Since my husband and I are expecting our first bambino next month, my life is full of changes. Most of them are exciting, like creating a nursery for this little person we haven’t met yet. Some of them are funny, like when the fraud department at my credit card company called and asked if I was really the person spending so much money at Wal-Mart and Babies R Us. (My response? “Yes, I know. I miss Nordstrom, too.”) But some of the upcoming changes are a little scary, and for me, breastfeeding falls in that category.
I’m definitely planning to breastfeed, and I know it’s a natural process and women have been doing it for eons and blah, blah, blah. But it’s intimidating! For example, I only recently learned that newborns eat 8-10 times a day. Seriously? That’s more often than I check email.
If I could just get a handle on the wardrobe issues, though, I’d feel much more confident about the whole thing. Let’s face it: looking good while nursing is the El Dorado of motherhood. I could go on all day about the limited variety and questionable style of most nursing clothes, but I don’t have the luxury of worrying about that because I have yet to find a suitable nursing bra. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that looking good starts with a great-fitting bra.
Since I’m naturally “well-endowed”, I’ve been investing in well-made, supportive bras for as long as I can remember. Wacoal and Chantelle work best for me, and although they cost a pretty penny, I don’t mind spending more for such crucial wardrobe items. But now I’m fretting because my old stand-bys won’t work for nursing.
Further complicating the issue is that—of course—my bust has gotten even bigger during the pregnancy. Something I read said that this is a good sign biologically; it means your body is getting ready for the baby by making sure he can find his food source. Well, I don’t think that will be a problem. Helen Keller could find my bosoms these days.
And now that a supportive bra is even more important than ever, I’m frustrated with the options I’m finding. So I need HELP in a big way! Any D or DD women out there who’ve found nursing bras they love? I’ve heard that underwire styles can be problematic but can’t imagine going without it. Has anyone found a brand that works? BareNecessities.com has many options, but I’m not familiar with the brands and have no idea where to start. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!