Postpartum can be a challenging time for new mom. It’s tricky enough to navigate sleep deprivation, feeding your baby, and learning what soothes them. When you add in all the physical changes we have to adjust to, it just seems unfair. If you’re anything like me, you just want to feel good in your clothes again, instead of drowning in maternity wear and loose clothing. For busty women, the struggle can be even more real, we they need nursing bras that can accommodate a changing shape, while also supporting their larger bust. So many wireless bras don’t provide support, but the reviews are mixed on how more structured bras can impact breastfeeding supply.
You might be wondering why I would write about this, as a mental health professional. It’s a fair question! The reality is that the way we feel in our skin affects our mental health. Our appearance affects our perception of ourselves, and finding a bra that feels like it allows you to be a breastfeeding mom, who also can look and feel good affects your confidence. A confident new mom feels an increased ability to get outside, connect to other new moms and old friends, and get the support she needs in the postpartum season. A bra might feel like a small thing, but honestly, it’s not!
It can also feel like a silly thing to spend money on… if you don’t know how long you will breastfeed for, or how long you will be able to, it might seem like too much money to spend on a temporary piece of clothing. I actually understand this train of thought, and tend to think about the longevity of an item too! But hear me when you say this: you deserve to feel good and a bra might be a small thing that can make you feel a lot better in an otherwise tumultuous season.
So where do we start? After 3 postpartum nursing journeys, here is what I’ve learned.
Kindered Braverly owns the internet bra world, but to be honest, I’ve been moderately impressed. They added “busty” sizing recently to accommodate women with a slimer band size, but larger cup size, but I’ve found them to fall apart quickly and the customer service is mediocre… it’s take me months to get a return processed and my account refunding.
The gold standard is actually going to Nordstrom, getting fit for a bra with your current size, and then having them alter the bra to be a nursing bra. This can be done with literally any bra at Nordstrom – and if you have a Nordstrom card, you get a annual budget for free alterations (aka – the change is free). It takes about a week, and they will mail you the bras. While this is AMAZING, it’s a pretty expensive option for a bra you might not wear for a long time, especially when your size is in so much flux.
So what’s a new mom with big boobs to do? This postpartum, these are the bras that I’m trying this time around:
- Bravado Designs Women’s Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra: This nursing bra is super comfortable and stretches to accommodate a changing cup size – a key factor in those first few months postpartum. The clips are easy to use, and the lower band offers more support than most nursing bras that I’ve come across. After buying 10+ nursing bras over the last 6 years, so far, this is my personal favorite nursing bra. The price point is admittedly higher, so I bought 1 to try it out and then waited for a sale to add a few more.
- HOFISH Women’s Seamless Nursing Bra: The HOFISH nursing bra is super comfortable, and has no wires. It has wide straps, soft fabric, and adjustable back band ensures a good fit. Honestly, it reminds me a lot of some of the Kindered Braverly bras, but at a much more accessible price point, and with the ease of amazon returns.
- Cake Lingerie Women’s Zest Nursing Bra: The Zest Nursing Bra by Cake Lingerie… this is admittedly a new purchase for me, but I wanted it as actual support for the days that I’m dressing up, or wanting to look more put together.
Finding a bra postpartum can feel like an entirely new world, and one that isn’t particularly exciting. Bra shopping can also bring you face-to-face with the changes in your postpartum body, which can bring a grief of their own. But finding the right bra can increase your comfort and confidence as you settle into a new body, and allow you to feel good in your clothes again.
Please, if you find a unicorn nursing bra postpartum, please comment the links below and help us all out! <3
