What size nursing bra do you need?

Now through Tuesday (3/6/07) Motherwear is having its semi-annual bra sale.  You can save 15% when you buy two, and 20% when you buy three or more. 

I thought that this would be a good opportunity to talk about something that inspires lots of confusion:  how to figure out what size nursing bra you need.

Here is the general idea:

Cup size.  In general, it's best to buy a nursing bra at the end of your pregnancy.  As you know, your breasts increase in size during pregnancy.  They get even bigger when your milk comes in (2-4 days after your baby is born), usually by about one cup size.  Then, in the course of the first month, they gradually return to roughly your late-pregnancy size.  So, Motherwear advises that the best time to measure yourself for a nursing bra is late in your pregnancy. 

Band size.  This is the measurement of your chest where the bra band goes.  This also increases during your pregnancy to make room for your baby, and then shrinks in the weeks and months after your baby is born.  So it's nice to have a few extra hooks to use to make the band size shrink later.

The simplest thing to do is to use the Motherwear's bra sizing chart which allows you to enter your measurements and get your size.  Again, they recommend doing this late in your pregnancy.  And if you need more help, call a Motherwear customer service representative who will be happy to lend her expertise. 

Once you figure out what size you'll need, how many should you get?  Motherwear recommends having at least 3-4 nursing bras, so you always have a clean, dry bra available.  They suggest 2-3 of a daytime style, and 1 or 2 sleep bras (like the one pictured above).  Sleep bras are great for holding in nursing pads - which you'll only need if you leak at night - but also for comfortable support at home during the day. 

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