when to buy nursing bras/tanks?

[CloudBee]

Now that the nursery is almost finished, I'm starting to think about what I'll be needing/wanting in the hospital that I may not already have.

The only things that come to mind that I don't already own and may want/need in the hospital are nursing bras and tanks.

Do most people wait on the nursing bras until they get home and see what size they will be? Or is it common to get one bra and a few tanks prior to birth?

I have yoga pants, a simple jersey cotton robe, my favorite slippers, etc., that I will pack. But what's best on top if I plan to nurse?

[cherry1111]

I got 3 nursing tanks and 2 nursing sport bras before having him that I used in the hospital and so far around home. I ordered 4 more tanks last week, but now I need to go out and find some real, nicer nursing bras. I didn't want to spend too much on the bras before I knew what size I'd need, but the tanks just came in S M L XL, so I could guess what I would need pretty easily.

In the hospital I actually just wore the tank with no bra, but when I'm around others I like the support of a bra and tank together.

[Ashley&Scott]

I absolutely LOVE my bravado nursing tanks. I have 5 of them

I went to a nursing store & got fitted around 36ish weeks. I bought 2 tanks. They fit perfectly even after my milk came in. Then I bought 3 more.

On maternity leave I wore them all day every day, either at home with a hoodie or under a shirt if we left the house. It was nice to have extras, some days I changed 3 times because of spit up. Even now at 11 mo pp I wear them every night to bed. If I have another baby I will buy a few more.

I also bought a few nursing bras before M was born, 1 Bravado Body Silk & 2 Bravado Originals. While I liked having a few bras I found I was more comfortable in the tanks.

Other items:
Gel soothies (2 pkgs)
Earth Mama Angel Baby Nipple Butter
Bamboobies

[jenjen]

I bought a few sleep/nursing bras from the Target clearance ($5!) before I went into labor. They were also s/m/l and they were really tight for a few weeks until my ribcage went back to normal. I still wear them everynight and pretty much all of my matleave. After my milk came in I did go back to get some regular nursing bras but nothing fancy. DS was born in the hottest June ever so I just wore "long and lean" tanks around the house with a nursing bra under.

[CloudBee]

Thanks! It looks like the sporty nursing bras come in S/M/L, etc., vs actual band sizes. So I bet they would be easier to buy in advance. I'll get one or two prior to birth and then hold off on actual bras until I see how big I get.

I started out as barely an A, and am already a very full B/small C. My sister was a large D when she had her baby, and also started out as barely an A. Ahhh!

[gibbinator]

I got 2 nursing tanks and one bra beforehand. My boobs really didn't change much

[arch01]

I got 1 nursing tank before-I didn't even wear it until it was time to go home. I wore the hospital gown all the time (easier for being checked) and a robe over if we had visitors.

[mrs07]

In private, like your hospital room and your house, it can be easier to just shed the top/bra entirely and drape blankets/ baby blankets all over your top half. Typically you'll be in bed or on a sofa to nurse at first. Remember to roll all those little baby blankets up like logs and tuck under your breast or under baby to get the best position.

I would go ahead and grab a couple of nursing bras in your current size (loose, not tight). I wore nursing bras once I shed the underwire during pregnancy. They were sized fine for my postpartum size as well.

Medela has a night nursing bra or something that is also fine for schlepping around the hospital/house. It looks like a twist-top and only requires basic sizing.

[Deleted]

CloudBee, you are behind. You should have bought these 2 years ago!

I bought a few beforehand and more after birth. I don't think I really changed sizes from during to after pregnancy, but I was big to begin with (both all over and cup size).

[Brie]

I delivered in a Moving Comfort Fiona bra. It's great because the straps come down for quick skin to skin and BFing.

I didn't buy any nursing bras until after my milk came in, but I had a few Target nursing tanks since those are easier to guesstimate size-wise.