Nursing Bras
The most distinct changes in a woman’s breasts happen right after pregnancy. Breast size and shape are altered, necessitating women to wear different bra type and size.
Since breastfeeding is supposed to be an inevitable consequence of giving birth, nursing bras were conceived to make the experience less difficult. Although some women prefer to breastfeed without any breast support, nursing bras remain to be on most breastfeeding mothers’ list of must-haves.
All nursing bras feature flaps which may be removed, pushed aside, or unclasped to reveal the nipples for breastfeeding. Shopping for a nursing bra may sound very easy, but a lot of careful attention and common sense are needed to obtain the right pair. For one, make sure that the flaps can easily be removed or unclasped with a single hand. A pair that allows you to fasten it back is even better. Since you will be carrying your baby with the other arm, the nursing bra you intend to buy should offer the utmost convenience. Further, clasps or closures should be easy to unfasten and refasten without you looking at them because you might be nursing in public sometimes.
Good nursing bras should still be able to offer maximum breast support even with opened cups or flaps. A firm support will enable you to feed more comfortably and refasten the flaps without any difficulty.
Nursing bras require the perfect fit. Tight pairs increase your chances of having blocked ducts or breast infections in areas where the fabric restricts the normal milk flow. Also, stay away from underwires, especially during early postpartum. If you insist on an underwired pair, check that it is not a tight fit. The breast tissue that produces the milk goes as far as your rib cage and armpit. The use of overly tight underwired nursing bras may result in the obstruction of milk ducts.
Another element of choice is fabric. Nursing bras are better if they are made using breathable material like cotton. While there are certain synthetic fabrics that allow the breasts to breathe, there are also some synthetic materials that may trap moisture near the nipples, encouraging the breastfeeding issues like bacterial growth.
There are women who might find it hard to know what particular nursing bra size to buy. First, remember that the breast changes you see after giving birth are mostly temporary. Also, it is pretty normal that they became bigger than usual as milk is starting to be produced by the breasts. Hence, get ready to use nursing bras that may be one or two sizes bigger than the bra that you usually wear.
Almost all nursing bras provide several rows of clasps or closures. This feature will allow you to adjust according to the breast size changes. However, women with larger breasts should wear large nursing bras instead of insisting of merely adjusting the hooks.
As with all other bra types, buying a nursing bra via a catalog or online is not highly advisable. Manufacturers may mostly use the same system of bra sizing, but not all of them provide the same fit. Thus, even if you follow the instructions of the retailer regarding measuring the breast size, it still does not guarantee that you will end up with the perfect fitting nursing bra. So visit a shop and try on the various nursing bras to see which fits best. Be sure that you buy on the last month of pregnancy as a woman’s breasts are very near their full size. Otherwise, buying too early on may result to discrepancy in size and may hinder them to serve their actual purpose