Help me with post-partum/nursing clothes please!

[BunnyMacDougal]

In my experience, you can't really predict the cup size you'll go up to. I guestimated and was mostly ok with what I bought ahead of time. I did have to supplement after DD was born. My chest circumference size changed some and the cup size varied some from day to day...and sometimes ones would work okay and sometimes they were unbearable.

[copperboom]

I didn't buy nursing bras until a few weeks post partum because I had no idea what size I was going to need. I wore nursing tanks instead. I bought my regular size in tanks because I liked having a tight layer over my belly. My pre baby yoga pants worked fine for post partum. I'd hold off on buying more. You can always send your H to target for a pair if your regular ones aren't comfortable.

[janiejones]

It's hard to predict. That said I liked in old navy perfect tanks. The deep scoop was great for BFing, and if I was in public I'd wear a second shirt that I just pulled up.

My (8 year old) LLL pants fit fine, even 40lbs heavier than PP.

I bought my best nursing bras at about 4months PP. The first few months I was always engorged.

[thebreakfastclub]

I didn't nurse so no help there. I went back to maternity clothes for a few weeks, then regular stuff plus the Bella band, and finally my pre pregnancy stuff.

I did wear larger size, high waisted underwear for several weeks. I wore a sideways pad to protect my c/s incision, but the big undies were much more comfortable regardless.

I also suggest a robe with pockets.

[EmilieMadison]

1. Dont spend money on nursing bras until after the baby is born. There's no way to know what size you'll need. Buy a cheap sleep/nursing bra to use for the first week or so, and then as a backup. But seriously, dont buy anything else until you need it. I went from a B pre-pregnancy to a D during pregnancy to a *G* after the birth. There's no fucking way I could have known lol! I did settle into an E cup for most of the first year and then to a C when I weaned. 

2. I bought nice nursing tanks in the weeks after I delivered. I got one cheap one from Target ahead of time and just got my regular pre-pregnancy size and that was fine. 

3. I'd think you'd be able to wear the yoga pants you already have. If you do end up needing a bigger size, then you can get them during your maternity leave. 

[daisybuchannan]

I'm small chested and only use either nursing tanks with a shelf bra (basics by bravado from target) or soft nursing bras, they're basically like a sports bra with the clips to fold down.

I think nursing specific clothing is kind of pointless. I know that if I tried to nurse in one of the shirts that had that hole in it, I'd get milk on the shirt. I pull a shirt up to nurse, otherwise I'd get milk on it.

Both times my yoga pants/leggings fit right away. I gained almost 40 with Connor and 28 with Cameron.

[calledout]

Nix nursing specific clothing with the exception of bras. Just make sure you're stocked up on stretchy tanks / camis and / or deep-v / crossover style tops with cardigans. Leggings and yoga pants in pre-pregnancy size are usually ok b/c they stretch.

Ditto the unpredictability of boob size. Get something bigger and stretchy to start, then wait about three weeks to purchase anything after that.

[Deleted]

I wore gowns and the mesh underwear the whole time at the hospital. And I was really hot the whole time, so I didn't need to warm up. I did use a maternity robe some for when people came by. I had a vaginal delivery and was basically a bloody mess.

I bought some of these bras for home use and like them: www.motherhood.com/mobile/Product.asp?Product_Id=984220361&MasterCategory_Id=MC29

I got one size up from my shirt size only because my cup is ginormous. I was a G cup pre-pregnancy, so if your boobs are less unruly, go with your normal size.

I did get fitted for some regular bras at 35 weeks. They fit decently. The band ended up a little big and the cups a little small. I don't need them yet really.

Yoga or other comfy pants up one size from pre-pregnancy is good. I can actually wear some that fit me before too if they were a little loose.

[dizzydee]

I bought one nursing tank. It was a bravado, more sports bra like. I lived in my old navy tamis, I like to pull down to nurse, not up and they have a nice scoop neck. The bras were hard, not for cup size, because after the initial 2-4 weeks my boobs went back to their normal size. It was my rib cage that was bigger.
I did my regular yoga pants, I bought a size bigger but they were to big. My yoga are higher waisted and fold down. I had a csection do if they were a lower rise I could see having issues.
I also recommend a girtle to everyone. Mine was just a big white elastic band that went under my boobs to my pelvic bone. It was Velcro so I could adjust and was super supportive. A nurse at the hospital gave it to me and I LOVE her for it.

[Jalapeñomel]

I'd get a ton of Tami thanks from ON. Even if nursing doesn't work out, they are great for unsolder your clothing, and they are super stretchy and cheap. I still,wear them under my shirts.

[auntie]

I'd hold off on the structured bras until things settle down after a week or so.

For now, get a couple of less expensive nursing tanks for the early days in the size you wear at the end of your pg. If you lose weight rapidly, you may need to size down at 6 weeks or so. The soft nighttime bras are nice to have if only to hold breast pads.

[thebreakfastclub]

Feb 28, 2015 12:58:18 GMT -5 farmvillelover said:

i'd wait to buy nursing tanks/clothes until after baby arrives.

i hope this doesn't happen to you, truly, but for me nursing didn't work out and all the nursing clothing/bras i bought were a total waste of money and i was past the point of being able to return any of it.

Liking because my first post hospital errand was returning all nursing supplies.

I immediately hated it and my kid followed suit by never latching. I wish I had kept more tags on stuff.

Are you going to try with #2? I don't know what I would do if I had another.

[daisybuchannan]

Feb 28, 2015 12:50:56 GMT -5 RexManningDay said:

Also I just bought another one of those Liz Lange mat tanks the other day. I don't think I'm ever going to stop wearing them. They're so comfy, the length is perfect and they wash really well.

The long tanks with no ruching at the sides? I wear these constantly!

[sjh722]

Feb 28, 2015 13:38:55 GMT -5 daisybuchannan said:

Feb 28, 2015 12:50:56 GMT -5 RexManningDay said:

Also I just bought another one of those Liz Lange mat tanks the other day. I don't think I'm ever going to stop wearing them. They're so comfy, the length is perfect and they wash really well.

The long tanks with no ruching at the sides? I wear these constantly!

I love these things. I just bought 2 more last week (I'm almost 36 weeks) because some of mine are so worn out they need to be tossed, lol. I wear them not pregnant too.

I would just get a couple of the ones labeled "sleep bras" to start. Or Target has soft, kind of stretchy ones sized xs - xl in the bravado basics line - it's an endcap in the lingerie section. I think the ones I liked best are called Stella. (I was just there yesterday.) They're only $20ish so it's not a huge investment if you don't get much use or BF doesn't work out. 

[missbella]

I bought a 2 pack of sleep bras at target before he was born. I waited a few weeks to buy real bras.

I got 2 of the target nursing tanks before and I lived in them. I ordered 3 more online within a week. I still wear one everyday. I don't have any nursing specific shirts. I wear a nursing tank with a t-shirt over and pull up the shirt.

I had yoga pants in one size up that I wore through my pregnancy so I just wore those.

[sjh722]

Oh, and I can definitely still wear regular leggings and yoga pants. Stretchy stuff tends to be pretty forgiving. Last time I had one pair of maternity yoga pants but I didn't wear them for long pp, the regular ones were more comfortable. I'd hold off on buying much more unless you'll get a lot of wear out of it while pregnant, but everybody's different.

[statlerwaldorf]

1. I ordered a couple around the beginning of my third trimester. I went with one cup size up from my current size and ordered cheap ones with a little stretch. I couldn't go with the sleep bras since I have a large chest and get back pain.

2. I bought my prepregnancy size. They had a good amount of stretch to them.

3. I didn't need a larger size. I really liked my Old Navy maternity compression pants. They don't actually have any compression and were really comfortable after my c/s. Plus I went pretty far overdue and they were the only thing that still fit comfortably.

I had a lot of this stuff ready to go. I put the nursing stuff in my bag right away. I bought extras of things like toothbrushes, deodorant, phone charger, shampoo, etc. and kept a list of the things I needed to grab. I was really glad to have it ready. I started bleeding really heavy after my water broke and didn't have time to pack a bag.

[greenley]

Feb 28, 2015 12:40:34 GMT -5 AutumnRose25 said:

So I'm at the point where there isn't any use to buy new maternity clothes so I want to spend some gift cards I have on nursing/post-partum stuff.

1- I'm being told I should have nursing bras ready for when she is born, what point should I buy them and how do I size for what I may need?

2- how do I size for nursing tanks?

3- do I want to stick up on yoga pants in bigger sizes than my pre-pregnancy size for during maternity leave comfort?

I would like to have some stuff ready in my hospital bag a few weeks before my EDD- how realistic is this?

I had both nursing tanks and bras at the ready for the hospital.  I preferred the nursing tanks (really like Gilligan & O'Malley from Target) while in the hospital.  Easy to unsnap at the drop of a hat to nurse and not having to remove my top or gown.  I wore my prepregnancy size and they fit fine even with the swollen belly.  I'm typically a 8-10 and have worn the medium tanks (I can still wear them at 31wks pregnant).  
With bras, I love the Bravado Body Silk Seamless.  It's stretchy plus has removable pads for extra coverage with those nursing nipples.  I sized up a cup size which worked well for me with the exception of the first couple of weeks.  I'm not sure I would invest in a bra size for those couple of weeks before your supply regulates.  Nice thing is that most nursing bras are not cup size specific.
Yes to comfy yoga pants or lounge pants.  I'd go for anything witout a restricting or tight waistband.  I took these to the hospital and was very comfortable in them- www.target.com/p/women-s-modal-pajama-pant-extended-lengths-gilligan-o-malley/-/A-10292299#prodSlot=medium_1_2&term=gilligan+modal.
Bring a hoodie or sweater to wear over your nursing tanks while in the hospital in case it's cold.

[mnp555]

Dirty lurker chiming in:

I had my baby 8 weeks ago. I went to a lingerie shop at 41 weeks pregnant and was fitted for my nursing stuff. I ended up with a soft nursing bra from Bravado (they are sized s,m, l, so room for error), a nursing tank from Cake, and a more structured bra. I love my soft bra and tank and was so happy to have them when I got home. Now that I've settled into my size, I'm not thrilled with the structured bra and will probably go back to be refitted at some point. So stick to soft items with wide size margins.

When i was in the hospital, I was basically naked the whole time. I had bought cute pjs, but nursing was really hard for me at first and it was easiest to basically hang out in my mesh undies all day. If I had to do it again, I'd just bring really comfy slippers and a robe in a light fabric. And a Boppy-type pillow because you'll want to try a bunch of nursing positions at first, especially if you have access to a lactation consultant in recovery.

I can wear all my pre-pregnancy clothes now, but I still love my maternity leggings (from Target!). So comfy. I also like the merona maternity scoop necks for nursing because I can pull them down. I never bought any nursing specific clothing because, frankly, it all seemed ugly. I find that almost any top works well for nursing as long as it's not too bulky (awkward to hold up all that fabric) or too long (having to pull it out from under my butt when I'm sitting down to get the shirt up). So, either the mat-leggings you have been wearing or your pre-pregnancy leggings should be fine.

You can absolutely pack now! I had my delivery bag packed for 2 months before my due date. Lol. It sat in the corner of my bedroom with a very specific list of last minute items to pack and where they were located. I had terrible swelling (gained 60 lbs while pregnant and lost 45 in the first week pp) and lived in fear that I would go to an OB appt and be ushered to the hospital for pre-e leaving my clueless husband to pack everything.

Hope that helps and good luck!

[Kristinmo]

Feb 28, 2015 12:50:56 GMT -5 RexManningDay said:

Also I just bought another one of those Liz Lange mat tanks the other day. I don't think I'm ever going to stop wearing them. They're so comfy, the length is perfect and they wash really well.

Love those. I haven't nursed in 2 years and I still wear them under things because they so long.

[flamingeaux]

Honestly as far as shirts go, I wear a lot of loose fitting tanks at home, that I can just flop a boob over, or if I'm chilly, I've been known to confiscate some of my h's button down shirts. I throw a cardigan over my tank if I have to go out somewhere.

[cestlavie]

Feb 28, 2015 12:40:34 GMT -5 AutumnRose25 said:

So I'm at the point where there isn't any use to buy new maternity clothes so I want to spend some gift cards I have on nursing/post-partum stuff.

1- I'm being told I should have nursing bras ready for when she is born, what point should I buy them and how do I size for what I may need?

2- how do I size for nursing tanks?

3- do I want to stick up on yoga pants in bigger sizes than my pre-pregnancy size for during maternity leave comfort?

I would like to have some stuff ready in my hospital bag a few weeks before my EDD- how realistic is this?

1- I got sports type nursing bras (similar to these, I don't remember the brand I got www.amazon.com/dp/B00KMCB74Y/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_7cJ8ub0PFKBXQ) and used those exclusively for the first month or so, then I bought regular nursing bras once I knew what size would fit. 

2- I just got my pre pregnancy size, they seemed to have a little extra room than typical non-maternity non-nursing clothes.

3- I was able to wear my normal pre-pregnancy yoga pants after delivering because they were stretchy enough.

I prepared my hospital bag a month in advance for both of my kids. I had a bathroom bag with the items I could pack ready to go (travel sizes of shampoo, conditioner, soap, etc.) so all I needed to grab when I was in labor was stuff like makeup, brush, hair products, etc. I had a list of this stuff so that my husband could get it if he needed to and so I would remember everything if I was in a rush. 

[isabel]

I've been wearing a Bravado nursing bra for a couple of months now. He was sitting so high that the underwire of my bra was irritating the top of my stomach. I gave up and ordered a couple. These have been fine and accommodated growth throughout, but I may need to size up after the birth. I was kind of in between sizes and went with the larger one in the hopes that it will stretch enough. We'll see.

I just bought 3 nursing tanks from Target. I wanted something inexpensive to have on hand. I got them in my normal size and they seem to fit fine. My plan is to wear the nursing tank with a tshirt, long sleeved maternity shirt, or button down/cardigan over the tank. That way I can pull up the top shirt and still have my stomach covered.

I also got a couple pairs of pajama pants from Target, only because I figure I'm going to be spending a LOT of time in loungewear during my leave.

I spent about $100 at Target and will wait until after he's born to decide if I need anything else.

[sewpinkgal]

Feb 28, 2015 18:36:08 GMT -5 isabel said:

I just bought 3 nursing tanks from Target. I wanted something inexpensive to have on hand. I got them in my normal size and they seem to fit fine. My plan is to wear the nursing tank with a tshirt, long sleeved maternity shirt, or button down/cardigan over the tank. That way I can pull up the top shirt and still have my stomach covered.

I also got a couple pairs of pajama pants from Target, only because I figure I'm going to be spending a LOT of time in loungewear during my leave.

This was basically what I brought with me to the hospital and it worked out really well. I also didn't like hanging out in the hospital gown, so as soon as I could shower, I changed into a nursing tank/lounge pants/robe. I  bought my pre-pregnancy size in the tanks and a size up in the loungewear pants (I am bottom heavy and knew I needed a bit more room for my lower half) and they fit fine.

Once it became clear that nursing was going to work out and I figured out what size my boobs were going to be after the milk came in, I invested in a couple of Bravado Body Silk nursing bras (the best!) and nicer nursing tanks.

[eb777888]

I bought them at the end of my pregnancy. I loved the Glamourmom tanks and I bought four of them and they got me through (I liked the really long ones). I was a size small before pregnancy, only gained 25lbs and still needed an XL. My boobs got HUGE. That size worked well for me so it worked out. I could tell by that time in my pregnancy that my already big boobs had tripled in size. And they stayed that way while BF'ing. I guess everyone is different, though.

[thebreakfastclub]

Feb 28, 2015 18:10:27 GMT -5 farmvillelover said:

Feb 28, 2015 13:21:41 GMT -5 thebreakfastclub said:

Liking because my first post hospital errand was returning all nursing supplies.

I immediately hated it and my kid followed suit by never latching. I wish I had kept more tags on stuff.

Are you going to try with #2? I don't know what I would do if I had another.

honestly i don't think so. it is a real sore spot for me and i dont think i have it in me.

What probably makes it easier this time is you already have one awesome son, and now you'll have 2! It all works out.