New Mom Seeks Advice on Breastfeeding

I love my Bravado bra. You can get them from babycenter.com or from the Amazing Newborn store in Skippack

Some people say it can supress some milk ducts if you were underwired bra. I'm a 38D on a size 10/12 frame and theres no way I'm not wearing underwire! I got some nice supportive bras from target as I need wide backs and thick straps. They are made by gilligan and o'malley. I couldnt afford anything to expensive but these have worked for me.

I have to agree with some of the other moms... The tank/cami's are the best. and most comfortable. I got mine at a baby depot. loved it and wore it all the time...

Hi T.! Beautiful name.. thats my moms name :) Ok so the bra thing. I have bras from walmart, without underwire and I cringe each time i have to wear a bra that has an underwire now (ya know if i am washing all the bras - i have to have a back up) They are good. But i would invest in a really good bra because it can really hurt your back without good support.

M.

If you are looking for nursing bras, try Kohls or walmart. Sometimes cheaper stores is better.

I nursed both of my girls and found that all nursing bras are not created equal. I fell in love with a Playtex Expectant Moments bra #4147 that has an alternate underwire (whatever that means!). It had wider straps and a snap closure so you didn't have to unhook anything...just pop open the snaps. They held up awesome although after 5+ years some were a little thread bare on the sides but still very wearable. Of course they quit making it so I tried a few different ones and could never find one I liked. I was able to find more on eBay when I needed a new size.

I think it is really a personal prefernce. The best way to find one you like is to go try on a lot of different styles to see what is comfortable and what you think will be easy to maneuver with a hungry baby waiting.

The best piece of advice I got when deciding to nurse my daughter was from my SIL. She said ALWAYS wear a bra (even at night). This will keep you from getting droopy later.
I found that Medela makes the most comfortable sleep nursing bras without the wire. I wore underwire bras during the day (mostly because that was what I was used to and found it most comfortable) and had no problems with them at all. THey suggest against it because I guess it can lead to blocked milk ducts, but like I said, I had no problems. I think it's a matter of preference. The most comfortable underwire bras I found were at gap maternity. I had to order them online though because the exton Gap Maternity doesn't carry bras. Good luck!!!

By the way- nursing can be uncomfortable and even painful in the begining week or so. But I found that the discomfort goes away and the rewards greatly outweighed the temporary pain. Do what feels best for you.

I have never heard that nursing bras shouldn't have an underwire. In the beginning, I needed a nursing bra, even at night, so I used that non underwire type at bedtime. But during the day I used one with an underwire. I bought bras from Target. They held up fine and I thought they were quite comfortable. I believe the brand in Gillian and O'Malley. Good luck.

You don't have to avoid underwire- it's a personal preference just as with regular bras. You just have to be sure the wire is not putting pressure on the breasts, because that could lead to block ducts and mastitis. Also, you can sleep in a nursing bra that does not have underwire in it, which I did for the first 2 months because of leakage. I loved the Bravado bras. They are like a sports bra, and they give excellent support, but are comfortable and you can put pads in them to stop leakage. They are also easy to open/close, which is important once you have to hold the baby and try to get your bra together again, especially in a public place. Their website is : bravadodesigns.com or check out this website: http://www.breastfeeding.com/reading_room/nursing_bras/ba... It has great info on nursing bras and breastfeeding in general. Just find one that's comfortable for you- that is most important.

Motherhood Maternity has a great line of nursing bras and tops, I am wearing one (that has underwires) right now. They also have plus sizes which I know I need!

I loved the nursing tank/camisoles from Target. A friend of mine that breastfed her 5 kids told me that they were her favorite, better than a bra. I'm sure they sell them elsewhere, but I found a couple at Target and loved them too. They are similar to the popular strappy tank but each side unsnaps for quick access. I wore them around the house in the summertime and it was just like a tank, in fact I still wear mine as exercise sports bras.

I've heard they aren't supposed to have underwire to help prevent mastitis (infection of breast tissue). I had 3 (different brands) nursing bras for my son and hated all of them . I ended up using my regular comfy VS bras and just pulled the cups under my breasts. This time (26 wks prego) I bought 2 no wire bras from Jockey and they are super comfortable so I will probably try to use them. Personally, I wouldn't bother paying a higher price just because it's a "nursing bra." I would just wear some comfy bras that you can pull the cup down (or up). Hope this helps! P.S. When my breasts were HUGE right after his birth, the underwires dug into my flesh under my arms.

I always had issues with finding the perfect nursing bra. I'd find one that worked for a little while and then something would change (not sure what) but it wouldn't feel right anymore and I'd search again. I used to wear an underwire, but I couldn't even imagine now. That was through my first 2. Oh, and with them I used the motherhood sleep bras. I hated having to wear a bra to sleep! So, this time I splurged and gave the sticky "LilyPadz" a try - primarily for sleep. I LOVE THEM!! I definitely recommend them if only for sleeping. It seems goofy that the sticky rubery thing would work, but it does (unless the baby sleeps way through a feeding, but usually you are pretty uncomfortable by then anyways). Sleeping without a bra makes me a much happier person! With my third I discovered the Target nursing cami's and LOVE them. I'm 8.5 months in now and still wear them daily. I think I've had to get dressed up 1 or 2 times when I had to wear a "normal" bra. Otherwise the cami's are perfect. It's great because the cups drop open from the top so your tummy stays covered and your shirt comes down over the top so your regular shirt becomes like a nursing top and you stay covered easily. They are soft and comfy. I had my daughter in May so I wore them under a light shirt all summer and it was just fine - not too hot as they are cotton and light. When I got to our Mommy and Me yoga class, I just wear my black or grey one by itself as my yoga top and am ready to nurse easily if necessary.

I found my best nursing bras at Boscov's honestly, and they weren't that expensive either. I think like 7 or 8 bucks, and they've held up now for almost three years. I will have to get new ones now that I'm pregnant again, but they were my primary bras from the time I started leaking while I was pregnant with my first until about 6 months ago. It was just because they were so comfortable. Anyways, about your underwire question, I have seen them with underwires, but I wouldn't suggest wearing them. I remember when I got my milk in my breasts became so engorged that just undoing the clip to pump was enough to cause a minor fountain. I can only imagine that an underwire added to that amount of pressure would simply cause issues (blocked ducts, bruises, etc.) Is this your first baby??

I had heard about the "no underwire" as well, but I bought a 4 different types/styles including 1 w/ underwire. I have to say my favorite and longest lasting were ones without the underwire that I got at Kohls. (http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/womens/womensbrands/ohbab...) I also got 2 different style cotton ones from Walmart and they were comfortable, but showed the wear more than the ones from Kohls. My absolute least favorite were the ones with the underwire. The underwire wanted to flip and was just uncomfortable. I went back and bought more from kohls as I am 27 weeks pregnant w/ #2 and figured I'd just go back to my favorites. Hope this helps.

T.,

The best nursing bras provide you with support. You can wear one with an underwire (I did for both kids) and liked them the best. Medela and Bravado make good soft bras. I found nursing camisoles the best for nightime. If you have a larger chest, you can find lots of options on line, try biggerbras.com. Make sure you get fitted at a maternity store a few weeks after the baby is born s you kow your size.

Hi Theresa,
Congrats on your upcoming arrival!! :)
I actually found nice nursing bras at jcpennys. they are in the bra section in the boxes. Very easy to open one handed, comfy/soft/breatheable, and have a "soft" underwire. I got mine back in Oct. but they were on sale for $8!! [orig. $26-30]

I would recommend getting them asap, i loved these bras at the end stage of pregnancy and early in breast feeding when your really engorged.

I'm going to look @ Target for their "sexy" versions that another mom recommended now that my milk production has leveled out... imagine- feeling sexy while nursing! lol, probably still leak, but my husband will appreciate the effort! Good Luck!!!

L.

I had a nursing ba that had kind of like a button on the top of the cup and an elastic hoop that hooked around it. It DID have an underwire (I HAVE to have it). I purchased it from Walmart and it was not very expensive and was very comfortable. The only thing I didn't like about it was that it wasn't easy to unlatch with one hand. I ended up getting those undershirts/pajama tops that have the built in bra. Then I would just pull the shirt down from the top. I would wear a shirt over it. That way, my stomach wouldn't show when I needed to breast feed. It worked out really nicely.
I hope that helps!
-M.

Actually nursing bras can have underwires, but if you can do without them, it is usually recommended. I am a very, very busty women and small everywhere else and they do not make nursing bras without underwires in my size that actually hold my breast up.

I have used ones with underwires for nursing both of my sons (one I nursed for 8 months, the other is almost three months and I am nursing him now) and have never had any problems. I feel a lot more comfortable with those bras because the only ones I found without underwire had me hanging very low and would have caused more strain to my back. It is a personal decision and you should do what is best for you.

The only bras that come in my size (usually a 32H or 34H when nursing) are sold at Nordstrom's so they are more expensive, but a good bra truly is worth the money.

BRAVADO! I am a larger breasted woman and I can not say enough good things about my bravado bras. They give me lots of support and are well made. They are expensive but worth every penny. They also make designs for smaller breasted women. As for the underwire, I have heard that as well. The bravado bras have support w/out the wire. Check out their website and good luck.

L.

Here's what you need to know-I'm nursing my second child who is one month old! You CAN'T predict or buy ahead. You have to wait until your milk comes in to try on your first nursing bra. And bring nursing pads to the dressing room-because you may leak! You can't know your size, shape, or how much support you'll need until the moment comes. Then, you may need to go try on a smaller one in a few weeks as your boobs calm down and adjust and you shed some weight etc. Once again, you can't predict ahead of time. I was able to wear underwires without a problem, but everyone is different. The most important thing is your comfort and support. After several months, I was able to go back to normal bras even though I was nursing, and I just pulled the strap down, because no nursing bras were fitting well, and leaking wasn't an issue anymore. Just don't buy too many bras that are all the same, because sometimes the fit is wrong after just a couple of weeks, and you'll waste money! I needed like five sizes of bras for the first year after my first baby. Good luck!
ps at night I wear sports bras for wire free support and to hold pads in place.
a m y

At night for support and comfort I like to wear the ones by Bravado that do not have underwire and are like a sports bra. During the day I wear the ones with the underwire because they definitely give you a much more flattering shape.

My nursing bras have underwire and I nursed for 15 months with no problem. I even work full time and never gave my daughter a drop of formula. Motherhood has some really nice and cheap nursing bras.

I breastfed my son until he was 11 months old so I wore nursing bras for a decent amount of time. I bought nursing bras from all over including the maternity stores and other high end places. Honestly, the ones I liked the best were the ones I bought from WalMart. None of my nursing bras had underwires. I was concerned they would not be supportive enough at first as I am rather large breasted but it was fine. Hope this helps.

YES! Nursing bras cannot have underwear...although many on the market do. The underwear reduces your milk supply as its added pressure to your milk ducts. Other than that, just find the bra the most comforting to you and buy several. These will be it for awhile. I haven't had the best of luck with nursing bras and expecting my fourth. Let me know if you find some! I didn't have much luck at Motherhood Maternity, but maybe the selection is different now. Maybe a higher scale maternity store would have some nice ones and it would be worth it. Good Luck!!

I bought my nursing bras at both JC Penny's and a Hanes outlet in Nags Head NC while on vacation. Both had flaps with three hooks for varying changes in size throughout the day and no padding or under-wire. I also bought a Hanes "Barely There" sports bra for at night that was much more comfortable to sleep in and I could just push it up to nurse and not deal with hooks in the dark.

I had to purchase smaller ones after 6 months because my kids were such productive nursers my breasts didn't get as full all the time.

Also a must have are the disposable bra pads. The best deal I found were at Toys R Us and Babies R Us - the box of 100 Avent pads were around $10. I also tried the washable ones but they grossed me out, they never got as clean as I wanted.

Medela makes the most comfortable nursing bras. They also are the easiest to open and close with only one hand. You would have to search for a "dealer" on the website to find one near you. I got mine from a Lactation Consultant in the Hershey/Hummelstown area. She helped me a lot with getting the proper fit and gave me a lot of tips on breastfeeding while I was there. These bras are also great because they come in larger cup sizes (even if you need a smaller band). When I went to buy mine from her, I even wore it home!!

Oh, most recommend to wait until after baby is born to buy the bras. Your breasts will continue to change even after the baby is born and nursing is established.

Hello! I bought my nursing bras at K-Mart. I think they were around $9.00 each. The cotton was very soft and comfortable. They had the underwire, but I didn't have any problems. I did hear that if the bras are too tight the underwire could block your milk flow and if this happens frquently it can become very painful. It happened to me with my first daughter, but only because I was very poor and couldn't afford actual nursing bras. I would say to make sure to get the right size and the underwire is actually under your breasts and you shouldn't have any problems if you would prefer underwire. Hope this helps!

Hi T.,
Congratulations and good for you to plan on breastfeeding. I breastfed all three of my children for a year each. I loved the Bravado brand (no underwire) bras. They are a little more expensive, but the quality is worth it. You can also get them on ebay at a discount. Another great thing to get is a nursing cover for when you are out in public. Mine was called hooter hiders. http://www.bebeaulait.com/
I loved that thing! Good luck to you. T.

I love the nursing bras from Wal-Mart, I wear them 24-7. They're cheap (around 8 bucks), so you can get several and they're all cotton and very comfortable. They come in a great range of sizes and several styles. Also the nursing tanks from Target are great, much nicer looking than the ones from Motherhood. I've heard the underwire line, but there are lots of underwire nursing bras on the market, so I don't think they can be that terrible or nobody would make them or buy them. I started out wearing underwire nursing bras but just found them less convenient. I didn't have any problems with them in terms of the infections or reducing milk supply that people claim, though.

I started off w/ the WalMart ones too. They did the job just fine. You want to avoid underwires at least in the beginning to prevent clogged ducts and mastitis.
After my breasts settled back down to normal size (MANY months later) I found Target's nursing bras - lacy, black...something you can't find most other places! I also LOVE Target's nursing tanks - very comfy, great price, and they hold up MUCH better than the ones at Motherhood Maternity.

It has been many years (time flies)since I did that,but I'll advise you on what I can remember. Don't know what brands or styles are out there anymore, but do get something supportive (I'm pretty big myself, so I should know), I used underwire, as nothing else seems to stay put (you know, riding up), and also, just as important, one that unsnaps or unhooks conveniently. If you can do it with one hand, that's a good sign. But go for something that you are comfortable with and feels like it would be convenient, or you likely won't wear it. One other important thought--get one that is loose enough that you can wear thick nursing pads--you never know! Remember these 4-5 words when shopping: supportive, roomy cup, comfortable, convenient.

look at Japanese Weekend shop - it's the best for me

no that's not true. i had a nursing bra w/ underwire although it does kind of get in the way when you are trying to pull down the cup to nurse. the wire makes it want to ride up into your baby's face. It may depend on breast size and preference but I LIVED in the nursing tank tops instead of bras. they were extremely comfortable and convenient. you just incorporate them into your wardrobe....a sweatsuit w/ nursing tank was my staple! the ones i stocked up on were from target....in their bra department they have a small section of nursing bras...they are in plastic boxes.
I nursed both my babies for over a year each so if you want to pick my brain w/ any questions/concerns, please do. best of luck w/ your labor/delivery and nursing! enjoy!!!!!
-C.

Theresa first of all good for you to nurse your baby! the health benefits are tremendous. As far as nursing bras yes stay away from the underwire, it tends to inhibit the flow of your lymph and your milk which could increase your chances of getting a breast infection. Find one that is comfortable, supportive, and easy for you to open to nurse, especially while in public. Some nursing bras are difficult to open and or close. So go and try a few styles to see what works for you. L.

The first one I had bought was a huge mistake. I'm small chested, so I bought one that was similar to the ones I was used to wearing - smooth cups with some padding. I don't even know how they could call it a nursing bra. It was impossible to open and nurse a baby while wearing. I should have asked for some opinions first. The day after I came home from the hospital we ended up leaving my son with my in-laws and my husband took me to the mall to buy new ones (at JC Penney's). This time I bought ones that had no padding. They had three positions for the clips which was good for fluctuations in size. Which reminds me of another thing I never knew prior to breastfeeding, the first couple days hurt like heck from all the milk coming in. It got better thankfully. My breasts didn't get any bigger until I had the baby, so I didn't know which cup size to buy. I ended up getting the next two sizes up.

I'd suggest getting one or two now and see how they work out and then go get more once you have the baby. Good luck and congrats!

All my nursing bras had underwire.......can't live without it! I had no problems. I got mine at Motherhood, and they were very reaslonable! Good luck!

Just make sure that when you try them on they aren't too tight around the sides of your breasts (where most plugged ducts occur). I had trouble with plugged ducts in the beginning b/c my bras were too tight. Remember that you'll also likely be putting nursing pads in them so keep that in mind when you're judging the size. I also found the Target brand bras to work well. But, I'm thinking that I would have liked to try one of the more expensive brands too just to see if they would be even better. The Target ones do the job, though.

Hi T.,

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I have written a few articles on breastfeeding and pumping which may be helpful for you. Here are links:
Breastfeeding Tips for new mothers: <http://www.mothersboutique.com/brtifornewmo.html&gt;
Pumping Tips: <http://www.mothersboutique.com/woandbrtifor.html&gt;

For nursing bras, it really is personal preference which ones are best. Most lactation consultants will tell you not to wear an underwire for the first 6 weeks because of risk of mastitis. I always wore an underwire - while I was pregnant and as soon as my baby was born. So it really just depends on what you want to do. Most nursing bras with underwires are made with nursing in mind, so they are designed to be comfortable and safe for nursing. What bra will work best for you will depend on what size you are. I have outlined some of my favorite below. I am located in Wexford and would be happy to do a fitting for you to help you locate the best bra.

1) A good sleep bra is usually a good idea. Many mothers leak when their milk first comes in and so sleeping in a comfortable bra will give you support and allow you to keep nursing pads in place. This is my favorite sleep bra: <http://www.mothersboutique.com/conubra.html&gt;

2) My favorite non underwire bra is this one: <http://www.mothersboutique.com/bosisenubra.html&gt; - it gives great support and lift and has removable padding. There are many others that are good too - but this is my personal favorite.

3) My favorite underwire bra is this one: <http://www.mothersboutique.com/teunnubra.html&gt; - it gives great support and has the most comfortable underwire that I have ever worn! It is so comfy that my mother actually bought this bra and she isn't nursing! But it was more comfortable than anything else she had worn. This is the one that I personally wear. It is also nice for when the baby first comes because it has 3 nursing clips. In the beginning your breasts will change size quite a bit depending on how "full" they - so this allows you to adjust the size of the cup to fit how full your breasts happen to be.

4) If you are looking for the ultimate in Luxury - these bras from Condessa are the most luxurious that I have ever found: <http://www.mothersboutique.com/condessa.html&gt; But they only work for D cups and smaller - so if you have large breasts they probably wont' work for you.

5) If you are looking for something sexy, these bras from passion spice are the ultimate in sensuality and making you feel special. <http://www.mothersboutique.com/passionspice.html&gt;

You may also want to look into pajamas - many of the nursing pajamas have enough support that you can wear nursing pads without needing a sleep bra. <http://www.mothersboutique.com/nupalo.html&gt;

J.
A Mother's Boutique
Breastfeeding clothing, nursing bras, breastpumps, slings and accessories
MamaSource Members will receive 10% off of their first order - just mention promo code "MamaSource"
http://www.mothersboutique.com

HI -

I'm nursing right now and I love the nursing tank tops I ordered from Glamourmom.com! They are comfortable and you can wear them under outfits, to bed etc...
good luck

H. M.

What I found the easiest were thoses cotton bras (not nursing bras) that you just pull over your head, no clasps or anything. They are similar to sports bras, but they make some cotton ones, that are not tight like a sports bra. I got mine at Walmart. I liked those because you can easily lift them up to latch the baby on. The nursing bras are good, but you have to reach in and unsnap and so for ease and discretion, especially in public I found it easy to just lift up the sprots type bra. Good luck!