When should I buy nursing bras?

[Anonymous]

My size changed quite a bit after I had the baby, and not just once. So I'd recommend buying just a few things at a time.

For now, buy a couple of well-supportive nursing tanks. The best I've found are the bravado ones. They have bra-like sizing, but it doesn't have to be exact and they'll still work. I'd do 2-3 of those and I'd probably do one cup size up from where you are now and maybe one band size (e.g., 32 to 34). If you go a bit more, or don't go up that much, they'll still work fine (for example, I used ones from my last pregnancy that are 38 in the band, I'm now a 32 or 34, and they're still supportive enough). Use those for about two weeks, which should get you through when your milk comes in and your crazy big.

After you've settled a bit, I'd buy either a few more of those if you like them, or a few non-underwire bras. Again, 2-3.

My size went down again after the first month or so. Not sure if it was just weight loss, or if things just settled again. I bought some underwire bras. I'm a 32 F or 34 E, so I need decent support, and there's just no soft cup bras that do the job as well. No issues with blocked ducts.

Anyway, the point is to resist the urge to buy too much at once or early on, because your size could change quite a bit even after the baby comes and your milk comes in. It makes laundry a bit of a pain, but it's worth the trade-off on being able to wear things that fit well and work well for the nursing stage you're in.

[Anonymous]

My thoughts:
VHC lactation consultants are not worth the air they breath.

As a member of the itty bitty titty committee, Target bras are fine and they do sell a soft cotton one.

If I was greatly gifted, I would buy a hold-over like already suggested, wait for a couple of weeks to pass and they get a very expensive bra from the pros at a breastfeeding center.

All the working girls need support...some more than others.

[Anonymous]

i went out after the baby was born to get fitted. however, i returned the bras i bought at the fitting and waited a few weeks until things really settled. i would buy nursing sleep bras and nursing tanks and maybe a stretchy type nursing bra but wait until the baby is a few weeks to get more. things chnage so much those first weeks.

[Anonymous]

I leak a lot and personally I don't think a tank would work for me since I need to wear pads constantly
I'd buy one soft "sleep" bra in whatever size you normally are small, medium, large
And buy nursing pads. I like lansinoh brand
When your milk comes in and you are engorged I think it is best to not wear a bra and just stay in bed with baby for a nursing marathon (I kept a washcloth nearby to catch any leaks) as a too tight bra can lead to plugged ducts, etc

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much everyone, sounds like my best bet is to get 1-2 couple stretchy nursing bras in L or XL and then a couple tanks with shelf bras for now and then wait until after the baby arrives and my milk comes in before I get fitted for more.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I inherited a few nursing bras with underwires and I have no idea why those things exist. Stick with tanks or regular bras that are easy to pull down.

[Anonymous]

I bought them two weeks after I had the baby. When my milk came in, I went from a C cup to a DD cup.

I never wear the nursing bras. I thought I would always be most comfortable in an underwire. LO doesn't like the way my boobs sit in them. She nurses differently. But, I live in nursing tanks with a shirt or tank over top. Tank down, shirt up, and I'm mostly covered. And, I couldn't wear any bra really for 6 weeks, because my boobs hurt so bad. When I am at home, I layer a M tank over a L tank, so that I don't have the support, but I can still be covered. L tank down, M tank up.

[Anonymous]

I second the recommendation for Bravado nursing tanks. They are nice and long, with a bit of stretch to the material and I thought they felt great on the post-partum pooch.