Breastfeeding bras

A breastfeeding mother needs to have a good breastfeeding bra, one that fits and is comfortable. Without one, breastfeeding is a much more tedious and uncomfortable experience, for both the mother and the baby.

There are two main types of breastfeeding bras – ones that simply pull aside and ones that have flaps. The ones that pull aside tend to be comfortable, but offer very little support. When choosing a bra with flaps, make sure that the flaps are easy to unhook (to expose your breast) with just one hand – your other hand will likely be dealing with a hungry infant. Also, look for a breastfeeding bra with adjustable flaps – ones in which you can increase the cup size by latching the flap differently.

When choosing your breastfeeding bra, be sure to get one with enough room for nursing pads. Also, decide whether or not you want an underwire – if you did not wear an underwire before you were pregnant, now is not the time to start. If you do decide to wear an underwire (and many women like the extra support it gives), be sure to buy one that fits very well. An ill-fitting underwire breastfeeding bra can cut down your milk supply.

In general, the most important aspect of a breastfeeding bra is how comfortable it is and how well it fits. Therefore, next time you are in a bra shop and a salesperson asks if you want to be measured, say “yes.” After all, your body has changed a lot, and you may likely be a very different size than you had thought. If you do not want a salesperson to measure you, or if you are planning on ordering online, you can measure yourself.

Here are two methods for measuring for a bra size (you may want to ask someone for some help for the best results):

· For the band size, take a tape measurer and measure under your arms, above the breast, and high on the back. Try to keep your arms down. Round this number up to the next even number. Now measure the fullest part of your breasts, and subtract this number from the first number. If the difference is 2 inches, you are a B cup; 3 inch difference is a C cup; and so on.
· Or… measure around the chest, right beneath the breast. Be sure to keep the measuring tape level all around. Add 5 inches to this measurement – if this number ends up being odd, add an extra inch. This is your band size (this should be the same as the measurement taken under the arms and above your chest). To get your cup size, you do the same as stated above: measure around the fullest part of the breast and subtract this number from the first. A 1 inch difference is an A cup. A 2 inch difference is a B cup, etc.

Note: no matter which method you use to measure your bra size, be sure to wear a bra. Otherwise, the results will be skewed.

So, while comfort is key when choosing a breastfeeding bra, frumpy is not always best. Do not be afraid to get something a little sexy. Find breastfeeding bras with matching panties or thongs.

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