STMs: Nursing Bras - Brand preference and sizing up?

williams-jen · June 2017

I've heard that when you start getting too big for your bras you should go ahead and buy nursing bras. I'm regularly an A-cup and am already almost too big for mu normal bras. When you've gone through previous pregnancies, how many cup sizes did you go up, and what brand/style of nursing bras did you like best?

TruBlue23 · June 2017

With my first 2 babies, I went from a size C to a DD. I preferred Soma nursing bras BY FAR over my other ones. I have the ones with underwire and feel much better supported. At night, I slept in Bravado from Target with no underwire. HTH!

sbishop426 · June 2017

I'm also an A-cup but went to a full B once my milk came in. I bought nursing tanks from Target and wore those under my shirts and at bedtime. I didn't buy any actual nursing bras. I think for us small chested ladies nursing tanks do the job well and provide enough support, although if you're more blessed in that area you may want to invest in the bras. Also, my boobs went back to their normal size 6 mos postpartum -not sure if that's the norm for most or not so something to consider.

[Deleted User] · June 2017

I bought tanks and bras at target and ended up going 1-2 sizes up. I'm normally a B, got one C cup and 2 D cup bras. I did have the same experience as @sbishop426, about 5 or 6 months PP my boobs shrunk again and I barely could make the C cup work. Now they're all too small again!

hesitantrenovator · June 2017

I have lived in Bravado nursing tanks after my boys. I like the support around my tummy and the fact that if I pull a t shirt up to nurse my stomach is still covered.

williams-jen · June 2017

This is all so helpful! I didn't even know nursing tanks were a thing.

Ready4theParty · June 2017

I lived in nursing tanks the first two months after My DDS arrived

sbishop426 · June 2017

Ditto to what @hesitantrenovator said about the stomach coverage. It was nice to not worry about showing my postpartum fluffiness

agalvarado · June 2017

I like the h&m ones, they're more of bralette style and they come in 2 packs. I kept wearing them in between pregnancies too lol they're just so comfy and you can wear them as your breasts grow or shrink.

hwoodmama · June 2017

My first pregnancy I went from an A to a D cup while pregnant. Once my milk came in I ended up in a C cup.
Second and third pregnancy I went up to a DD while pregnant and ended up in a D (second) and a C (third) cup.
I bought cheap bras at Marshalls during pregnancy. I had a few stretchy nightime nursing bras for the engorgement period and then used the nursing bras sold at Walmart once my supply adjusted.
I had asked for advice in our local breastfeedoong group and found that most people did not follow the "rule" of going up one size once their milk came in and none of them suggested buying nursing bras before milk came in, and only a few before it regulated. Im so glad I listened.

hwoodmama · June 2017

Oh, and instead of nursing tanks, I used the $2 tanks from Forever 21 or Walmart. My chest width is way larger than my stomach, so the S-M-L tanks dont fit properly. The tanks that are sized like bras are $$, so it was more affordable and easier to buy an $8 bra and $2 tank to have the stomach coverage. Plus, after nursing and/ or being pregnant for the last 5.5 years, my boobs arent necessarily big, but they definitely need the support of a real bra.

EmilyLove25 · June 2017

I'm an A cup and was probably a full B when my milk came in (still nursing now but my boobs are not a full B now!). I fell in love with the Gilligan and O'Malley seamless nursing bra from Target (https://www.target.com/p/women-s-nursing-seamless-bra-2pk-gilligan-o-malley-153/-/A-51629297). Honestly, I hated everything else!

labgrand2012 · June 2017

I went from a B to a C/D during pregnancy and stayed about that while nursing. I liked the target nursing tanks, but the motherhood maternity were my favorite. They just felt more supportive. I agree that I lived in tanks for the few months unless I was leaving the house. I got 2 new normal bras (VS) during pregnancy and then got 3 nursing bras after from motherhood maternity. I didn't feed in public very much so my nursing bras did not get much use.

ecolton01 · June 2017

I love nursing tanks I lived in them . I found Target to have the best ones for me personally . I bought nursing bras with an underwire but when I got bigger they were super uncomfortable because the wire got smashed Inbetween my belly and boobs and I hated it ! I started a c and was a full DD by about 13-14 weeks pregnant ... its was weird . I JUST went back to my normal size / old bras that I really liked only to find out I was ku again lol ... so it's time to unpack all the nursing tank stuff again as my boobs grow if they do the same thing again. I got some nursing bras from target and motherhood maternity and didn't love any of them so I will just stick to the nursing ranks this time most likely . So much easier to feed in public I thought

trudytudy · June 2017

I wouldn't invest too much into nursing bras until after your milk comes in. I'm average size and a bit busty and I overproduce milk. I've nursed for over a year twice now and my sizing was all over the place for a long time. When you do purchase at first get something that is flexible for sizing you may fluctuate your size a lot.

[Deleted User] · June 2017

@EmilyLove25 I used bras very similar to those all last summer. So comfortable!

jakobaby · June 2017

This is good info for even the second time around! I need to buy new. Definitely a good idea to start wearing the nursing bras once you can't fit your current. I went from a full C to a DDD before the milk came in. Once I stopped nursing, the ladies deflated to a B, sadly. I found the sleep nursing bras to be most comfortable. I got mine from A Pea In A Pod...they don't sell the style I like anymore. Also like others have said, the tanks are your best friend once babe is here.

egirl1025 · June 2017

For all you extra busty ladies like me, I went up in band size mostly, but since I am a 34G normally, I had to have my nursing bras custom done. I found some great wireless for sleeping and late stage pregnancy/post and then as recommended purchased some within a week of my son's birth. Basically bought regular bras and had the nursing snaps added in. I tried other places but couldn't find anything that fit. I think I paid under $20 for the conversion to nursing bras on top of the regular crazy price I have to pay, but nothing too crazy.

ETA: spelling

karacc18 · June 2017

For any moms that will be pumping when back to work (or pumping in general!),these are a lifesaver. No need to take off your whole top and bra and put the hands free harness thing on. This can be worn the whole day and makes it super simple to hands free pump.

EmmyMommy123 · June 2017

trudytudy said:

I wouldn't invest too much into nursing bras until after your milk comes in. I'm average size and a bit busty and I overproduce milk. I've nursed for over a year twice now and my sizing was all over the place for a long time. When you do purchase at first get something that is flexible for sizing you may fluctuate your size a lot.

This was my experience too! I got cheap Walmart nursing bras when my size changed during pregnancy, and I'm glad I did because I was way too big for them when my milk came in. At that point I spent a fortune on nursing bras only to have them not fit at all a couple months later (too big). My big issue is my band size as I'm a 32 which is hard to find in nursing bras without spending a ton. I ended up getting cheap regular bras and just pulling them down to nurse. Not the most convenient but felt like the only option with the fluctuating size. I've shrunk again since buying those bras even though I'm still nursing, and don't know what will happen now with pregnancy again. Essentially I would strongly advice against spending a lot at any point in time.

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