Hellobee Boards

I'm not all that "tig" exactly (D cup while nursing) but totally gave up on nursing bras because none seemed to fit well and have been fine just pulling a normal underwire aside a thousand times a day for the past 6 months. They're getting a little out of shape so I'll get more soon, but I'd probably have needed new ones anyway from postpartum weight loss. I'd recommend waiting and seeing what you feel you need. There are also some simple tutorials online to convert a regular bra to a nursing one, and I've heard Nordstrom will do the alteration to any bra for you, if you want to go that route.

ETA: I also haven't had mastitis despite daily underwire wear. They're more comfortable to me than the wireless ones I bought in pregnancy and specifically for nursing.

I have an F/G while nursing and find that only underwires are sufficient support. If the underwire is properly fitted there is no increased risk of mastitis. Have it professionally fitted at a breastfeeding center. No part of the underwire should compress breast tissue, it should hit at the armpit.

I like Cake Lingere (specifically the Toffee bra) for good lift and support.

Highly recommend Elomi and the Le Mystere Mama Mia (padding). If you need support, i don't think you are going to get away without underwire. I've been wearing underwire since 6 weeks PP and only got mastitis once due to a clogged duct. Oh and I was a 32G pre pregnancy and am a 34G now.

@BabyPenguinXO: I liked the Bravado seamless silk to buy pre-delivery because you could fudge the sizes while you size went up and down. They sell them on Amazon. That said, the first three weeks I lived in cheap nursing tanks from Target.

@BabyPenguinXO: Nordstrom had a nice selection of bras that work well for larger sizes. I have a Freya nursing bra that is underwire and works well. I believe they have free return shipping do you could conceivably order a few options and then try it all on and send back what you don't like.

I had a hard time finding larger sizes in most stores.

I really liked HotMilk. Sexier styles than most and lots of size combos, including small band/big cup. I hit a 32E at one point. They do run a bit small so order up!

Are any of these brands somewhat affordable? I hate to spend $80 on a nursing bra I may only need for about 4 months, then turn around and have to buy all new $70 regular bras afterwards

@Little Misters Mom: That's great, I"ll remember that site, thank you! I don't want to buy anything prematurely (I pumped last time and weaned before i went back to work so it wasn't an issue) but if nursing goes well this time, i'll definitely need some bras!

@BabyPenguinXO: Sadly Motherhood/Destination maternity did not have bras in a big enough cup size, pre-pregnancy was a 36DDD, I'm not probably a 36FF, if not bigger. I only pumped with my first one and then switched to FF, so am on the hunt for new nursing bras hoping this time goes a little better with nursing. I need support as well, so following.

I did get some non-underwire at our local breastfeeding store, but they are not enough support to go out in public in. I might have to give Soma a try.

I'm a 36 DDD normally. For the first 4-6 weeks o lived in the nursing tanks from Target. I don't even want to know what size bra I would have needed (they were scary huge). After things calmed down a bit I measured myself at home and ordered the Elimi Nursing Underwire bra from Amazon. They don't really have great nipple coverage but I always wore nursing pads so it really didn't matter for me.

ETA: I wore underwire while nursing for most of a year and never had mastits so I wouldn't worry to much about that unless you are prone.

I'm between GG-HH depending on the week, and while I love my current underwires (finally weaned at 2.5!) I had wireless structured (sometimes referred to as "seamed") Bravado nursing bras for the first 18 months or so. When those no longer provided enough support (dropped enough feedings that my breasts softened and needed more support), what worked best for me was finding perfect bras and converting them to nursing bras! I took the clips from the bras I was retiring and followed a really simple tutorial online. It's easy hand-sewing, but there are also online shops and probably local seamstresses who can do it for you. Panache and Fantasie bras work best for me right now (full projection, even tissue distribution top to bottom, narrower wires, come in large enough cups for my 32-34 band). I absolutely recommend you poke around on the A Bra That Fits subreddit (http://reddit.com/r/abrathatfits), which has SO MUCH helpful information and links to cheap online bra retailers.

Bravado bliss is the best I have found for my 36 I.