Buying A Good Nursing Bra

Any nursing mum will agree that nothing beats the comfort and support provided by a good nursing bra.

These bras are specially-constructed and some are even fitted and sold by trained experts. Nursing bras provide a level of support for milk-filled breasts that the average lingerie just can’t match.

Many make the mistake of thinking that they simply need a bigger bra. Yes, that seems like an easy solution — just size up a cup and add an inch or two of girth. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. The fabric may fit around your enlarged breasts, but the design and construction of a fashion bra doesn’t provide the support necessary for a nursing woman.

Nursing bras may generally cost a little more than a normal bra, but when your breast keep spilling out and you need to keep adjusting your straps of your normal bra, you will surely find that you could do with a specially designed one.

Nursing bras look like regular bras, but with cups that can be opened up by unsnapping, unzipping, or unhooking the closure. It’s most convenient when you are be able to open the cup for nursing quickly and simply with one hand, especially when you’re holding your hungry baby with the other.

Here are some tips on how to pick out a perfect nursing bra for your needs.

• For the band size, measure around your body, just under the arms, with a measuring tape. If the measurement is an uneven number, round up to the next even number.

• For the cup size, take a bust measurement, using a measuring tape, around the fullest part of your bust. Be sure the tape is flat against your back and level all around your body.

• Signs of a good fit: the cup covers your breast, and nothing “spills out.” The band is level all the way around, not riding up your back.

• Try them on. This is the only way to be sure that you’ve found a bra with a good fit. Don’t rush the process.

• Choose bras with easy clasp cup openings for no-fuss feeding.

• Shop at a maternity store or boutique that has an experienced bra fitter who will be able to help you make the best choice.

Just the right flexibility

The best nursing bras are comfortable and offer good support but don’t bind breasts in any way that could interfere with milk flow. For optimum support, the band and the straps should be made of non-stretchable fabric. But cups should have some “give” to accommodate your changing breast size at different phases of nursing.

Fit for comfort

Whichever style you choose, proper fit is the key to comfort. Besides being uncomfortable, a bra that fits poorly may put pressure on your milk ducts, which can cause them to get plugged and lead to inflammation in the breast.