Nursing Tank Sizing

rawr1131 · September 2014

Hey ladies,
I was hoping you all had suggestions regarding nursing tank sizing. My problem is that I'm fairly small-chested... depends on the store but at Target I'm a 36B now at 34 weeks pregnant. But my belly is HUGE. I ordered a medium nursing tank from Target based on the size chart. Unfortunately it's still too big up top - but it also is WAY too small around my belly. I know the belly will go away eventually, but I want to be able to wear these at the hospital when I'll still be showing. Any advice on what I should buy?? Smaller to fit my boobs, or bigger to fit my belly? Should I expect some sort of last minute miracle size growth or something? LOL.

Thanks in advance!

Emerald27 · September 2014

This really depends on your unique body. I was a 36B prepreg with DS and now am a 38D. I also lost all but a few pounds of baby weight before even leaving the hospital. This pregnancy has been very different though...

In other words, every mom and every pregnancy is so different, that there's no easy way to advise you here. I suggest getting a couple different sizes and leaving the tags on for now. Stick the receipts on your fridge under a magnet.

JessAnnJ · September 2014

I actually preferred slimming nursing tanks that I cannot wear now because they will not go over my belly. I wore them every day for a year. Some tanks are made to be worn for maternity and nursing and some are not. If it's way to small to fit over your belly do you think maybe you got one that is not made to wear while still pregnant? Also your belly won't disappear right away but it will be significantly smaller after baby comes. While I was in labor I wore a nursing bra and the hospital gown.

Waterlilly11 · September 2014

I just ordered one from Gap. It's a cross front (no hooks for strap) I am planning to just wearing my normal camis (forever 21 makes extra long) with a bandeau under it.

meggiev123 · September 2014

I also never used nursing tanks with DD. Usually i just wore shirts with a neck I could pull down or would pull up the shirt from the bottom with just a normal tank underneath when I was going to be in public and didn't want my midriff hang out.

If you're looking for something comfy and easy to nurse in when you're at the hospital and immediately postpartum I really like these shirts from destination maternity- the neck is elastic so you can easily pull them done and it fits me now at 35 weeks pregnant

https://www.destinationmaternity.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=96887Z10362&MasterCategory_Id=MC29

That said, the fact that it fits me at 35 weeks pregnant probably means it's going to be hella big after baby arrives.

griffers · September 2014

I am a 34B now, usually 32A before pregnancy, and I got the small nursing tanks from Target. I haven't tried them on because I know they won't fit my belly, but they have a bell shape to them so figured they'd be looser and more likely to fit sooner after birth. Who knows though.

mkw1013 · September 2014

I agree that its not something that is really needed but at a FTM i believe having at least one nursing tank is something i will benefit from in the first few weeks after LO comes home. I can imagine breastfeeding is a whole other challenge so the last thing i want is to worry about my clothes while i am figuring it out. I borrowed a M from my SIL and that one is a real nursing tank. It was a little tight on my 38C\D chest but i figure who cares because it was free. I also got a padded tank top (XL) at target that is low cut i can pull down but gives a little more padding than the nursing tanks so it makes me feel like im being supported.

rawr1131 · September 2014

Thanks ladies! I appreciate all the insight. Looks like I'll be returning these and trying a different size!

MsMacual · September 2014

My non pregnancy size is small- I'm a 34 large A/small B. I was/am a 36B/C pregnant and got a little bigger (maybe a large C/small D once my milk came in after my first). I bought a few of each size and mostly wore medium tanks. I just packed two in my hospital bag and one is a large and the other is a medium. You'll be about the same size as you were 5 months pregnant within hours of giving birth so your tanks might be a little snug, but they will easily fit over your belly.

Emerald27 · September 2014

PurpleHippo19 said:
See, I wore mine EVERY day. If I wore a shirt that could be pulled down for nursing, it would get pulled down by DD when I didn't want it to. So I layered the nursing tank with a regular shirt of mine that I'd just lift up. I loved having the nursing tank on so my back wasn't just open and bare.

This! Every single day. I wore them in the fall/winter under a sweater and with a scarf for discreet nursing, and in the spring/summer under a lightweight, stretchy shirt that I could pull up to nurse without showing my belly. I would rather flash my boobs around in public hundreds of times than display my bare belly while nursing. Lol

turtlewifey · September 2014

I would buy your regular prebaby size. The uterus/belly will be big a few days after giving birth, but it goes down quickly (within a week or so).

If you want something to use in the hospital, sleep nursing bras are very easy to nurse with and work well under a hospital gown.

IrishHoney123 · September 2014

I love nursing tanks. I wear them every day while nursing-usually with a cardigan during the cooler months. I am a 34C none pregnant, and a 34DD post partum. The first couple weeks of breastfeeding my boobs are HUGE, so I wear a medium tank. I have a couple smalls for down the road.

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