A Supportive Nursing Bra
How and When to Buy
We know where to go when we are pregnant and suddenly our regular jeans don’t fit, but many women are baffled during pregnancy and nursing when it comes to dealing with their growing bust line. This isn’t so surprising when you understand that most women are wearing the wrong bra size pre-pregnancy, so they are working from faulty information to begin with and now their breasts are changing in size and shape as well.
During pregnancy, and while nursing, it is crucial that women wear a properly fitting bra so their breasts are properly supported. Support is key during pregnancy and nursing when our breast tissue is denser and heavier which puts strain on the ligaments that help hold up the breasts. Without proper support, these ligaments can stretch causing sagging of the breasts later. Proper support during this time can help your figure later!
You also need to take into account the size and shape of your breasts and you need to understand what to look for in a bra and how it should fit. It is also essential that you try on many different styles of bras. You must try them on. Just as no one jean style fits every body type, neither does any one bra style or maker. Every bra manufacturer has a different fit model and makes their bras a bit differently. You have to find the one that works for your particular shape. What may have worked great for your girlfriend may not work for you. Every pregnancy is different as well, so the bras you wore in a previous pregnancy may not work for your current pregnancy.
The right band size is key as this is where all your support comes from. If you are wearing the wrong band size you are not getting the support you should. Many women are wearing a bra that is too large in the band size and too small in the cup size. Getting accurate measurements can be tricky, so it is important to have it done properly by a certified professional fitter.
Your bra should not be something that pinches or pokes you. It shouldn’t need to be adjusted throughout the day. It shouldn’t ride up in the back or pull away from your body. Your straps shouldn’t be digging into your shoulders or falling off all the time. These are all signs of an ill-fitting bra and they can all be avoided.
The average woman will wear six different bra sizes throughout her life. Quite a few of these size changes happen during pregnancy, while nursing and after weaning. Getting fitted on a regular basis during this time will help insure that you look and feel as good as you can throughout all of the transitions your breasts go through. The right bra during this time can help you feel more comfortable and can help make nursing a more positive experience.
Many women like to get their nursing bras towards the end of their pregnancy. I understand the desire to want to have everything in place for when you come home with your new baby, but the fact is that is impossible to predict what size your breasts will be once your milk comes in. Women can go up two to four cup sizes once their milk comes in completely and will stay that size for the first few months of nursing. Once they get on an established routine and their baby’s growth slows a bit, their bra size will change again (generally back to the band size they were pre-pregnancy and a cup size larger than they were pre-pregnancy). These larger bras will come in handy during baby’s growth spurts when breast size will increase to accommodate for the growing demand, so don’t hide them away.
Getting professionally fitted on a regular basis will help insure that you look and feel as good as you can throughout the transitions from pre-pregnancy to pregnancy and gaining weight to giving birth, lactating and losing weight. As your shape changes so should your bra. The right bra will help your posture, your level of comfort and your waistline!
Pregnancy can be a time when we are uncomfortable. Labor and delivery can be painful. There is no reason your bra should be!