:29 AM

Rhiann I gotta disagree with not needing a bra too, I'm a 40G cup before pre-preg, going braless just isn't an option for me
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Not saying it's not for everyone tho, but I NEED the support. I can't sleep in one right now because it rubs at night and I get a rash under my breasts, but when nursing I do sleep in one, I have one on 24/7 except for showering. I have to buy expensive ones too, they don't have my size anywhere cheap.

So I buy one very good one towards the end of my pregnancy, so that it fits on the loosest hook so I can tighten it as I shrink after baby is born. Then I buy a couple more a few weeks later when I'm closer to "normal" size
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

aufachse405 · 08-09-2008, 12:55 AM

Where would you guys reccomend me getting a fitting?? There is no Motherhood store here..just Victorias Secret and like...JC Penneys *lol*