How to Choose a Nursing Bra

Firstly, a maternity bra is a nursing bra is a maternity bra. Thats that cleared up.

The right time to be fitted for a maternity bra varies from woman to woman and there is no right time for everyone. The breast begins to prepare for lactation quite early in pregnancy and some women will outgrow their usual bra size earlier than others. Generally speaking, most of the changes to the breast have occurred by around four months (16 weeks gestation) and this is a good time to be fitted, if you haven't needed to earlier.
 
A correctly fitted bra gives you comfort and support, so it is a good idea to be professionally fitted. You will be fitted for the size you are at the time, as maternity bras have your changing needs incorporated into their design. It is not necessary to buy a bra you will grow into - indeed too big can be as bad as too small!

What Happens - (thanks to Emer @onceborn.com for her advice)

For the first few days after giving birth, when you breastfeed, your baby receives colostrum. At around the third day, your milk will ‘come in’. At that point, you can experience an increase of one or two more cup sizes from your third trimester.

Typically after about 6 weeks to a few months of nursing, these fluctuations settle down. You will have established your breastfeeding relationship and routine, and will usually decrease a few cup sizes. As well, around this point, your rib band size will begin to go back to your pre-pregnancy size. This is the size you will likely stay until you finish breastfeeding. That is, at about your pre-pregnancy rib band size, and up one cup size.

Find Your Current Size
If you’re not sure of your pre-pregnancy or third trimester bra size to use as a starting point, you can also measure yourself to determine your current size. Here’s how:
Measure yourself with your (unpadded) bra on. Stand straight, relaxed, with your arms down, breathing normally. If you can, measure yourself in front of a mirror, so you can make sure the measuring tape isn’t twisted and that it’s parallel to the floor all the way around.

How to measure for a nursing bra

 1) Take Your Rib Cage Measurement – Just below your breasts. If you have someone helping measure you, and you are wearing a bra that your breasts are sagging in even a little bit, take your straps and pull up so that your breasts are lifted to where you would like them to be, and then have your friend measure your rib cage. This is a snug measurement.

2) Take Your Bust Measurement - Across the fullest part of your breasts. As with the previous measurement, if you are wearing a bra that doesn’t position your breasts exactly where you’d like them to be, then hold your bra straps up so your breasts are lifted to their ideal spot, and measure across the fullest part (usually across the nipples). This is a loose measurement.

 Now, you are ready to determine your current size:
1) If you get an odd number on your rib cage measurement, round up. This is your rib band size.
2) Subtract that rib band size from your bust measurement. Every inch is one cup size:

• 1 inch = A cup
• 2 inches = B cup
• 3 inches = C cup
• 4 inches = D cup
• 5 inches = DD cup
• 6 inches = E cup
• 7 inches = F cup
• 8 inches = G cup
• 9 inches = H cup

Now that you have a good idea about your current size, you’ll need to look at what stage of pregnancy or nursing you are in right now, and what you are buying the bra for to make sure it will work for your current and future needs. Refer above to the breast changes you can expect during pregnancy and nursing, and adjust accordingly. For example, if you just measured yourself in your third trimester, you will want to keep that band size, and go up 1-2 cup sizes for a nursing bra to fit you well when your baby is born.

 Tips:

• Purchase your nursing bra as near to your due date as possible (36+ weeks). By then your breasts should have reached their maximum size. You will need two or three to cope with leaks.
• Keep your bra on when measuring.
• Ask somebody else to take your measurements.
• Pregnancy can distort your measurement.
• Consider your current bra size - are the cups too small?
  Is the underband comfortable?
• Remember that after the baby is born your rib cage measurement will decrease a little.
• Consider the fact that when the milk comes in your breasts may increase slightly – perhaps by a cup size. Once a feeding pattern has been established, re-measure and change your nursing bra accordingly. Also bear in mind you will probably use breast pads to soak up leaks – so allow enough room for these.

To wire or not to wire?

Many women prefer underwire fashion bras and are confused when told these are not recommended during pregnancy or lactation. The reason for this is, once again, your changing breast shape. When breastfeeding, the breasts can increase and decrease in size during the day, as milk is produced and removed. Retained fluid in late pregnancy can also cause the breast to swell. Although only a slight change in size is occurring, a rigid underwire may put pressure on the breast when it is fuller. Such pressure can lead to blocked milk ducts or mastitis and it is for this reason inflexible underwire bras are not recommended. However, there are now nursing bras available that have a flexible plastic support, similar to an underwire, designed to flex and change position with your changing shape. These are less likely to cause problems.

Having said all this, make the decision yourself, lots of women wear underwire in pregnancy and breastfeeding, lots dont..  We are testament to this variation based on our own little breastway babes survey! Our non scientific conclusion says wire away if you feel better in them!

Bras for Breastfeeding.

Bras designed for pregnant women are also used when breastfeeding. The names maternity bra and nursing bra mean the same thing.  
When trying on different styles, remember to open and close the bra cup. Most bras open for feeding and some are easier to manage than others. For example ones that easily open with one hand are very handy!
Look for bras where the whole cup folds away, as opposed to rigid 'trapdoor' styles which can also put pressure on a full breast while feeding. Some of the underwired feeding bras work like this and are only easy to use with experience! Centre front and shoulder clasp styles are available. Padded bras do not open that well and don’t expose the breast fully. These are fine when you become a proficient feeder!

Should I wear a bra to bed?

The decision to wear a bra to bed depends entirely on personal preference. Some women feel they need the support or a way to hold nursing pads in place (very handy if you need pads - I did!) others find a bra uncomfortable. Special sleep bras are available from such companies as Motherhood or Medela (the breastway think they’re the best!) or you can wear a crop top or other soft cup bra in the correct size. Or none, of course. This is by far preferable. If youre one of the fortunate few that don’t leak while youre feeding from the other side, go for it au naturel you lucky babe!

How do I look after them?

It is a good idea to have at least two or three bras. As your breasts (not to mention the baby!) may leak milk, they can need changing more frequently than usual. Some recommend hand washing your bras… thebreastway girls say sling ‘em in the washing machine, don’t you have more than enough on your plate!

For more information see www.onceborn.com/blog