Bras For Breastfeeding

May 1, 2013

By Lindsey Borchard

Panache

When us women find out we are pregnant we start planning and preparing up until the day our little one arrives. We decorate the nursery; buy toys, clothes, diapers and a million other things. We prepare our own closets for our ever-expanding belly. But do you take the time to prepare yourself and your breasts for nursing?

This is something I am just learning about myself now and I think it is important to share it with you. I recently started a series about nursing bras and I am now in the process of trying on a ton of different brands to see what works for me. In this process, I have learned lots about the difference between my pre-baby bras and my maternity bras. How they should feel, fit, wear, and help you in preparing for nursing.

Lets first talk about fit:

In my world of non-pregnancy related lingerie I have been taught to make sure the band is nice and tight and if you can pull the band more then two inches away from your body it’s too big. Now, we want to continue to make sure the band is not extremely loose to where we don’t get any support but your comfort is most important here. I can still fit into 36 bands but I have chosen to move up to 38 for comfort. It’s not as tight but still gives me good enough support. As long as the band isn’t riding up your back throughout the day your band should be good. If you are currently having this problem try going down in a band size. The cup of the bra should fit nicely around your entire breast. No spillage from the sides and no “double boob” off the top. If these things are happening to you then you should try going up in a cup. I suggest on waiting until you’re in your eighth month to start shopping for nursing bras, as your breasts are still growing up until birth. However I did purchase two larger sizes of my normal bras up until this point so I wasn’t squeezing into my old size and possibly damaging my breast tissue. OK now back to nursing bras, buy a few that fit perfect now, some that are slightly big in the cup (for right after birth) and then wait to buy some after your milk as come in as well. Your breast size can change from day to day so it’s important to have a few in different sizes so you don’t need to run out those first few weeks home with baby.

Anita

Wired bras Vs. Wire-free bras:

There are a lot of different opinions about if you should wear wired nursing bras. A lot of lactation consultants and other professionals say that in the last few months of pregnancy and the first few weeks post delivery you should wear wire-free bras to prevent damage to the breast tissue. Some people also say wearing wired nursing bras can reduce milk production, can lead to blocked milk ducts and Mastitis, which is a breast infection in the breast tissue. I don’t know if there is any concrete evidence of this but I do know in the first few weeks post delivery wire-free bras will probably be the most comfortable. If you decide that you don’t want to wear wire-free bras try finding nursing bras that offer flexible-wire support. Many bra manufactures are now offering this in their nursing bras.

Royce

Fabric and Style:

Make sure to find a bra in a fabric that won’t irate your skin or straps that won’t cut into your shoulders. Cotton bras are great because they decrease your chances of getting Thrush (yeast infection) caused through dampness. When choosing a style make sure it is easy to open for breast-feeding. Like, Will you be able to open it with one hand? Is there enough space for nursing pads? And does it support your breasts well? For me I am making sure to have a handful of different styles on hand since I won’t really know what I will like until I’m there. I think having a beautiful non-traditional nursing bra (brands like Cake Lingerie, Elle McPherson, or Freya) are great for when you start going out and don’t want to be in wire-free options. A great non-wire, cotton, nursing bra is good for being at home and the first few weeks of breast-feeding. And a Sleep bra is good for keeping you supported through the night. But it’s really up to you and your comfort as to what styles you want to have.

Elle MacPherson

Belabumbum

Wacoal

Preparing Mentally:

Some women love the idea of breast-feeding and other (like myself) are a little worrisome about it. Make sure to surround yourself with a big support group, whether from the hospital, lactation consultants or fellow breast-feeding moms. You will want as much information and as many cheerleaders as possible. I have heard having patience is key into successful breast-feeding. I plan to try and not give up right away. However with that being said don’t go crazy if it doesn’t work out for you. I will try my hardest to breast feed and do it for as long as I think I can handle it, but I am also not going to put myself into a mental hospital if it doesn’t work out. Don’t stress because there are plenty of great formula options out there and you’ll be able to bond with your baby in other ways. Try not to listen to other people opinions about it either. This is YOUR body and YOUR baby. Do what is right for the both you.

Breast-feeding is supposed to a magical time between you and your baby, embrace it and embrace your breasts as much as you can (cracked nipples and all). I feel as long as your prepared, don’t stress over it and go with the flow you have a very good chance at becoming a breast-feeding champ!

What is your experience with the Nursing Bra dilemma? We would like to know!