HOTmilk Sweet Reminiscence Nursing Camisole

When should you be fitted for a nursing bra? It’s one of the most common questions we receive from our pregnant customers writes Khali Whatley, founder of Ma Mère.  Is it best to be fitted in the last weeks of your pregnancy or after your baby is born? There’s a lot of conflicting advice on the subject, so it’s best to start with the facts:

• Fact 1 – Most women’s bra cup size will change when they begin producing mature breast milk, after the birth of their baby.
• Fact 2 – Most women’s bodies begin to transition back to their pre-pregnancy physique after their baby is born. This means their ribcage may begin to shrink, changing their bra band size.
• Fact 3 – Women who have previously breastfed may not experience the same level of change in their bra size when additional children are born.
• Fact 4 – Every woman is different – so the degree to which you will be affected by these changes will vary.

For these reasons, it’s best to wait until after the birth of your baby to be fitted for a nursing bra.

Many professionals recommend being fitted before the birth of your baby and apply a standard rule of thumb for a cup size increase. While this will work for some women, others will find that the bras they have purchased don’t fit when they start breastfeeding.

Unfortunately, it may be difficult to make time to be fitted for a bra when you’re caring for a new baby so there are resources available to help you measure and fit yourself in the comfort of your own home.

So what about feeding in hospital? And before you have been fitted?

Waiting until after your baby is born means you’re left with the predicament of what to wear in hospital – and for that there’s any easy solution. Nursing camisoles are perfect for hospital as they come in generic sizes (ie. S, M, L, XL etc). They are also generally very soft and stretchy and will accommodate your changing breast size comfortably.

After you have been fitted for a nursing bra, you can also continue to wear nursing camisoles at night to hold bra pads in place for leakage control and to provide light support for the months ahead.

Would you like more information? Ma Mère has a comprehensive Fitting Guide available on their website. You can also email Ma Mère – admin@mamere.com.au – with any specific questions you may have.

This article has been contributed to The Bump Wear Project by Khali Whatley, as Khali is a strong believer in Golden Rule No. 6 – Underwear is Key! Khali is the Founder of Ma Mère, an online lingerie store dedicated to providing designer lingerie to expectant and new mothers.

Tester:

Products: Nearly Nude Skinny Strap Tank (in Black) and Nearly Nude Round Neck Tank (in white). Available from Ma Mere.

Comments:

I had never considered wearing support garments through my first pregnancy because I didn’t think they were necessary, however, after winning two such products in a Bump Wear Project competition, I can confidently say that they make caring a bump around a lot more comfortable.

I absolutely LOVE the Nearly Nude Skinny Strap Tank. It is so supportive of both my bump and my breasts. It has been great for wearing under summer dresses and shirts and with this heat I have even occasionally worn it as a top. My only criticism of the product is that it would have been good to have some padding in the breast area to conceal nipples however, this didn’t bother me too much.

The Nearly Nude Round Neck Tank has also been great. I’ve been wearing it to bed and my bump has felt totally supported as I’ve tossed and turned to get comfortable. Unlike the Skinny Strap Tank which lifted my breasts because of its design, I found the Round Neck Tank to flatten my breasts (i.e. no jiggle possible) which may be of benefit to larger breasted woman. However, for a gal who is embracing her pregnancy curves, the cup design on this garment was not as flattering for my body and therefore I only ever wore it to bed.

I can also tell that post-delivery these garments will be great for flattening the tummy.

Rating: Two thumbs up, especially given that the garments can be worn during and post pregnancy. 4/5.

Sleep – or the lack thereof – is a regular subject of discussion amongst mothers with small children. It’s especially relevant to me. I have two children under two and am writing this at 3am because my four month old daughter won’t settle after her last feed.

Tips on grabbing extra time in the Land of Nod can be as precious as gold, so here’s something to consider – lingerie can actually make a difference to your night’s sleep.

While it won’t make your baby sleep through, or your pregnant belly disappear for eight hours, the right lingerie and sleepwear can make you more comfortable so you enjoy your few precious hours.

When you start nursing your newborn, a whole new world of leaking breasts and absorbency pads emerges. The simplest way to combat these new challenges is to start wearing a nursing bra at night, right?

Unless you wore a bra to bed before you were pregnant, it’s probably not the solution. Nursing bras are designed to provide proper support and comfort for the daylight hours, not while you’re trying to sleep in bed.

Instead, nursing sleepwear may be the answer. It’s designed with night-time feeding in mind. One handed nursing clips and soft materials are standard features in a range of nightdresses, chemises, pyjamas or camisoles to give you the support you need whilst being comfortable enough to allow you to sleep soundly.

If you’re pregnant and struggling to get a good night’s sleep, take heart. There are maternity bedtime bras that have special bust support, ultra hold straps and super comfy stomach support to help you sleep with your bump. Many items of nursing sleepwear can also be worn during pregnancy as they have pleating or stretchy fabrics to accommodate a growing belly and give you a good night. And on that note, I’m off to bed.

This article has been contributed to The Bump Wear Project by Khali Whatley, as Khali is a strong believer in Golden Rule No. 6 – Underwear is Key! Khali is the Founder of Ma Mère, Australia’s first online lingerie store dedicated to providing Australian and international designer lingerie to expectant and new mothers.