Babies: 0 - 3 Months

Nursing Bras

Hi Ladies,

First off.... congratulations on your little ones. I hope everyone is settling in well at home.

I'm a June 2013 FTM seeking a little advice so I hope you don't mind me board crashing. I have been getting a lot of conflicting advice on when I should buy a nursing bra and what size to buy. Some people say buy them before the baby arrives and others say buy them after. Some say get measured at 7/8mths and buy that size while others say buy a cup size bigger.

I know you ladies are now the expert on this...What would you suggest? When to buy and what size? Also if you have any suggestions on the best kind to buy I'd love to hear that too.

Best wishes to you all.

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Re: Nursing Bras

  • I really like the sleeping nursing tanks they sell at target. They really hold everything toghether at night. They come in s,m,l and I just bought my prep reg tank top size.
  • Congrats on your impending LO. I got the Bravado Designs body silk nursing bra. It is rather pricey $50 retail or around $45 on Amazon, but in my opinion well worth it. I'd tried a few in store at various places and wasn't happy with the fit and support of the cheaper ones. The sizing chart for theirs is pretty much right on par and it came small, medium and large so there was a lot of room for stretching when my milk came in. I bought one beforehand to make sure I liked it. After having the baby and knowing I liked it and the size was right I ordered another. It's comfortable enough for me to sleep in too. I liked having it right away in the hospital for easy BF, especially with doctors, nurses and visitors arriving at all hours. GL

    Edit: I feel like I should include I went from a size B pre pregnancy to a DD at the end of my pregnancy which is why I think a lot of the more inexpensive ones felt like they didn't have enough support. If you didn't get that big though, I'd try a cheaper one first.

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  • I've been wearing the Gillian & O'Malley ones from target. The comfort nursing sleep bra is awesome. https://www.target.com/p/gilligan-o-malley-women-s-comfort-nursing-bra-assorted-colors-patterns/-/A-13643224#prodSlot=large_1_2

    Its unlined, but has an amazing amount of support and keeps everything strapped in really well. Plus it's really REALLY easy to fold down for nursing, which the underwire ones aren't all that much. I bought one for sleeping but would wear them all day if I had more. 

    As far as sizing, it's tough to say. I went from a 32a pre-pregnancy to a 36D now that I'm nursing.  A friend who was a 34B went up to the same size, so it's really different for everyone. I bought a few sizes, then once my milk came in, tried them on and returned what didn't fit. Obviously put one of those leak pads on to try them on, though. 

    Congrats on you're LO!  

  • Nursing Bras are on sale right now at Target! A good time to try a few out. I like the Gilligan O'Malley (sp?) w/o lining.
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  • In my 7th mth, I bought a few tanks and a couple sleep bras from Target. In the beginning, that was really all I needed.
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  • I wore sleep nursing bras until my milk regulated and my boobs weren't engorged any more. It was about 3 weeks before that happened though. My boobs are smaller now than they were when I was pregnant so buyong bras when I was pregnant wouldn't have helped me!
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  • I would go for the sleeping tanks or sleep nursing bras to start with.  I tried getting  nursing bras before and kept growing out of them.  Besides, for the first few weeks you'll be too tired to do more than change sleeping bras.  Then when you do go to buy bras remember to go when your breasts are slightly full otherwise your cups might not be big enough.
  • I didn't get any nursing bras until after I had the baby.  I actually bought them from the lactation consultant in the hospital.  (I was just going to get sized, but just went ahead and bought them.)

    I did buy some nursing tanks before I had the baby, so I had something.

    I love the Medela sleep bras.  Personally, I'm not a fan of the Gillian O'Malley sleep bras from Target.  I felt like it came up too high, for my liking, in back.  But, try it out.

    I live in either my sleep bras or nursing tanks.  I prefer the nursing tanks because i just throw on a hoodie over it and that's what I spend my days in. They are so comfortable to wear and they cover up my belly.   I only wear a nursing bra when I'm going out or when I go back to work, since I will be pumping.

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  • I would buy 2 "sleep/lounge" nursing bras from Motherhood (the Medela one sucks) to get you started.  You can wear this in the hospital and sleep comfortably in it (you will need to wear a bra to sleep when nursing - at least I do).

    Then I'd wait to buy any other nursing bras.  With DS my boobs got HUGE compared to when I was pregnant.  This time they didn't change much at all. 

    Plus I am not big on nursing when I'm out (unless we are shopping for the day or something) so I am actually wearing a normal undewire bra (I like the support) when we go to dinner or to the mall, etc.  I will soon buy an underwire nursing bra so I have something to wear for when we are out for the whole day and I'll need to breastfeed.

    Good luck!  Nursing tanks are a good idea for home too...

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  • I went to Target after I had my baby since I didn't know ahead of time what size I would need. I'm glad I waited. I wear size small prepregnancy and had to buy larges! I bought two nursing tank tops, two nursing bras, and a nursing sports bra. The spots bra is the most comfortable and easiest!
  • Buy some nursing tanks and sleep bras from target. I had 2 of each to start with, a size up from my normal size to accommodate growing boobs. Don't buy a regular bra until your milk supply has regulated at 3 or 4 weeks post partum. I was a 36B before baby and my boobs didn't change at all when I was pregnant. After my milk had regulated I jumped to a D cup. I would've totally wasted my money getting bras before baby... Don't risk it!
  • imagetortuga47:

    Congrats on your impending LO. I got the Bravado Designs body silk nursing bra. It is rather pricey $50 retail or around $45 on Amazon, but in my opinion well worth it. I'd tried a few in store at various places and wasn't happy with the fit and support of the cheaper ones. The sizing chart for theirs is pretty much right on par and it came small, medium and large so there was a lot of room for stretching when my milk came in. I bought one beforehand to make sure I liked it. After having the baby and knowing I liked it and the size was right I ordered another. It's comfortable enough for me to sleep in too. I liked having it right away in the hospital for easy BF, especially with doctors, nurses and visitors arriving at all hours. GL

    Edit: I feel like I should include I went from a size B pre pregnancy to a DD at the end of my pregnancy which is why I think a lot of the more inexpensive ones felt like they didn't have enough support. If you didn't get that big though, I'd try a cheaper one first.

     

    Bravado bras are amazing! I was fitted at 3 months pregnant and that bra fit until 8 months and fits again now. The cups are super supportive but flexible enough to handle small size changes and engorgment. Each size covers 2 cup sizes for allure and bliss. Body silk and original are S, M, L and fit true to the size chart. I had an allure with underwire during pregnancy, now I wear body silk during the day and the original at night. I went from prepregnancy 32C to at 3 months 32 F/G to 34 F/G at 8 months to 34H/I after birth to 32 H/I and now to 32F/G again at 6 weeks pp. 

     Most women go up a band size in pregnancy and are back to the normal band size after a couple weeks pp. Bravado bras come with a band expander so you can order your normal band size and get lots of use from it. 

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  • Thanks for the advice ladies. You all have been a great help.

    I think I will get a few tanks and maybe just 1 bra for now which accommodates for some change....I will get more after baby arrives. 

    All the best to you and your little ones. 

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  • Wait till you have LO. I had pretty small boobs before my milk came in. They are HUGE now and I would have never imagined them to get this big!
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  • I would buy a bra around month 8.  Do you have a place that sells nursing bras that can measure you?  If not the goal is to have extra room but you don't need to go up a full cup UNLESS the bra is really snug as it is. If you can fit Two fingers into the cup easily you are good. I bought 1 bra around 8 months for the hospital - a comfy bra to sleep and nurse in with support to help with the initial discomfort.

    Then once the engorgement wasn't so bad i went and got a more every day bra to wear out and to work eventually. 

    Medella has two soft types of sleep bras that would be good for being in hospital or at home - not for going out unless you are smaller chested.  Bravado seems to have the most diverse choices, fits, and sizes.  I am large chested so target was never an option. Tanks are ok but not at all supportive. It depends on your chest size i guess to determine what options you will go with.  I went from a 36DD pre to a 38E/F/G for the first 8 months. I went to get sized at a store and bought online at amazon.

  • I stocked up when I saw a bunch of nursing bras on sale from zulily. It was a waste of money for me. I normally wear underwires, so I bought a bunch of underwires, but when I tried them on they were no good. I could not unclip the flap low enough where my son could nurse comfortably. Also, because the bras are shaped so they are hard and does not stay open too well. I bought a bunch of nursing tanks and these work wonder. They're soft and easy to clip on and off. If you are nursing in public areas, you won't need to expose your belly or torso either. I would suggest button or zip shirts/blouses also as outer layer. It's easier than lifting your shirt up above your chest.
  • I liked the Gillian O'Malley from target, but WITH the underwire... The ones without the underwire seemed to rub weird against my rib cage. Also, I know everyone is different, but I ended up the same bra size as before my pregnancy, except for the first week or two after my DD's birth, where I was slightly engorged.

    I bought about 6 or so because target's prices are good and I plan on nursing for quite some time I've been doing it for almost seven months now... Stick with it, if you can! It can be tough, I definitely understand. Good luck and congratulations!
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