Do I have to wear a maternity bra?

**PolkaDot** · 26-09-2010 16:30

Just wondering.. Do I have to wear a maternity bra? I currently am wearing one, but I'm really feeling unsupported & I feel the ones I am wearing are a tad small & I have started to get some kind of lumps on the top of my breast.
I'm planning to go to the shops tomorrow to get some new bras but I was just unsure, I've read underwire bras can cause mastitis or something along those lines?

**Hollywood** · 26-09-2010 16:33

I've been breastfeeding for 3.5 years and I no longer wear them. I only BF him for bedtime and occasionally on lazy days at home if I sit down, giving him the 'opportunity'

I have heard of others who don't, and what I do is I undo the bra to BF him so that I don't stretch it out of shape.

How long have you been BF for? I think in the early days it is better to have a maternity bra, but once your milk supply has settled I don't think it's such a problem.

**Bron** · 26-09-2010 16:37

I wear one and did with DS while he was still having feeds during the day. Once he dropped to one feed in the morning though, I stopped wearing them. It's just more convenient to feed with one on.

**PolkaDot** · 26-09-2010 16:37

I should have added, DS was only born on the 17th, so feeding for like a week & 2 days.

**headoverfeet** · 26-09-2010 16:47

Not wearing one is not worth the risk of mastitis IMO and I have only had it once.

**Hollywood** · 26-09-2010 16:55

Originally Posted by PolkaDot

I should have added, DS was only born on the 17th, so feeding for like a week & 2 days.

oohhh, well in that case, yes I would wear one. With the number of times a day you BF, it would be a pain in the bum to not be wearing a maternity one. And at this early stage, yes you do risk getting mastitis with underwire bras.

**headoverfeet** · 26-09-2010 16:57

Some info here from the ABA about choosing Bras

**SalTheGal** · 26-09-2010 16:59

I'm the same as PP- now DS is 14mnths and only feeding morning and night I don't wear one through the day... but in the early stages I would definitely be wearing one, for avoiding mastitis, and ease of feeding too. (And I may be imagining it but I thought I had heard somewhere that underwire bras can impinge on your supply

)

**Me&MrMagoo** · 26-09-2010 20:21

I'm 8 months in and still wear one ... I wore a crop top today coz I thought bubs was staying home but at the last minute he came along and oh my god it was hard!!

The best thing I ever did was get fitted by one of the ladies at David jones and she helped me pick a bra that fitted properly - oh my god the difference was insane!! Soooooo comfy when you have the right bra on!

**Livvey** · 26-09-2010 20:39

In the early days i'd definitely suggest you do! You have to open them up so often that a regular bra would be a pain in the bottom.

I'm still wearing one now, but DS2, 7 months, feeds 2-3 hourly still, so it's just more convenient for me.