Archive for the ‘After Birth Get Fit’ Category
In today’s tough economic times, you don’t want to go spending money endlessly on nursing bras and essentials that may not fit you in a few month’s time. However, if you do plan to nurse your baby, you definitely need some nursing bras, camis and tops to get you by. You also need the proper fit and comfort level so that you don’t get infections such as mastitis. Bravado is an excellent brand to get you through the early weeks of your first nursing bra postpartum, as well as through the later months with some of their more stylish bras and tanks.
Your First Nursing Bra:
Bravado’s Original Nursing Bra has been a bestseller for years to moms around the world. This bra is super comfortable with a cotton/spandex blend fabric which will stretch and mold to your changing breast shape all day. This bra does not have any underwires and the fabric can stretch and contract without becoming too tight if your breast are engorged. You can even sleep in this bra with the T-shirt fit back and no hooks or closures. This bra will give you 24 hour comfort and support.
The Original Nursing bra is available in 4 band sizes and 3 cup sizes from a 32 B to 46G. Each size can fit up to 2 cup size variations and 3 band size variations, which makes it an excellent investment for your first month or two of nursing when your size is fluctuating by the minute and your risk of engorgement and mastitis is highest.
The Bravado Nursing Bra Tank:
Bravado’s Essential Nursing Bra tank is must-have to your maternity and nursing wardrobe. This extra long tank with a built in full nursing bra is long and stretchy enough to be worn for most of your pregnancy. The extra length is welcome postpartum for full belly coverage. This nursing tank has pretty ruching across the bust and gives an excellent fit and support and shaping of your bust. It’s stylish enough to wear alone or dress up with a jacket or blazer for going out or office wear. It’s also great as a layering item in colder weather.
Most women who buy one of these come back to buy more in other colors, so stock up! Many women wear one of these tanks nearly everyday of the week. The fabric is very durable and stretchy while retaining it’s shape after washing. Features in this bra tank include:
- A molded seamless bra, not just a shelf bra, that provides excellent support and shaping up now to an F/G cup. The sizing allows 2 cup size fluctuations as the fabric can stretch and contract while still offering excellent support. Many women wear this tank as an exercise bra as it does provide safe support.
- A bra lined with Bravado! CottonFlexTM fabric. This revolutionary double-sided fabric offers the comfort of cotton and the benefits of polyester/spandex. The result is 100% cotton against the skin giving comfort and breath ability, without sacrificing flexibility, support and shape.
- Beautiful, soft and strong cotton/spandex outer fabric that isn’t see-through even in white! In fact white is the best selling color year-round.
- Subtle nursing clips on each side that allow for full breastfeeding access.
- Thin and cushioned straps that are easy to adjust.
A beautiful and flattering shape that is fitted but not clingy, with a hip length that doesn’t ride up.
- Design elements such as a subtle front gathering and satin trim, making it a stylish and versatile wardrobe item must-have and excellent for layering or dressing up.
With all of these design elements and dual bra and tank benefits, The Essential Nursing Bra Tank is designed to really get you your money’s worth during pregnancy, nursing, and transition wardrobe occasions.
Shopping for bras is challenging enough, but when it comes to nursing bra shopping it can seem nearly impossible. There are so many variables to bra fitting when shopping for a nursing bra including whether or not you are still pregnant and then trying to guess what your size you will be after you deliver your baby and begin nursing. Whether or not you plan to nurse your baby full time also factors into your prospective nursing bra size. Also, every woman’s body reacts differently to nursing, some women may go up one cup size third trimester pregnancy when they begin nursing, others may increase as much as 2 cups sizes and still others maybe only a half cup size difference if any. Here are a few suggestions and recommendations in shopping for your nursing bras to try to make this task a little less daunting:
If you are expecting your first baby, it is hard to know what to expect with your future bra size when shopping for your nursing bra as you have no history to draw on. The best rule of thumb is to wait until as close to your due date as possible before buying a nursing bra so that you can best gage what your size will be. If you do plan to nurse, you can expect your milk to come in within 2-3 days after you deliver. When you milk does first come in, some women experience a huge temporary uptick in their cup size. However, once your hormones settle down and your milk supply adjusts to a more predictable demand, your size should settle down. You should expect some natural size fluctuation during the day and before and after nursing, so it is best to pick a comfortable stretchy bra which will accommodate these changes while providing the support that you need for heavier lactating breasts.
The second rule is to not buy too many bras until your size has settled down after the first few weeks. You will probably only need about 3-4 bras at most that you can wash and wear so you always have one on hand to accommodate those early weeks. My best advice is to find several styles you like, that are very stretchy and can accommodate several cup sizes to safely fit your fluctuating and uncertain size. The Bravado Original Nursing Bra is an excellent choice. This bra comes in 3 size categories and 4 band sizes to accommodate a range of cup and band sizes and stretches easily while offering good support. Since there are no hooks on the back and a stretchy wide T-back fit, you can even comfortably sleep in this bra if you choose. If you are larger busted, I do recommend buying sleep bras for evening and nighttime wear which will also fit a range of cup sizes. The Majamas Easy Bra is an good choice which comes Small to XXL and fits from a 32A to a 48G. This bra has no hooks in the back and is a simple pull down style for nursing. The Easy Bra now also comes in an Organic Cotton which is very comfortable fabric for sleeping and loungewear.
Once you have survived the early weeks of nursing and motherhood, you will probably want to find a bra that is flattering to wear under T-shirts and gives you a bit more support and shape. Melinda G has a number of bras to choose from that come in a range of sizes. Melinda’s G’s Tee Shirt Soft Cup Nursing Bra is a smooth cup wireless bra that gives a clean look you can wear under a tee shirt or tight fitting shirt. This bra also has support comparable to an underwire bra without the associated risk of mastitis from an underwire bra. The Tee Shirt Soft Cup bra also stretches to fit several cup and band sizes which makes it an excellent nursing bra.
If you are bigger busted and really need the support of an underwire bra, Melinda G’s T-shirt Underwire Nursing bra is a very good choice. Like the Tee shirt soft cup bra, this bra also provides a clean seamless and smooth look that can be worn under a tight fitting shirt while also giving your breast shape and definition without restrictions. This bra comes in sizes 34C to 38F and is cup and band size specific, so it is best to buy this bra after your milk supply has settled down and you are a more exact size. The hooks on the cups do allow you to adjust the size of the cups to smaller or larger for before and after nursing to help with that size variation and superior fit.
If you are looking to get back your pre-pregnancy figure and hit the gym, you will probably feel more comfortable in a nursing sports bra when exercising. Bella Materna offers a highly supportive and comfortable Nursing Sports Bra that stretches to accommodate up to 2 cup sizes for your normal size fluctuation. The quick drying Italian Lyca/Nylon fabric will not pill or fade or show sweat marks. This bra has a 4 hook closure on the back for maximum support and adjustable wide straps with clip nursing access. You will probably want to wear this bra even after your baby is weaned for its support, comfort and flattering uplifting design.
Once you find comfortable supportive nursing bras to accommodate your size variations and daily life routines, you will find your quality of life improves tremendously as you reclaim your body, your life and embark upon the joys of motherhood.