Advice on Shopping for Your Nursing Bra

One of the first things for a nursing mother to find is a good quality nursing bra. This can make a potentially challenging situation all the easier and more enjoyable. The nursing bra is meant to support the ever changing size and shape of the breast, and to make nursing easier and more discreet for the comfort of both mother and baby.

There are many different styles of breastfeeding bras and the best way to find the right one is to get fitted. Most stores specializing in maternity wear offer free fittings and specialists who can explain all the different styles available to the new mother. Finding a properly fitted nursing bra is essential because it helps to reduce the stretching of breast tissue which causes sagging.

Women with larger breasts also prefer a nursing bra as they require more support to begin with. It is also important to not forgo the use of the breastfeeding bra all together regardless of the size of pre-pregnancy breasts; using a bra with an under wire can cause many problems including the blockage of milk ducts and mastitis.

The breasts begin to prepare for nursing very early in the pregnancy; by about the fourth month the breasts have done most of the changing they'll do to accommodate nursing. This period is the perfect time to get fitted for a bra. The breastfeeding bra is specially designed to accommodate the changing shape of the breasts. Many bras use a flexible plastic support to allow the breasts to change while nursing while still provide the necessary support.

When shopping for a breastfeeding bra it's important to try on all the different styles available. Clasps can be on located on the front, back, or the center of the strap for ease of use and preference, and finding a bar where the entire cup folds away is a good idea; the "trap door" style can put pressure on a full breast while feeding. Some mothers also like to wear the breastfeeding bra to bed for the sake of support and to hold nursing pads in place.

Finding a good nursing bra can be the difference between a positive bonding experience between mother and baby, and an uncomfortable and challenging one that leaves both mom and baby frustrated. Be sure to take advantage of a free fitting and invest in a quality bra that is both comfortable and allows mommy ease of use and discretion when feeding.