Undergarments

reb562

I'm at a loss with undergarments.  Do you get measured for new bras? Do you just buy a bigger band or cup? How many should one buy? Do you start buying the ones that you can breast feed already? help!  Thanks in advance.

kristin7701

For better or worse, my breasts have never grown much during PG. if yours have, I'd buy new bras on an as needed basis and I'd buy cheaper ones because you'll probably keep growing. I wouldn't buy any nursing bras other than maybe a couple soft cup ones because you have no idea how large you'll be once your milk comes in.

Mc_Newlywed

I changed bra sizes 3 times during my first pregnancy and 2 times this one.  (all before my milk came in).  So I say go ahead and get something supportive and comfortable for now.  They also sell extenders so if you only need to go up a band size you could try these instead of a whole new bra.  

I would wait until a couple of weeks before your due date (or you could buy online after you're home from the hospital) to get measured for a nursing bra.  

I agree though that you'll want a couple of soft cup bras for the hospital and lounging around the house those first few days when your milk comes in. 

newenglander71

I am a ftm so no help with nursing bras, but found that the bra extenders were really helpful for a while. So even though not a perfect fit with the extenders, it helped not to have to buy too many bras in all sorts of sizes. 

3rdat40

I definitely agree with previous posters that you should buy bras on an as-needed basis. With my first two pregnancies, I never needed new bras, just moved down a couple of hooks. After the birth, I found that I went up TWO cup sizes a few days post partum when my milk was first coming in, but then after my body adjusted to nursing I was only a cup size bigger, and gradually went back down to my regular size even though I was still nursing for a full year. So, don't go out and buy a lot of anything now. Just buy bras when you really need one and buy it for the current size you need, because everyone has different breasts and you just never know!

InspectorSpacetime

I am a total bra nerd and under normal circumstances get fitted a few times a year and buy 'the good stuff,' but my first pregnancy was such a freakshow from the bra cup size perspective that I'm not worrying about it this time - I'm just sticking with some stretchy sports bras for as long as possible.

Won't be nursing this time after a terrible experience before, but I found that the nursing bras I'd bought during my pregnancy didn't fit by the time I needed them - it's better to buy as you go along.  eBay has some great deals.

MainelyFoolish

I'll echo the recommendation for bra band extenders if you don't need a new cup size. My cup size hasn't gone up at all (and it didn't last pregnancy, either) but my band size has increased, so the extenders have been a wonderful, economical solution.

JKohio

MainelyFoolish:

I'll echo the recommendation for bra band extenders if you don't need a new cup size. My cup size hasn't gone up at all (and it didn't last pregnancy, either) but my band size has increased, so the extenders have been a wonderful, economical solution.

And, I'm the opposite. My band size has stayed the same and so far I've increased 2 cup sizes (I'm about 26wks now). My last pregnancy, I did the same. We'll see if my cup size goes up anymore this time around. As for nursing bras, I bought 2 stretchy type cheap ones from Walmart (in the size I was about 2/3 through pregnancy) and those did the trick.

christinasullie37

I have what one would call 'rocks in socks' from dramatic weighloss.  So far I haven't had to buy new bras becuase I am actually filling out the old ones properly. I did find that the band is getting too tight so I went to JoAnn Fabrics and bought some bra extenders.  I have been fortunate enough to have change cup sizes yet but I am finguring soon I will have to.  I would hold off until just before delivery to buy the nursing bras.