I stopped wearing "regular" bras when my midwife told me to ditch the under-wires. So I started wearing sports bras to help me adjust to my growing self and even adapted some with creative sewing to make them nursing bras. I wore them all the time, seriously.... ALL the time until my son stopped nursing @ 20 months (that was almost 2 years ago exactly). My son is almost 4, I still only wear sports bras. Here's the thing.... they are comfortable. I'm a small 34B now and was maybe a medium 34B before, so no big change. Of course I'm not quite as perky as before so the sports bra helps give what's there more lift, but I am just a uni-boob. I can't even handle the idea of going back to an underwire, padded, push-up thing like before....ugh! Here's the rest of it; I'm 38, I go to Jazzercise 3-4 times/wk and am 130 pounds. I don't mind the sports bras, just sometimes I'd like to go out without the uni-boob or the loss of comfort. Besides, I think my husband is about to go nuts! What have you other moms done about this?
Thanks for all your suggestions... and I welcome any more! When I get the time I will probably go get a pro fitting, but I actually followed some of your advise and found a couple great bras @ Target. Warner has a "Simply Perfect" line that is wire free. I bought a wire-free lace comfort and a wire-free with lift (which has a little extra padding where the wire would be to help with the push-up factor without digging in. Totally unnoticeable in the feel, but looks great. These were $14.99 each. I also bought a couple of Hanes bandeau- a looser version of a sports bra and has individual "boob pockets" on each side to do away with the full uni-boob look. On sale, 2-pack for $10. Great deals and soooo comfortable for all I bought; not to mention the ego boost you get wearing something new and pretty! Now onto the underwear!!! I used to be a thong girl, now I'm a step away from granny-panties.... Oh my poor husband!
Thank you ALL for your wonderful suggestions!
I second Kate B's response. I am now a 34A after my two kids and the Barely There wireless is fantastic.
Sports bras are NOT good for support even though they're comfortable. You can find some good shaping and comfortable bras that aren't wire, you just have to find a place that will have staff that does a fitting for you.
Seriously, no more sports bras. They're not good for you. I went through a breast reduction a couple of years ago and was told by a few doctors including my surgeon plus several nurses that after my bandages came off (I had front clasp sports bras to hold bandages in place) that I was to get rid of any and all sports bras and never to buy them again in order to keep my breasts from sagging.
Personally, I love underwire bras. They provide support and shaping much better than sports bras. If you get a good fit, no matter what your size is, THAT is the key to comfort. It takes a while at the store to try on a million and one different bras, but I've always found it to be worth it.
Last year, I found a good fit for me at JCPenney and bought a bunch of them during a 2-for-1 sale. You couldn't beat the price! I think I bought six of the one I liked, in a few different colors. Now I won't have to shop for them for a nice long time again!
Keep the uni-boob ones for Jazzercise and change to the better fitting ones when you're away from the class.
Good luck! : )
Go and get fitted for a bra! It makes a world of difference to be professionally fitted. If your sales person knows what they are talking about, it will be the most comfotable bra you have ever owned.
Get fitted and shop for soft-cup wireless bras. I NEVER thought to try them until I had some underwire issues with my nursing bras (coming out and stabbing me) and found some soft-cup nursing bras that fit and supported (I'm a 34D not nursing, 36DDD-G depending on where in the nursing year I am). They can be just as comfy as a sports bra, but much more flattering and your husband will like them. :)
I can't wear underwire and I find pretty decent soft cup bras that provide structure and support. the best one I have actually is from Target! I like Barely There, and Hanes. Professionally fitted is good for sure and may make a difference in comfort, but I once went to the shop in Chicago that Oprah recommended and they did not have a single bra without underwire. And she didn't tell me anything I didn't already know.
Go to a real lingerie store. NOT Victoria's Secret or a department store. They will be able to measure you and find a properly fitting bra that is also comfortable.
I have recently discovered (after a real bra fitting at Lady Grace) Warner's bras. I absolutely adore this one style that is wire-free and has stretchy straps--no adjustment thingys. It is the most comfortable, best fitting bra I have ever owned, and I like how it looks under all my clothes. It might be called a T-shirt bra because it is very smooth. I am also a 34B, which I also discovered at my fitting! :)
Oh, I found it!
http://www.warners.com/_view/bra-Panty-Styles.cfm?ID=2055
A good fitting bra makes you look so much better in your clothes. But I hear you, I almost die when after two pregancies I try to wear form fitting clothes and heals. Uhgg.
I went to a real ladies lingerie shop (not Victoria's Secret or anything at a department store), got a fitting for my 'new' old boobs and was happy with the results.
The nice thing at a lingerie shop is that you can talk to the person who does the fitting about what you want, and they KNOW their inventory. Tell them exactly what you are looking for, and usually they'll bring the bras right to your dressing room. We have a wonderful place that does this here in Portland. (they also do bridal lingerie, foundation garments, even nursing bras). Be prepared that some places charge a fitting fee, and that is often waived with purchase. Also, call ahead: many of these places do medical/prostethetic fittings on certain days of the week, or you might need an appointment. But it's totally worth it. And I actually paid less for my bras there than I would have at a dept. store.
The best bras I've owned are Wacoal bras: http://www.wacoalbras.com/
Not inexpensive but so comfortable and well-fitting! I'm a small 36B and go without a bra as much as possible. But if I must, these work for me. They have underwire and non-underwire styles. I own an underwire style to wear for work and love it compared to any other brand I've owned. I also own a "bralette" that is super comfortable.
Title 9 !!!
The have non underwire sports bras (pretty ones, too) that are still sewn almost as IF they had underwire (I only wear underwire sports bras, but I'm an F) so they do the 'lift and separate' instead of uniboobing.
http://www.titlenine.com/category/sports-bras-and-undies....
I wear sports bras and underwires. I find the sports bras to be less comfortable. A fitted bra keeps everything in place without squishing it.
I used to be a small cup size (small A in high school) but after kids and weight gain am now more like a C. When you are a small cup size it seems like you can get away with anything...but not forever. A bra that supports well and is a good fit makes a big difference, especially post baby. I have found some wireless bras that still have a structured cup but I find underwires do support better with less bulk. Maybe you want to try a sports bra with separate cups.
