Danielle writes:
"Where can I find the best selection (and best) nursing bras for big boobed mamas? I wear a 36DD-36DDD (aka E). I am down to one that fits well (Eve Alexander) but I want one with underwire for better support during the day. I have a ton of Bravados but I can't wear them during the day."
Before I give up the goods, I'm going to make a public service announcement for postpartum women of all sizes, whether you're nursing or not (and adoptive moms, if you ate your way through the endless wait, this goes for you, too):
Go get a bra fitting.
Your breasts have probably changed shape or size or both during pregnancy or the long wait, so you need to get a fitting instead of guessing and wandering around in a poorly-fitting bra. A properly-fitted bra will give you better posture, make you look taller and thinner, alleviate back pain, make your clothes look better, and relieve breast pain. Plus it'll make you feel hotter in general.
It doesn't hurt, and it's free when you buy a bra from the store (you probably need a new one anyway). Don't make me nag you again.
Now, I'll assume that you've had a bra fitting recently and know that you're in one of the larger sizes (anything above 38 band size or C cup size). You probably can't find any decent nursing bras off the rack at regular big-box stores, so you'll have to go to a local specialty store that sells nursing bras or an online store with nursing bras in larger sizes.
In Boston go to Isis Maternity.
In Chicago call The Art of Breastfeeding (you can get a fitting at their office or they'll do a house call!).
In Detroit go to Sunny J's Lingerie and Leisure Wear (550 Forest Ave, Plymouth, 734-453-8584).
In NYC, go to the Town Shop or Upper Breast Side in Manhattan or Boing Boing in Brooklyn (204 6th Ave at Union Street, 718-398-0251).
In Philadelphia go to The Lacatation Center at Pennsylvania Hospital (8th and Spruce in Center City).
In Portland, Oregon, go to Just Like a Woman.
In Seattle go to Birth and Beyond.
In Washington, DC, go to The Breastfeeding Center.
If you live in another city that has a special store for nursing bras and supplies, leave it in the comments so we can spread the knowledge.
Two great online stores with bras in a wiiiiiiide range of sizes:
BirthandBaby.com stocks nurisng bras from size 32A to 48KK. You can sort by what you're looking for (support, comfort, etc) and by size.
BreakOutBras.com also has a good selection of nursing bras for larger sizes, and the owner of the store has helpful comments on each model.
As usual, if you have any more info or suggestions of places to buy "big girl" bras, leave them in the comments or email them and I'll add them to this post once my internet service is up again. The large-breasted nursers of the internet thank you.
I had a really good experience at the Lactation Center at Pennsylvania Hospital (8th and Spruce in Center City). They have a boutique as well and will fit you for a bra and tell you what is working and what is not.
http://www.pennhealth.com/obgyn/services/breastfeeding/pahosp/olc.html
Posted by: Megan | April 25, 2006 at 11:26 AM
In Brooklyn, I recommend Boing Boing at 6th Avenue and Union. They have nursing bras in a range of sizes and are very helpful.
I have a couple of Anita brand underwire nursing bras that do the trick for me. Online they're available from figleaves.com.
Posted by: Brooklyn Girl | April 25, 2006 at 11:35 AM
Nordstrom is in a lot of places, and they have nursing bras up to 42 H, I believe. But in Portland, Oregon, I highly recommend "Just Like A Woman" on Macadam Ave. They carry the Medela bras in stock, and I LOVE my Medela bra (34 G here). When I'm done breastfeeding, I'm seriously considering getting resized and buying one in my normal size!
Posted by: Beth | April 25, 2006 at 11:52 AM
Thanks so much for the links! I'm already up a cup size and I'm not even to 20 weeks yet, I'm so going to need this info. If only I was closer to one of the big cities with the good stores -- thank god for the internet.
Posted by: jen | April 25, 2006 at 12:58 PM
Yes! Bra fittings are good, good thing. And I've never been pregnant or nursing.
In the metro Detriot area: Sunny J's in Plymouth has a big selection and does great fittings.
Posted by: Brooke | April 25, 2006 at 03:10 PM
In DC, go to the Breastfeeding Center downtown at 21st & K Streets. They have a wide selection of styles and sizes of nursing bras (and keep fitting me into larger and larger ones - yikes! up to 40G now!) plus all kinds of breastfeeding info, gear, advice, classes.
Posted by: Jen (yup, another one) | April 26, 2006 at 04:12 AM
Brooke, I think I love you. Scratch that--I know I do. I'm coming up on 7 months and have already grown an undetermined number of cup sizes up from DD (tape measurement tells me I, but I can't find anything that fits properly so it's more complicated than bust-minus-band). The only local place I'd found so far gave me little satisfaction, so I'm ecstatic to hear about Sunny J's.
Posted by: C. | April 26, 2006 at 09:20 AM
In NYC, if you want to avoid the legendarily nosy and bossy ladies at the Upper Breast Side, I had a GREAT experience at the Town Shop on the Upper West Side (and my breasts are bigger than Danielle's). I was four days post-partum, milk was pouring from my swollen breasts, we were on the way to the pediatrician's office and kind of in a rush, they did not bat an eye. I have been back several times since, as my breasts have shrunk up and changed shape. Not cheap but worth it, for me.
Posted by: Kate | April 26, 2006 at 11:19 AM
One more thought, re: underwire, some people recommend against it for nursing mothers. At the Town Shop, the woman who fitted me said that in her opinion the underwire only causes problems (e.g., I think, clogged milk ducts) if the bra does not fit you properly. I chose to believe her, since I didn't feel comfortable out and about in a bra without underwire, and, for what it's worth, I had no problems.
Posted by: Kate | April 26, 2006 at 11:24 AM
Kate, I didn't know the Town Shop sold nursing bras. I love them--they can find your correct size just by looking at you.
I think some women are just more prone to clogged ducts, and for them it might be wise to avoid underwire at least at the beginning, but underwire by no means causes problems with everyone. It makes sense to me that a properly-fitted bra woudn't cause problems.
Posted by: Moxie | April 26, 2006 at 12:14 PM
And in Seattle there's Birth and Beyond (www.birthandbeyond.com). They definitely saved my nursing. Put me into Bravado, out of underwire, rented a much-needed hospital-grade pump to boot.
Posted by: Tall Latte | April 26, 2006 at 06:36 PM
I had heard the same thing about underwire and so avoided that for the first month or so, but I made the switch at about 1 month postpartum and I was just so much more comfortable (and have had no clogged duct issues).
Posted by: Brooklyn Girl | April 26, 2006 at 09:57 PM
My lactation consultant sold me mine. I'm a 38 DD. Medela made the bras I bought. Pretty comfy.
Posted by: liz | April 26, 2006 at 10:19 PM
I remember my shock at hearing that I was a 36H (!!!) at one week postpartum. The place to go for nursing bras in Cincinnati is Candice's Boutique in Kenwood - it's in the same shopping center as TGI Friday's and Half-Price Books.
Posted by: Vanessa | April 27, 2006 at 02:50 PM
This bra saved my life: the Bravado Designs Supreme Nursing Bra! I think they make it up to a 46 H, and let me tell you, i have never felt so supported and comfortable (and it doesn't even have underwire) as a bigger chested gal. I've finished nursing now, but am still wearing it because it's so comfy and gives me great shape.
Posted by: City Gal | May 30, 2006 at 05:21 PM