Bras For Pregnancy And Nursing

MotherhoodUndergarments
Written By Caralyn Mirand Koch
 
 

let’s talk about

pregnancy and nursing bras

Expecting and nursing mamas, this one is for you! The last time we discussed maternity and nursing bras, I was not pregnant nor planning to be, so I enlisted the help of my trusted friend and fit advisor to share some tips. While embarking on my own journey, I found those tips incredibly helpful and accurate, but now I’m back and excited to share more of my finds from Bravissimo, a brand near and dear to my heart! 

In case you’re not familiar with Bravissimo, they are one of my favorite fit-focused retailers who really care about how the bras/swimwear actually fit you rather than just selling you high-quality bras; they have those too! They’ve quickly become one of my favorite options to send to people who cannot get properly fitted near them. Their virtual fitting option is by far the best experience I’ve had, but if you find yourself in NYC you can visit their store in Soho too. This leads me to my next point…

Ever-changing boobs

Pregnancy brings on so many changes to the body. Those changes are different for everyone. Every person is different, with various hormones and circumstances. Every pregnancy is different. For me, my boobs were the first indicator that *maybe* I was pregnant, I thought maybe I had pulled something or had gone too hard at the gym, but sure enough, my body had other stuff going on.

Generally speaking, boobs will get bigger. Your ribcage will expand. Your nipples (the bump) will get bigger. Your areola (the colored part around your nipple) will get darker and develop bumps on them. Your boobs might end up with impressive veins due to increased blood flow (just add it to your list of superpowers). I’ve affectionately started calling them “cousins.” They used to be sisters (never twins), but now they’ve become more distant relatives. Enough about my relatives. Let’s discuss some options for maternity and nursing bras…

 
 
 

okay, but how much bigger

WILL MY BOOBS GET DURING PREGNANCY?

Typically pregnant women go up one band size and two cup sizes during pregnancy. Most of the change occurs during the first trimester and is hormonally driven. These changes (1 band and 2 cups) are common, with a weight gain of 25-35 pounds. 

Examples: Remember that the cup size increases when you add a band.

So, you want to add two numbers and one letter): 

  • Pre-pregnancy 34B + one band = 36 + two cups = 36C

  • Pre-pregnancy 38E + one band = 40 + two cups = 40F

Pro Tip: avoid all of this bra math and schedule a virtual or in-store fitting with Bravissimo; the experts can help you figure it out. Don’t tough it out until you can’t stand your bras anymore. If you’ve been pregnant before, you likely know the game – wear regular clothes until you can’t button your jeans anymore and then change to maternity clothes. Please don’t do this with your bras. Most changes in breast size occur in the first trimester. You will feel much more comfortable if you are refitted during or at the end of the first trimester! Still looking for more information? Bravissimo has some great resources on its site.

 
 
 
 

as far as pregnancy/maternity

bras go, let’s discuss!

If you’re not familiar, a maternity bra is a bra that you wear when you’re pregnant. It can be any bra that fits you well and is comfortable. Some women prefer to wear non-wired bras when pregnant, and others prefer to stick to underwired bras. You can buy a maternity bra whenever you feel ready! It depends on how your boobs change while you’re expecting, which is unique to every pregnancy.

I’ve been noticing that I prefer more wire-free styles and wearing those as much as I can get away with. I have been able to size accordingly in some of my favorite styles. I’ve also been preferring to sleep in bras, and Bravissimo has some fantastic options, including the Fern comfort bra, which also comes in a nursing option. If your pregnancy bras are getting too small, consider 1-2 that will get you comfortably to the end of term. If planning to nurse, get ready for the first few weeks postpartum. Stock up with a few nursing bralettes/tank tops. I recommend wire-free, flexible size options for the first 6-12 weeks after delivery.

Okay, great! Now what about

nursing bras?

Onto nursing bras… so clearly, I do not have firsthand experience to speak on the functionality of these bras, but I know enough about undergarments to be able to speak to a few details worth noting. I like and understand that I prefer a nursing bra with an a-frame sling (see photo below) rather than just the strap unclasping and disconnecting the garment. 

From my understanding, 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! Bravissimo offers an express delivery service (plus free returns!), so you can order towards the end of your pregnancy or if you have an unexpected early arrival!

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.

 
 
 
 
 

Okay, now what?

Depending on your current situation or life phase, you may wonder if it’s time for a new bra. It can’t hurt to schedule an in-person or virtual fitting session just to do a little wellness check on how your bras are currently working for you! Be sure to leave any questions or suggestions below. Thanks for reading! 

xx CMK

styles I tried:

BLACK MOLDED NURSING BRA
BEIGE NURSING BRA
BLUSH PINK NON-WIRED BRA
BLUSH WIRE-FREE NURSING BRA
ROSE PINK NURSING BRA
NAVY NURSING SLEEP BRA
BLACK WIRE-FREE BRA

Thanks to Bravissimo for sponsoring this post, all thoughts and opinions are my own!

 
Caralyn Mirand Koch
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