Maternity & Nursing Bra Favorites
Maternity & Nursing
Favorites
Hello, from the other side, I’m excited to officially share a few of my favorite maternity and nursing bras that I’ve been testing out for the past month. I’ve covered maternity/nursing undergarments several times before, including here with several tips and tricks that were spot on for me throughout my pregnancy journey. More recently, I shared a few more picks and tips here, including an option to get fitted virtually. You may also want to check out my ten favorite wire-free bra favorites!
While I’m still very confident in the previous content I’ve shared, there’s something about having firsthand experience and developing some personal preferences based on trial and error. While I’m new to the mom game, I hope this post may be helpful for those currently in a similar season of life. I have tried a bunch of bras over the past several months, I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface on them so feel free to leave any other favorites at the bottom of this post.
Nursing Bras
It’s best to try to wait until as late as possible in your pregnancy to buy a nursing bra – ideally until after your 36th or 37th week of pregnancy. While it’s great to plan ahead, there’s no way of telling what size you will be after your baby has been born, so you may need to re-assess! Pro tip: most local specialty shops and Nordstrom can convert any bra into a nursing bra!
Immediately after giving birth, it is recommended that you wear a non-wired bra for the first few weeks. Your milk coming in will affect the size and shape of your boobs so they will fluctuate a lot. A non-wired style is less likely to dig in and feel uncomfortable or cause problems like mastitis (inflammation of the breast tissue).
If you choose to breastfeed, it’s advised to wear a non-wired nursing bra for at least four weeks after the birth of your baby. After that, you can wear non-wired or a flexi-wired or underwired nursing style (unless you have been given specific medical advice to avoid wires). Some women prefer nursing bras with flexible wires as they find them a little more supportive and give better separation and shape. Once you stop breastfeeding and your milk has gone, or the size of your boobs has stopped changing as much, you can choose to return to underwired styles.
NURSING SLEEP BRA (XL - BUSTY, USE CODE CARALYN) | SHORTS (XXL)
NURSING BRA (XL - BUSTY) | SHORTS (XXL)
One of the styles I was not expecting to love the most was the cross-front style like this one (shown above) and this one. It was really comfortable in the early days postpartum when my breasts were really sensitive and sore, I wear these styles a lot around the house and usually always at night with a button-down pajama set. Of course, everyone is different, and you may have different preferences and comfort levels, but you won’t know unless you try a few different styles.
Re-discovering my wardrobe to wear nursing-friendly options has been a journey! I’ve been documenting my postpartum wardrobe here as well as more postpartum recovery and favorites here. My most worn everyday bras that have worked well with my tops and dresses are this one, which was your most suggested nursing/pumping bra recommendation when I did a question box. I find that it gives really good support and I like that it comes in various sizes, including busty which is what I’m wearing. I’ve also been loving this one and this one. Here are a few more of my favorites:
Nursing Tanks & Pajamas
I underestimated how much I’d love nursing tanks, especially for these warmer months paired with a skort or shorts. They make great layering pieces too, so you can wear them with a cardigan or button-down shirt in the cooler months. I like that they are one thing to throw on and you don’t have to worry about a bra. They don’t provide a ton of support, but they do the job, especially in the early days. My favorite tank has been this one, and the fabric is truly divine. I’ve repurchased a few and wear them as a pajama top too sometimes. The clip is discreet and not too bulky, making it a great option to wear outside the house. I also love these tanks, and they have sewn-in cups which are great for holding up in the wash and some modesty.
To know me throughout my pregnancy is to know that I’ve become a pajama connoisseur. I previously shared a guide on where I love to shop pajamas and robes, highly recommend checking that out if you’re in the market! I quickly realized how much I appreciated button-down front pajama tops for feedings. Pajamas are also a great gift idea for new moms, in case you’re looking for any ideas! A nice pajama set makes me feel cute, comfortable, and somewhat put together, especially on the days that I don’t change out of them until the afternoon.
OUTFIT DETAILS (SIZE 5, SIZE 1X - USE CARALYN10 ON SPANX)
OUTFIT DETAILS (XXL.- USE CARALYNxLAKE)
ITEMS THAT HAVE HELPED ME
WHILE Breastfeeding
Okay now, I’m certainly not a breastfeeding professional, but I wanted to share a few things that have gotten me through this time. I strongly encourage you to reach out to your lactation specialist, pediatrician, doctor, etc. for more personalized support. I love these reusable, washable pads to wear throughout the day to avoid leaking through my bra/outfit. When I leave the house, I make sure I’m always wearing these silicone catchers. They are easy to clean, catch up to one ounce of milk, and are incredibly discreet to wear in your bra. When feeding, I like to wear these ladybug catchers on the opposite side to catch letdowns. They stand up on their own, so I’ll throw them in the fridge right after feeds before transferring them into a bag.
To encourage a healthy supply, these Boobie Bars are my favorite, especially the oatmeal chocolate chip flavor. For some pain relief, these hydrogel patches worked wonders for me, and these reusable heating pads and nipple butter. I found out (the hard way) that I had an allergy to lanolin (what’s in a lot of nipple creams) so this one works well for me.
Thanks for reading!
I hope this post was helpful, feel free to leave any questions or any of your favorite styles or tips below. I’m easing back into creating content and have plenty more to share with you, including my birth story and what I ended up using in the hospital. In the meantime, be sure to check out more on the “motherhood” and “undergarments” tab on the blog.
xx CMK