Nursing Bras

Heissenbuttel04 · November 2012

I'm a FTM so I don't know much about this. When is it a good idea to start buying nursing bras? Are there any brands that are better then others?? Do they prevent leaking from showing on your shirts?? And how far along does leaking normally start?? I know a lot of questions in one post but I need all the information I can get!! Thank you in advance.

MSW_721 · November 2012

I actually bought a couple and wore them while I was pregnant. I didn't fit into them at first after the baby because I was huge and engorged but once things evened out, I would say I was about the same size when I was nursing full-time as I was when I was pregnant. The Bravado brand is probably one of the most popular and they get excellent reviews. They are expensive though, but some would say it's worth it. I bought a few from Bravado that I like. I also have a few from Target that worked fine.

The nursing bras I had didn't prevent all leaking. They weren't that padded (not that I wanted them to be since I was big enough). You'll probably have to wear nursing pads to prevent leakage. I would say I only wore nursing pads for the first 4 months. I really didn't leak all that much but they just made me feel less self-conscious about it.

jen1022l · November 2012

I bought two while i was still pregnant... and the ended up being too big once my milk came in and they were underwires which i learned later, you should wear those for the first few months anyways. honestly i lived in nursing tanks from target for the first 4 months, they are nice because they are stretchy enough to accomodate the various sizes you will be in the early days and comfortably supportive. i went out later and invested in two nice nursing bras from a nursing store here in chicago, they were expensive but i nursed for 15 months so it was worth the investment! you will need breastpads inside any of the nursing tanks/bras. i started leaking around thirty weeks last time and used them daily, but not everyone leaks that early. you will start leaking once your milk comes in, but then slows down after a while i stopped wearing nursing pads around 8 months but was still nursing full time... its crazy sometimes, i remember rushing to get into a nursing tank out of a shower because my boobs were uncontrollably spraying milk all over my bathroom!!!

sucrets4 · November 2012

I wish I bought nursing bras while pg with DD. I was the same size post partum as I was while pg, so I wasted money know my last set of pregnancy bras.

I can't not wear underwire since the girls need the support, but never had any problems with it.

I did live in nursing tanks at home, though. That's what I brought to the hospital and worked well under my hospital gown.

cottingham3 · November 2012

Nursing tanks or sports bra types where my favorite at home and for the first few months. I always needed them to be pretty fitted becuaseel the pressure helped me with leaking. I could not sleep without a bra or tank because I would soak the bed...espically at about three months when LO started sleeping 6 hr stretched! I would sometimes have to get up and pump.

For regular bra wear I liked underwire because it helped hold the breast in place for baby...I have kinda saggy boobs that I would have to hold up dpe the baby to latch on. You will still need pads for the first several months.

I bought my first bras when I was pregnant in the last few months. I used them for baby number 2. This time I am already wearing the sports bra type to sleep in for support but since I am bigger again this time I am going g to wait till after LO comes to buy the proper size underwire. The ladies at department stores are usually the best trained fitters even if you don't buy your bras there.

shibby00 · November 2012

Nursing bras won't help with leaking, they are just easy access for the baby. I got some sleep ones at motherhood maternity. I second getting nursing ranks at target. I got several on clearance and you can't beat that!

emriley84 · November 2012

I never leaked with DS, and I had a TON of milk, I could pump 10-20oz at a time, so not everyone leaks. I am pretty busty, right now 34E, so nursing tanks really didn't do much for me. I did get a Bravado one that I wore at home and in the hospital. I went to a local breastfeeding store and got fitted when DS was a few weeks old. I had a wireless Bravado bra, it was amazing! I also used undercover mama tank tops. They clip onto any bra, so it's like a nursing tank, but more supportive. I plan to do that same this time.

watermellens · November 2012

I pretty much lived in nursing tanks with DS #1. Only had 1-2 bras. They just weren't as comfortable! I bought some before he was born, but my chest didn't grow too much.

smurf605 · November 2012

If you want some to be prepared, I would get a bravado shelf type bra for the first month or two and see how you like it. I liked the Bravado body silk. It comes in a S/M/L type sizing (I think I have a M) and is pretty forgiving when your bra size is fluctuating. I would also get some sleep type bras. I never wear bras at night, but needed them for the first 6mo or so to hold the nursing pads. Otherwise my bed would be soaking when I woke up

After your milk has regulated and/or you need to go back to work, I would go a Nordstroms if you have one and get measured. The bras are pretty expensive, but especially if you need an underwire, it needs to be sized properly. Also, if you are planning to nurse for a while, it really is worth it to have a few nice bras.

My bra size is a 32C not pregnant, 34D while pregnant, and a 32 G while nursing. So I'm happy I didn't buy a bunch of nursing bras while pregnant. I went to Kohl's and bought a few affordable 34D's to get me though my pregnancies.

You will likely need some nursing pads to prevent leaking. When buying bras I was careful to make sure that the bras had a small amount of thickness/padding to them to help conceal the nursing pads. I didn't want everyone to be able to see I had pads on by breasts! For the first 4 months or so I needed the disposable ones. After that, I could get buy with the washable ones. The washable ones just weren't as absorbent as the disposable. I preferred the Lanisoh disposable pads over the Medela. I bought them buy the case on Amazon for fairly cheap.

smurf605 · November 2012

Also, I didn't start leaking until after DS was born. I know some people start leaking before, but in that case, you can put the nursing pads in your regular bra. There is nothing special about needing nursing bras to hold nursing pads. The pads have a sticky back and can go into any bra. The benefit of the nursing bras is easy access.

I also wasn't a fan of the nursing tanks. They just seemed too tight in some places and no support.

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