What type - you choose..... (Maternity Bras in General)

Member Name: Place

Product:	Maternity Bras in General
Date:	30/06/02 (181 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Comfortable, Ease of Use, Holds breast pads in place

Disadvantages: Can cause blockages, uncomfortable, badly fitting

There are many different views on wearing maternity and breastfeeding bras, and as many diferent products to match. So, what do you look for? price, quality, pretty, comfortable etc. Here are my tips -

Do you NEED a bra? well obviously most women do, it helps to support, it holds breast pads in place, it keeps your shape etc.- but if you are one of the few people who don't normally need or wear a bra, then you might not need one here. You will get a lot of people saying 'well this one time that you do',and a lot of people who don't normally wear one will benefit, but there is a downside if you don't need to - you might contrict breast tissue. This will normally apply to small breasted women only. - so consider first if you need one (even if it is just to keep breast pads in place and to support the extra weight it might be useful).

Next - what type? Well ideally one without underwiring - because this can dig into your changing rib and beast size and constrict breast tissue causing block ducts for example. Cotton - because this will allow a good air circulation and the natural fibers are better for your skin, if you leak then man made fibers are not so hygenic and can encourage bateria growth. Shape - ideally with seamless cups - seams can rub and iritate and cause pressure on the changing breast size, also with potential to block ducts. Comfort - Obvious it's got to fit, and have plenty of adjustment for changing breast size, perhaps with wider than usual straps to take the extra weight and not dig into your shoulders. Ease of use - can you open the cups one handed? because you'll need to with the baby in your other hand, so have a go a opening with you less dominent hand - although you might need to practice this a few times.

So a lot of issues to consider, that's apart from 'do yo want a granny style white one, or a sexy leopard skin job' for example.

When would you buy one - wel
l in my opinion you should buy a breastfeeding bra 2 weeks after delivery, by then your breast will have settled down into a less explosive state, and your ribs will have returned to their pre pregnant state, so you are more likely to get one that fits for the rest of your breastfeeding time. You could buy one in the later stages of pregnancy, but make sure that when you try it on you have the back hooks in the loosest position, that way when your ribs shrink you can use the tighter hooks. If you decide to buy before delivery only get one or two and get another one or two after delivery (2 weeks) then you are sure that you've got good fitting ones.

It's unlikely that you will find a bra that suits on absolutely every score - i.e. no wires,cotton, no seams, easily adjustable, easy to open, and sexy - but at least aim for about three of the options. Perhaps consider whether your 'old' bras would be any use, or that even if you breastfeed for 2...3...4.. years whatever - you won't necessarily need a breastfeeding bra for this amount of time - you will probably want to get back into your 'normal' bras from about 6 - 9 months, so not so long then!! - Have a think about it first and the options

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