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Austin Babies
Nursing Bra Confusion
I have two minds about this whole nursing bra/tank/nursing gown thing. There is a part of me that wants to go to Special Addition or Petticoat Fair and just pay for the works. Get the expensive nursing bras that professionally fit, a couple of nursing gowns and some nursing tanks.
Then there is the other part of me (the frugal part) who is afraid that my breast size will be drastically different after I give birth (I'm 36 weeks now) and just wants to go to Target or Walmart for the first couple of items (bras and tanks) while I'm in the hospital. Then I could get professionally fitted at one of the more expensive stores after LO comes.
What did you guys do? Where did you go to find the best stuff? Where else sells this kind of stuff? TIA
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Re: Nursing Bra Confusion
I had all cheap and mis-fitting nursing bras with DD, but I've sworn that when I have #2, I'll buy better fitting and better quality bras and tanks.By the time I came to despise what I had, I was almost done with nursing, so I couldn't justify going out to buy all new bras and tanks.
In the hospital, I was pretty much topless the whole time (or wearing the hospital gown). When it was time to go home, I realized that I had nothing that fit in terms of bras and tanks. I was actually totally unprepared in terms of nursing clothes when DD was born. I went to the mall the next day and was totally unprepared and it sucked.
As far as what I had that I did like? Just two things.
THESE are awesome. I pretty much lived in these for my entire maternity leave - I'd only put shirts on when we had visitors. I also slept in one for the entire year. I bought some of the cheap Target tanks and they were ok, but I didn't love them. DH ran them through the drier and they never fit right after that.
I also don't know what I would have done without my hands-free pumping bra. I got this one but from Target, but there a few out there to pick from. I thought the idea and the look were so weird, but I could never live without it! I was able to pump and read at the same time, which was the only thing that made pumping 4x a day for an entire year (almost) tolerable.
Bottom line- the more time you spend in a properly fitted and supportive bra, the better your breasts will handle the transitions of pregnancy and nursing.
The priority (IMO) is to wear a supportive bra once you actually start nursing. You will spend the most time in those and your breasts will likely be fluctuating constantly, meaning you need to keep them supported. Any change in size is going to stretch the ligaments in your breast, which is what causes sagging. The more you protect that stretching, the better.
Honestly, it depends on your size. If you are busty, you aren't going to be able to get away with stretchy bras with no structure. If you aren't, you will have a lot more luck finding inexpensive that you can work with.
I like to recommend a flexible fitting bra (which is not always the same as stretchy) for the first week or so after delivery. You'll be engorged, so having a perfect fit is nice, but it's only going to last a week, so there is no reason to break the bank. Once you get through that phase, get yourself fitted. It's worth it.
Tanks- they are great. Excellent for sleeping and in the hospital. There aren't precise with fit, but that's fine if you aren't wearing them 24 hours a day. Bravado are by far the best, particularly if you are busty.
Sleep bras- Get one, for sure, before the baby is born. Some people prefer tanks, but it's worth having one. I lived in mine in the hospital and wore them every night.
Regular nursing bras- I love the Bravado the pp linked. I don't think I am allowed to link bras directly from our (PF) web site, but I'd recommend checking out Elle MacPherson's seamless nursing bra and the Panache or Elomi bras if you have a larger cup. Don't get into underwire until you are at least 3 months into nursing.
I agree with thethomps, that is the BEST nursing bra. I got fitted when DS was about 2 weeks old, but you could totally buy some now because they're sized S-XL, not a bra size. It fit me when I was EBF and had absolutely enormous boobs (36J, I think?) and still fits me now when I'm back to a 36D. It's stretchy and extremely comfortable, yet supportive, which is amazing since there's no underwire. It does not give you uniboob. I don't know how I'll go back to regular bras once I'm done with BFing for good.
I also had some cheap nursing tanks from target and this time around I'll definitely get some nicer ones. I got a sleep bra from Special Addition, as well. Necessary in the beginning when I needed support constantly and needed a place to put my breast pads for the massive amounts of milk leakage. Once he started STTN, I've just worn regular pajamas.
As far as where to buy, I loved Special Addition. The ladies there were really helpful and sweet. Lots of places to buy online though and you might find better prices.
First, ditto the hands free pumping bra. I didn't get one until just before I went back to work and it changed my life. I pumped after every feeding for a long time, I really, really wish I would have had this thing.
I didn't get any nursing stuff prior to delivering. I tried to get nursing tanks but could never find any in my size except at Target and that one sucked. In the hospital my boobs were also gigantic and hard as rocks so I never wore a bra. On the way home, we stopped at Special Addition and I got a nursing sleep bra. It worked great for all of maternity leave (I eventually got another one). When I went back to work, I went to PF for a real nursing bra and I love it. Definitely worth every penny. I plan to take some of my regular bras there and have one turned into a nursing bra b/c the one I bought is black and obviously doesn't work with everything.
As a side note, I can't wait for the day I don't have to sleep in a bra again.