Bra Battles

Get the Fit You Deserve

By Shel Franco

Who would have thought that hunting for lingerie would be a chore? After all, plenty of us spent our early 20s scouring the racks at Victoria's Secret for that perfect little number that would take his breath away. And obviously it worked you have a baby on the way and maybe more little feet at home. Welcome to the underworld of undergarments.

After nursing two kids, Kate Ess of Scranton, Pa., who is also currently 9 months pregnant, has had her share of bad luck bra hunting. She actually refers to shopping for a nursing bra as being "on the search."

"I sort of think they're hard to size but only because your body changes so much," she says. "Also, I think they're very expensive."

Why is it so hard to find a good nursing bra? To begin with, it's important says Andrea Bass, RN, IBCLC, RLC, a board certified lactation consultant in Albuquerque, N.M. "A supportive bra is important when the breasts are full of milk," she says. "They can be very heavy, with each breast carrying the weight of a quart of milk."

And while Bass admits that nursing bras aren't absolutely necessary, she does believe they are helpful and make things easier for Mom especially if she's new to the world of breastfeeding and newborns. " ... I did find with both kids that [nursing bras] were better during nursing than just normal bras," says Ess.

It really all comes down to being comfortable while you nurse at home, while you nurse in public and while you aren't even nursing at all.

And support isn't just a daytime issue. Bass suggests that nursing women sleep in a supportive bra. "I ... suggest that women do for the added support, BUT, it is a good idea at some point during the day to give your body a rest," she says. "Bras, depending on what type they are, may restrict the natural flow of some body fluids, like lymph. I sleep in a 'sleep bra,' which is similar to a jog bra, but is made of 100-percent cotton. It breathes and is naturally a little stretchy."

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