Is wearing a bra with under wire that bad??

MacDougall2012 · September 2011

I have heard from several different sources that during pregnancy you are supposed to switch to a sports bra or a bra that does not have under wire as it can dig into your breast tissue and make breastfeeding (if that's what your planning to do) that much harder.

I'm just wondering if any of you that already have children did the switch or were you able to continue wearing your normal bras and still breast feed successfully? I recently just bought sports bras but, man do I hate them! And everytime I go into the bra aisle I'm so overwhelmed! haha. I am pretty big in the chest and feel so uncomfortable without something real supportive. I'm just worried that continuing to wear my normal bras will affect my milk development.

What are your thoughts on this? Anyone care to share their experiences?

Thanks!

Ivana_Stolichnaya · September 2011

That's BS...I wore a under wire nursing bra and had no problem breastfeeding for a year.

BFab11 · September 2011

When your milk comes in and underwire is pressing on ducts and making clogs, it's no fun.

I have a structured nursing bra from Bravado that's amazing (Link). It has the support and build of underwire, just without the wire.

Cheekie4 · September 2011

It totally depends on your boobies.

For me, I was prone to clogged ducts & did have mastitis once. If I wore an underwire bra, I almost always had a clogged duct at the end of the day. This happened the entire duration of EPing (almost 13 months).

nd01 · September 2011

I wore an underwire nursing bra for 70% of time I was in nursing bras (still nursing now but wore a nursing bra for about 14 mos) and I never had any problem. I am a 34/36 G/H though so I couldn't really contemplate not having underwire either. However, the other 30% of the time, I wore Bravado nursing tanks which were amazing too.

llc730 · September 2011

I wore a regular underwire bra my whole pregnancy and switched to a non-wire nursing bra when my milk came in. I had no problems EBFing my DD for 12+ months. If you are bigger you will want to get a nursing bra with structure. However you don't want to buy them right now because your bra size will likely be different. I went from a 36 B (small

to a 38 C (large C) when my milk came in. My regular bras did not fit at all. I loved the Gilligan O'Malley nursing bras at Target. Then come in a bunch of styles. I wore the "sleep bras" all the time because they were just so comfortable.

barnwife · September 2011

For me, yes. It pretty much guarantees a plugged duct or mastitis. And after 6 bouts of mastitis and too many plugged ducts to count, it's not a chance I want to take.

It shouldn't affect milk development though.

westerngirl91 · September 2011

I wore a regular under wire bra while breastfeeding and had no issues.

AnnaBanana0327 · September 2011

westerngirl91:
I wore a regular under wire bra while breastfeeding and had no issues.

This. I'm only a 34A pre-pg and 34 C when nursing. Seems like it's just about whether or not you are prone to clogged ducts.

diana.filipi · September 2011

No problem with underwire here! I wear underwire now (though not when relaxing, then I wear comfy sports bras) and I wore underwire while nursing sometimes.

diana.filipi · September 2011

I recommend getting several nursing tank tops until after you have come home from the hospital and your milk is in. Then go buy a comfortable nursing bra. Take nursing pads with you to try bras on!

sunnyday016 · September 2011

I never had a problem with them. I nursed DD for 19 months.

bastephens05 · September 2011

I don't understand how underwire can cause a clog??? The wire goes under your boobs, not on them... I breastfed for a year with an underwire nursing bra and didn't think twice about it.

92405bride · September 2011

I've never heard to not wear underwire when pregnant - I did and do now, and breastfed for a year.

I also never had a problem with clogged ducts and wore underwire bras most of the year that I did nurse, other than my maternity leave when I mostly just wore nursing tanks.

Jolaine83 · September 2011

I was in a position where I got away with non underwire nursing bras as much as I could, but if I went out, I had to have underwire. While BFing last time, I was a 36G. After trying out 4 different nursing bras and not having them work, I honestly just wore my normal bras when I was out and changed as soon as I got home. I needed the support and never had an issue. But, I was a SAHM, so I had the ability to go with less support at home.

woditaina · September 2011

SPAM -- redirect links removed by a moderator

MesmrEwe · September 2011

Given the size and weight of my bb's, there's no way that anything without an underwire will have them properly supported. I exclusively pumped for DD for 10mo and wore an underwire the entire time and no issues at all. The big thing is that it's properly fitted! Regardless of the bra, if it's not properly fitted and you aren't emptying yourself out, it's a recipe for BF problems...

helenmills29 · September 2011

Post edited by a moderator for spam.

hillbillysunshine · September 2011

Ivana.Stolichnaya:
That's BS...I wore a under wire nursing bra and had no problem breastfeeding for a year.

This.

mrs.gee · September 2011

As long as it is properly fitted it should be fine. I had my underwire bras converted into nursing bras, with the blessing of my lactation consultant. Just be sure to go get a good bra fitting by an expert (i.e., don't pick up something in Target and hope it's ok). A good department store or specialty bra shop should have someone who can help you.

dottymobo · September 2011

It doesn't matter for pregnancy unless/until the wires start digging into your belly.

It can matter for nursing. Breast tissue extends beyond our actual breasts, so even with great fitting bras clogged ducts and mastitis can be a problem. Some people are more prone to issues, and a lot of women wear badly fitting bras, and especially at a time when our breasts are changing so much all the time. It might be a crapshoot how it will work for you, but I'd at least attempt non-underwire (note, this does not mean sports bra!) because mastitis sounds really awful.

I actually wore underwire bras through most of nursing fine- I didn't know where to go to actually get fitted for and find a good non-underwire, and though I read recs and it seemed like there are some really great ones out there even for large breasts, I wasn't going to blind order something that expensive online. I figured that if I started having problems, I'd switch back. I'm also still nursing some, and no way in hell could I stand non-underwire for so long.

kthappy76 · September 2011

There are plenty of "normal" (non-sports) bras that don't have underwires. I bought some at Target when I needed to go up a size. I think it has more to do w/comfort during pg and bfing after as the milk is not really coming in until after the baby arrives. GL!

soralette · September 2011

mrs.gee:
As long as it is properly fitted it should be fine. I had my underwire bras converted into nursing bras, with the blessing of my lactation consultant. Just be sure to go get a good bra fitting by an expert (i.e., don't pick up something in Target and hope it's ok). A good department store or specialty bra shop should have someone who can help you.

Absolutely, completely, 100% this. A properly-fitted bra with underwire is fine. A poorly fitted bra with underwire is NOT fine. The reason a lot of people recommend against underwire bras for pregnancy/nursing/etc is that a mind-boggling number of people are not wearing properly-fitted bras.

If you do not regularly go in to get sized professionally, definitely do so. I personally think well of Nordstrom's fitting services, and have heard good things about Intimacy and several other stores.

And not Victoria's Secret. Their bras are very pretty, and if you happen to fit into their range of sizes and know what size you should be wearing already, they're all right... But they will definitely push you into a bra that does NOT fit correctly unless you know exactly what you ought to be wearing. As an example, pre-pregnancy, I was a 32G -- and Vicky's kept trying to put me in 36DDs, which gave me no support whatsoever. Another friend, Vicky's kept putting in 36Bs -- and when I finally convinced her to come to Nordstrom's with me for a fitting, turns out she's actually a 32D.

If you're in a rural area and cannot get to a store that will actually fit you properly, there's a good description of how to do it correctly here:

https://www.thinandcurvy.com/p/bra-fitting.html

Any bra-fitting instructions that tell you to add "4 or 5 inches" to your band measurement? Is wrong.

StephCripps · September 2011

Ivana.Stolichnaya:
That's BS...I wore a under wire nursing bra and had no problem breastfeeding for a year.

Me too..! That's all i wear and I had no issues either..

kregan2@hotmail.com · September 2011

I heard this too so the when I needed new bras I specifically chose the ones with no underwire. But boy, did I feel like they were unattractive! They just don't seem to make ones at a good price with no underwire. So this last time I went out and broke down and bought a really pretty lacy underwire bra, that fit well, but I bought it IN the maternity/nursing bra section of Target. I figure if it causes problems I won't have spent too much money. But oh, it's so nice to just have a pretty bra that is supportive and I can feel well, attractive in again. Just for myself - it was a treat. So I don't think you should worry too much if you can find one that has good support and fits you well. Good luck!

fool4babe · September 2011

It's fine during pregnancy, it's during BF they say it can cause a plugged duct/ mastitis. That said, I BF for 2 1/2 years and wore underwire my entire pregnancy and BF too. I'm pregnant again and still wearing underwire. I think if your fitted properly it makes a big difference so that the wire is not putting pressure on any breast tissue. BTW- I am a 36 F.

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