@BabyBump2 I have the same one also and find it very comfortable and much more supportive than my other "comfy" nursing bras. I would prefer more support for leaving the house too, but I do wear it out. I have one of those bra strap clips that pulls the straps together in the back for certain styles of top and when I use that the bra is more supportive... but I only do that on occasion.
@chiquita928@mamadcb I notice I need more support a lot more often now that I'm pregnant again, but I also usually wear nursing tank tops, and they have that shelf thing..so I usually pull those straps a bit tighter so I get a tad more support!
@stokesm21 I know if you go to Motherhood Maternity they will help size you. I honestly don't remember...the one I showed a picture of just comes in S, M, L, XL.
@stokesm21 It's hard to say because I felt enormous when my milk first came in (at least 2 sizes up from normal) but it gradually leveled off and by 2-3 months, I was pretty much my normal size again. If you think you can get away with tanks and layers when things are up and down in the beginning, you might just want to buy your regular bra sizes and start using them when things level off.
I was a big fan of the washable bamboo nursing pads inside of a tank in the beginning so I could avoid a bra as much as possible!
@stokesm21 I'm a ftm, so take this fwiw, but I have been told by two independent but reliable sources (nicer bra shop and a lactation specialist), that the average woman goes up one band size and one cup size from where they were pre-pregnancy thru the end of pregnancy, and will maintain this new size while breastfeeding (so 34B - > 36C). They will be a little bigger the first few weeks as milk comes in, but settle to this size for a bit, then usually shrink back down to pre-pregnancy size when they ween. Again, this is the *average* woman. Mine haven't grown quite the full cup, but I did go up a band size. So I plan to get nursing bras that are about the size I am now in 3rd trimester.
@stokesm21 I'm a ftm, so take this fwiw, but I have been told by two independent but reliable sources (nicer bra shop and a lactation specialist), that the average woman goes up one band size and one cup size from where they were pre-pregnancy thru the end of pregnancy, and will maintain this new size while breastfeeding (so 34B - > 36C). They will be a little bigger the first few weeks as milk comes in, but settle to this size for a bit, then usually shrink back down to pre-pregnancy size when they ween. Again, this is the *average* woman. Mine haven't grown quite the full cup, but I did go up a band size. So I plan to get nursing bras that are about the size I am now in 3rd trimester.
I'm not saying any of this is wrong, because you said *average*, but my cousin went from an A-B to a DD...
I have no idea what my current bra size is! I need to get measured asap and get these nursing bras.
I'd buy some S/M/L size sleep bras to get you started, but I'd wait until your milk comes in fully before getting measured and investing in real bras. Your size will change in the next few weeks for sure.
To echo @Babybump2, my band size hasn't increased, but my cup size has jumped 2-3 sizes each pregnancy (and never gone back). Be prepared for the possibility that your pre-pregnancy bras might never fit again even if the rest of your body goes back.
Since this thread is designated towards nursing attire, I'll post this here instead of the "Steals and Deals" thread- Old Navy is having a huge online sale. I got a bunch of nursing tanks for less than $9. Nursing tops are also discounted. Make sure you put things in your cart as the coupons are automatically applied when you check out and may not be reflected in the price on the page.
So I guess I'll be the Speshul Sneauxflake here, after 28 months of nursing my cup size dropped 2 sizes. I actually had to buy new bras bc my boobzilla bras were too big. Then I got KTFU and now they're just as big as they were before nursing. This is completely different from my first breastfeeding attempt with DD and I didn't loose and boob, I also didn't gain any either.
Everyone's PP body is different, some loose all the weight and some don't. Just like boobs, some loose them and some don't. It's one of those things that you have to deal with once you get to that point.
This is exactly what happened to me- 34DDD before I got preg, 36E when I was sized at like 35 weeks for a nursing bra, then dropped back to 34D when I stopped nursing a few weeks ago after 23 months. My boobs would fill up the 36E nursing bra when they were full and right after I'd nurse or pump I'd be swimming in that bra. My advice? Don't wear a bra for a while in the beginning stick with all these nursing tops with built in bras or whatever and once your supply regulates after a couple weeks go get a bra, I think that's more likely to be your size for a while.
I couldn't even wear Medium nursing tanks my first month post-partum with DS because they gave me clogged ducts. Then after that month, that's all I wore for the next ~7 months; and then I sized down to my usual Small. So this time around I have Small, M and also a L, to phase in and out of. I never felt like I had time to get more bras and tanks when DS was a newborn, as crucial as they were. I have been shopping secondhand stores for nursing tanks. If I don't use all the sizes, I'm out like $20 and am fine with that. I found nursing clothes to be far more critical than anything at all for the baby (minus diapers).
I somewhat followed @optbaby2017's advice re: band and cup size, but went back to my normal before DS was fully weaned (because he spent a few months nursing 1-2x/day).
@BabyBump2 I bought 3 of these bras and love them. Im a 38D and the XL has fit perfect. They are so comfortable and I barely wear my other bras now, even though I dont need to yet.
ME: 28 DH: 27
Started Dating: 10/20/2006
Married: 10/20/2013
MMC @ 8w 12/15 MC @ 5w 03/16 ALEXANDER JAMES DUE JULY 15th!
Like many of the PPs had said, I also used nursing tanks or camis under regular clothes and pulled my shirt up and the cami down. I like the nursing tanks from H&M, Old Navy & Nordstrom. For nursing bras I liked Jessica Simpson, Cake, Cosabella and Hot Milk. I honestly had a really hard time finding nursing tops that I liked, so I used the pull up/pull down method.
@acstec1 I am totally with you on cake and hot milk. I had a really nice one from both and I wore it when I needed to feel human again. At home I'd mostly do nursing tanks but when I wanted to go out in the real world AND actually look like I had my shit together these bras were key. I'm so sad I gave them away after we thought we were done. I plan to invest in them again but will wait until a few weeks after my milk settles in to see where I'm at. I bought them through Nordstrom as they have a great return policy just in case and they measured me in advance.
I believe my favourite were MilkyTee stylish maternity tops . They're made of cotton material and really affordable (max 30 pounds) that is great for my sensible skin.
I’m on my third nursing journey now and I finally figured out my nursing “uniform” (I spent my last two just wearing the loosest, nipple-accessible thing and always looked and felt frumpy). My issue with some of the trendy, pretty clothes out there is that the nipple isn’t easily accessible — you have to do a one-hand zip (hard to do) or try to fit your nipple into a small opening (one of my Hatch dresses).
Recently, I found Simple Wishes, which makes super duper comfy lounge clothing (minus the frumpiness)!! Even my husband commented that I look “trendy.” I’ve been wearing both the Simple Wishes Christina lounge pant and the amazing Aspen fleece sweater. The sweater is awesome — you can wear whatever inside — nursing bra, camisole (what I wear). They also have sales. Anyway, Simple Wishes. Check them out!
Re: Favorite nursing clothes?
Met: 08/2001 ~ Dating: 07/2004 ~ Engaged: 11/2009 ~ Married: 06/2011
TTC: Since 09/16 ~ BFP 10/28/16 ~ EDD 7/5/17
Team Pink * Canadian Bumpie
I was a big fan of the washable bamboo nursing pads inside of a tank in the beginning so I could avoid a bra as much as possible!
To echo @Babybump2, my band size hasn't increased, but my cup size has jumped 2-3 sizes each pregnancy (and never gone back). Be prepared for the possibility that your pre-pregnancy bras might never fit again even if the rest of your body goes back.
DS1 - 7/2011, DD 12/2012, DS2 - 4/2014, MMC - 12/2015
Everyone's PP body is different, some loose all the weight and some don't. Just like boobs, some loose them and some don't. It's one of those things that you have to deal with once you get to that point.
I have been shopping secondhand stores for nursing tanks. If I don't use all the sizes, I'm out like $20 and am fine with that.
I found nursing clothes to be far more critical than anything at all for the baby (minus diapers).
I somewhat followed @optbaby2017's advice re: band and cup size, but went back to my normal before DS was fully weaned (because he spent a few months nursing 1-2x/day).
MC @ 5w 03/16
ALEXANDER JAMES DUE JULY 15th!
Recently, I found Simple Wishes, which makes super duper comfy lounge clothing (minus the frumpiness)!! Even my husband commented that I look “trendy.” I’ve been wearing both the Simple Wishes Christina lounge pant and the amazing Aspen fleece sweater. The sweater is awesome — you can wear whatever inside — nursing bra, camisole (what I wear). They also have sales. Anyway, Simple Wishes. Check them out!