Do your bras no longer fit after childbirth and breastfeeding? Nothing alters the body's landscape more than having a baby. And as a result, you may be looking for the best post pregnancy bras for new, post-baby boobs.
Contrary to popular belief, breastfeeding doesn't cause the most common postpartum complaint: saggy boobs (known as ptosis). Plus, surveys show that not all women are unhappy with their breasts after pregnancy. But no two women are alike. Some complain that their breasts are more asymmetrical, smaller, or less firm. Everyone has their issues.
In my case, none of my pre-pregnancy bras fit the same way. And it wasn't a matter of size. Yes, I did go way up and down the bra alphabet over the course of three pregnancies. But it took a few years for everything to settle back into place. Lack of breast volume and loose skin were my problems. Because of this, I was more self-conscious wearing molded, contour bras. There was always a big gap in the top-half of my cups.
Today's post offers you six lingerie shopping tips that make it easier---and less frustrating---to find the best post pregnancy bras.
1. Experiment. My breasts changed position on my chest after each pregnancy. Be open to expanding your Bra Zone, and not just your size. Try several different styles to see how they work with your figure. Full cups lift heavier breasts and keep everything in place. Plunge bras bring wider set breasts closer together. Push-ups raise shallower breast tissue upward. Demi and balcony bras will give your breasts a tighter appearance as they lift and confine less firm skin.
Simone Perele Wish Demi Cup Lace Bra Available in 5 Colors Fits Bands 30-38, Cups B-E via HerRoom2. Make fabrics your friend. Breathable, 3D spacer bras look like contour t-shirt bras but conform more to your shape. Look for stretchy lace or mesh cups, which are both beautiful and help camouflage uneven breasts.
Simone Perele 3D Soft Cup Bra Available in 3 Colors Fits Bands 32-40, Cups B-E via HerRoom Wacoal Embrace Lace Underwire Bra Available in 9 Colors Fits Bands 32-40, Cups B-DDD via HerRoom3. Count on seams. Seamed cups can help you change the direction of where you want your breasts to appear on your chest. They lift and bring boobs front and center. Look for vertical seams on the front of cups or side panels that push breasts toward the middle, giving you a rounder shape.
Freya Hero Side Support Bra Available in 2 Colors Fits Bands 30-38, Cups E-G via Nordstrom4. Know your padding. You can choose from numerous push-up styles, but they all lift in unique ways. Some have graduated padding from the bottom or push breasts together, more from the sides. Some brands offer removable pads that allow you to make adjustments to one, or both boobs. Keep in mind which direction you want your breasts to face when picking a push-up or padded bra.
Le Mystere Ultimate Plunge Convertible Plunge Push-Up Bra Available in Two Colors Fits Bands 32-36, Cups B-F via Bloomingdales5. Check details. Arched center fronts and gores, side boning, triple-wrapped underwires, adjustable and convertible straps may all be answers in your search for the best post pregnancy bras. Refresh your bra vocabulary and look for those "extras" that make you look and feel great.
For example, the feminine, lacy Chantelle full cup provides complete coverage for small and big cup sizes. Its 3-part seam cups lift and shape upward, and the raised center gore is more comfortable for those with high stomachs.
Chantelle Revele Moi Underwire Bra Available in 5 Colors Fits Bands 30-42, Cups B-H via HerRoomThis Curvy Couture bra offers different features. It gives better nipple coverage with more revealing plunging contour cups lined with lace and satin. It has light graduated padding plus a leotard back.
6. Not always breast shape and size. The best post pregnancy bras aren't all about boob placement. For many of us, looser skin creates "back fat" and extra folds under our armpits. You can tone those areas with exercise (weight training or yoga), but it may be hard to get back to the gym on a regular basis. In the meantime, look for smooth, seamless edges that won't dig into your skin, or leotard and u-shape backs, and "back smoothing" bra styles.
Vanity Fair Beauty Back Smoother Bra Available in 10 Colors Fits Bands 36-44, Cups C-DDD via HerRoomI'm now a first-time grandmother and see how hectic and unpredictable life is with a newborn. Motherhood is rewarding, but it's also exhausting and demanding. The last thing you need is to feel awkward and uncomfortable in your bra.
What's your experience? Did your breasts change after childbirth? Which brands or styles would you recommend as the best post pregnancy bras?