Bra Help

nolanova85

I'll be 21 weeks tomorrow and am just now getting to a point where I need new bras.  I was a 34DD pre-pregnancy.  

My first question - should I buy new normal bras?  Or just go straight to nursing bras?

And then, either way - any clue how much bigger I should go?  I realize every woman and every body is different, but just wondering what has worked for all of you.  This may be more geared towards STM+ moms, but I'd be interested in what you other FTMs are doing as well.

Thanks!!

PacoCat33

Great question! I don't know the answer to this at all, but am intrigued to see the responses. One other question to go with this... when did you buy nursing bras? After the baby arrived? Grabbed a few sizes and crossed fingers for when LO arrived? 

kim1730

One thing that helped me a lot last pregnancy was bra extenders.  Assuming you have the correct cup size of course.  The bra extender took a lot of the pressure off of my rib cage when it fit too tight.

aeseager

I bought two nursing bras. I figured I needed new bras, so I can use these for as long as they fit. I like that they don't have wires. The wires we hurting my achy boobs. If these last me to December great, if not then I will just buy new ones.

AllTheTeaInChina

Last time I went from a 34C to a 36B. My boobs didn't really get bigger but my rib cage did. I bought a couple VS cotton tshirt bras, nothing fancy.

Towards the end of my pregnancy I bought a couple nursing sleep bras. They are kinda like sports bras that cross in front, no underwire. You'll want to stay away from underwire bras after you deliver. I pretty much lived in nursing camis for the year after DD was born.

kim1730

bvsbabymomma said:

One thing that helped me a lot last pregnancy was bra extenders.  Assuming you have the correct cup size of course.  The bra extender took a lot of the pressure off of my rib cage when it fit too tight.

Where do you get these? My cup size is fine but they're too tight.

I'm pretty sure most department stores carry them but I ordered them from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Maidenform-Womens-Spacing-Extender-Multi/dp/B0083QLPY8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1406655935&sr=8-2&keywords=bra+extender

There's extenders for 3 hooks bras as well

mcr957

bvsbabymomma said:

One thing that helped me a lot last pregnancy was bra extenders.  Assuming you have the correct cup size of course.  The bra extender took a lot of the pressure off of my rib cage when it fit too tight.

Where do you get these? My cup size is fine but they're too tight.

Walmart sells them in a 3 pack (white, nude, and black) for under 6 bucks online. You can also find them at Target. 

kimba1976

I went from a 34 barely B to a full 36DD with my daughter. I did get a little bigger after she was born, but not much. I bought nursing bras when I had to go up in size during the pregnancy because: (a) no one knows whether they are nursing bras or not, so if you never actually nurse in them, who cares, and (b) after 6 months of nursing, my boobs began to shrink a little, so I needed slightly smaller nursing bras, which I had because that's what I wore while pregnant. 

I found this bra works really well: https://www.bravadodesigns.com/shop/the-body-silk-seamless-nursing-bra (also available on Amazon). One bra will actually cover several sizes and it's super comfortable and very easy to wash. I pretty much live in my beige one.

mlee116

I agree with PP's in that I'd wait to get regular nursing bras until after the birth.  I got a couple and they were pretty much useless by the time I had DS because my boobs were ginormous.  However, I did get some nursing sports bras from Motherhood Maternity while I was still pregnant and I was able to wear them just fine both before and after baby because they were nice and stretchy.

nolanova85

thanks for all the advice, ladies!

nolanova85

@Halsing - this has happened to me in my non-pregnant life.  All you ever hear is "Get measured, get measured!  You're likely wearing the wrong size!"  So I went to VS, got measured (I don't remember what, but it was very different from what I actually wear from them), and sure enough - the size they suggested was a joke.  So then I put on a 34DD in the bra style I normally wear and sure enough - the sales ladies agreed that it was the correct fit.  So I always take the measuring thing with a grain of salt...

Looks like I'll be stopping by VS soon to get a couple non-nursing bras.  Hopefully 2 neutrally colored ones will get me by.  I also love VS sports bras with underwire, but they're only avail online, so I'll probably be grabbing one of those too.  

I wouldn't have thought about waiting until the milk comes in to determine nursing bra size, so I really appreciate the feedback.  I suppose I won't really need nursing bras in those first few weeks of maternity leave anyway - I likely won't be leaving the house very much with a newborn in the middle of December.

amedbery

I am now rocking a 36 G (wtf??) and my new best friend is le mystere sports bras with underwire. I sleep in a bra and these are soft enough for that, but still have plenty of support for my ginormous boobs. Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00E3S0R12/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr0_2?qid=1406690654&sr=8-2-fkmr0&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70

weezy29

I started out as a 32 DD/34 D and have now moved on to a 36 E. I went with a nursing bra because it was more comfortable and I have found that most offer a little stretch that will grow with you.

When my milk comes in, I expect them to be even bigger but for me, they seem to settle at a set size, within a month or so of nursing.

Beevol

If the cups still fit, get a bra extender (I've seen them with the notions at JoAnn's and Hancock Fabrics). I also went up a band size with both pregnancies (and then back down after) from a 34 to 36. Wait to buy nursing bras until after the baby is born - your size will change (and while your nursing it will change throughout the day!). 

In the meantime, I recommend a bra extender, sports bras (the kind that you would never actually do anything sporty in) or bras that have less structure (no underwire, stretchy, etc). 

kimba1976

pooky08 said:

@kimba1976‌ I got the bra you recommended a few days ago. I'm not sure how quite to use it, especially what the adaptor kit is for, so I set it aside with plans to figure it out later. Well yesterday I decided I couldn't take mine anymore, and said the hell with it, I'm wearing the new one even if I'm not wearing it correctly. It is heavenly. I didn't know a bra without wires could be so comfortable on boobs this huge. And there is plenty of room to grow! The label on the bra even recommends wearing them as maternity bras once your regular bra feels too snug. THANK YOU, kimba! They're cheaper than what I usually buy and come in multiple colors. I'll be buying more knowing I should be able to fit in this size for the 20 weeks I still have to go. Once milk comes in is another story, but the end of December is a long time away and I prefer to be comfortable.

@pooky08 - I'm so glad to hear that!! It's amazing how life changing a comfortable bra can be!

nolanova85

thanks for the sports bra rec, @pooky08 !!  I usually wear a VS underwire one but like my normal bras, it's too small now.

2JEL

Just want to chime in with another vote for Bravado.  I was a 30/32E prior to pregnancy and am now another size up and I slept in a variety of uncomfortable sports bras before discovering Bravado on Amazon, soooo much happier.

hzander2013

I went from a 34DD and now at 20 weeks am already to a 36F/36DDD. I highly recommend bra extenders, especially on the Lulu Lemon sports bras I have (Ta-Ta Tamers is the style). Also I was able to find sexy/lacey unlined underwire bras for reasonably cheap at Kohls, great for those days you feel in a slump. The only VS bras I've had luck with are the Body by Victoria full coverage bras which come in 36DDD. Not spilling over the top yet no matter how much the SO would enjoy that Best of luck in your search!

sk3510

Personal experience, I freaking love nursing bras now! I'm almost 21 weeks and I've gone up a solid 2 or 3 cup sizes, and they give you flexibility to grow hence saving some cash. I love the ones from target! I figure once I'm not sharing my body anymore I'll treat myself to normal bras that fit again, but for now... I love the comfort of nursing bras.

ksalley

pooky08 said:

I haven't been able to go sans bra since I was maybe 12 years old. I can't even imagine the freedom of being able to wear one of those cute little tank tops in the summer. Most of the ones in my size (well, my pre-preggo size) if they had one of those built in bra thingies would maybe cover the top half of my boobs and look ridiculous.

Now? Hubby and I were at the gym this week doing a rowing exercise with weighted plates, and I kept hitting my boobs every time I would bring the plate up!

My current sports bra is this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001T6EIGQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1407500065&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40

It's underwire but still comfortable right now.

I have this one without wires - not as comfy and gives you a bit of cone boob, but it's not bad and relatively inexpensive:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001ELL6BQ

I seriously love Amazon.

I have the exact same Wacoal sports bras. Love them! They are super comfy!

Glad to read all the bra advice here! I will definitely have to check out the nursing bras on Amazon! Pre pregnancy I was a 34H, so I hate to see what these babies do when my milk comes in!