Mother's Day: New Moms and their New Boobs

In honour of Mother's Day I'm handing you over this week to two wonderful women in my life, my sister Rebecca who I adore and my fabulous friend Jess. They both had baby girls last year so I asked them to answer a few questions about life with their new boobs xx

My sister lives in York in the north of England and last August she gave birth to her first child (and my first niece!) This is her story of new Mummy boobs...   

1) Did you switch to non-wired bras before your daughter was born?
I did. About 4 months into my pregnancy I started to feel uncomfortable as my rib cage expanded.

2) When did you start wearing a nursing bra?
I bought 3 nursing bras after the baby was born. I think full term Mums would be advised to buy some in the last few weeks of pregnancy but my baby was very early. There was little choice so I bought what fit well enough. My sister then sent me a Butterfly Collection nursing bra from Royce and it's superb...so comfortable and gorgeous!!! 

Heather from Royce gave my sister the support she needed

3) Was it complicated at first to figure out how to use your nursing bra?
The design with clips is very easy to work out...although there are many moments during each day when I forget to clip myself back up and end up swinging low!

4) Is there something that has happened to your boobs that no one told you to expect?
I didn't know that there would be such a massive difference in the size of my breasts when my baby only nurses from one side. For good breast health your baby should always drain both sides, but if she falls asleep during a feed I end up with one grape and one watermelon!!! The Royce bra is great here as the cup seems to hug me no matter what size I am.

5) Do you feel very differently about your breasts since nursing?
Each and every day I feel in awe of my breasts for providing my little girl with a life source. Mother Nature deserves a Nobel prize for this design. I feel that they are precious and need to be cared for (they can feel very tender after nursing). Having your breasts out half the day makes them less 'intimate' so I certainly feel the sex appeal of cleavage may have dwindled during the nursing period. But life ebbs and flows and I'm sure once nursing is done I can hoik them back into action in a red lacy push up!!!

6) What kind of outfits worked well for you while you've been nursing?
Almost everything I own now is either v necked or a loose T shirt which I can easily pull up.


My lovely Canadian friend, Jess, gave birth to her first baby last September. Here is her new Mom boob journey... 

1) Did you switch to non-wired bras before baby was born?
I did. I was around 6 months pregnant and was much more comfortable - partly because they were non-wired and because Claire fitted me into the right size of bra for the first time ever!

2) When did you start wearing a nursing bra?
Right after the baby was born although because she was early I had my mom pick up a couple for me. She couldn't find any in my size (34E) and so my first bras didn't fit right. I ended up living in the sleep style nursing bras for a long time because they fit and I found them easier overall while I was figuring out nursing! Then Claire fitted me properly (my size hadn’t changed since late pregnancy) and gave me a Royce nursing bra which is still my most comfortable and prettiest nursing bra.

Lauren from Royce was my pick for Jess

3) Was it complicated at first to figure out how to use your nursing bra?
The clips were easy enough but to be honest I still found them to be a pain while I was learning how to nurse, I often forgot to do them back up and would discover them undone the next time I went to nurse. I found the sleep-style of bra super simple and more comfortable for me and baby.

4) Is there something that has happened to your boobs that no one told you to expect?
I was lucky and didn’t really have any problems getting breastfeeding started.What I didn’t expect was how much milk you produce at first while the system is sorting itself out! I spent the first two months constantly damp because I was literally pouring milk. She ate less but more often so there were a lot of times where my breasts were just so full they were dripping!


5) Do you feel very differently about your breasts since nursing?
I feel completely different about my breasts since I’ve started nursing. Breasts are part of our sexual identity but that has totally changed for me since are doing what they are designed to do. One thing that is obvious to me now is how far we have to go in Canada in terms of respecting nursing moms. I never really had any issue with seeing moms nurse in public. Now that I am a mom, it makes me sad how much of an issue it is here. I bought a nursing cover so I can nurse discretely in public; at first this is how I was most comfortable but the baby doesn’t really like nursing under the cover. Now I would be comfortable nursing her without the cover but I know it would make some people uncomfortable so I still use the cover.

6) What kind of outfits worked well for you while you've been nursing?
My daily outfits are now always soft cotton, dark shirts often with a cardigan or some type of open shirt over top – they have to be easy to hike up and out of the way, dark colours hide dampness, soft shirts are best for snuggles and comfort and the cardigan or other sweater help me nurse discretely!

What difference does material make to bra comfort?

The materials that make up straps, wings and cups of your bra can make a big difference to your comfort.

You know that I am an avid protestor against the Plus Four Method (adding four or five inches to your ribcage measurement to find your band size) because it is one of the biggest reasons women are uncomfortable in their bras. The Plus Four Method was introduced in the 1930s when fabrics were far less forgiving and adding the inches allowed for breathing. In the last 80 years we have seen the birth of sophisticated elastics that have literally changed the way bras fit.

Comfortable but supportive elastics mean that you can wear a band size that is exactly the same as your ribcage measurement or at most a couple of inches bigger. Lots of women even wear band sizes smaller than their ribcage because the elastics are so comfortable. Besides the evolution in elastics there has been a revolution in the fabrics used for cups and wings; in today's blog we have a look at what difference fabric makes to how comfortably your bra fits.

1. Microfiber - this refers to a whole group of man-made materials that are very thin and have the properties of being very soft, fast drying and moisture wicking. Microfibers include Polymide and Nylon. If a bra is made of over 60% of these materials you know it is going to be soft and moisture wicking.

A high content of microfibers (polymides and or nylon) in your sports bra gives it moisture wicking properties

Moisture wicking is very important for women who perspire a lot as the material keeps moisture away from your skin preventing skin irritations. You want a high microfiber content in your sports bras to keep you cool when working out.

2. Spandex/Elastane/Lycra - This trinity is actually all the same thing, it just has different names in different countries. I love than Spandex is actually an anagram of expands because, well, that's what Spandex does. Spandex makes up the large proportion of straps and bands and wing supports but it can also be mixed with cotton, lace and microfibers to create cups that stretch to accommodate any shape.

Elastane mixed with a polymide lace allows the Boudoir Starlet to stretch to your shape

Bras with a spandex mix fabric are great for women with one breast bigger than the other because the cups stretch to fit each breast.

3. Cotton - This magical fabric has been around for 7000 years and still can't be beaten when it comes to breathable and durable qualities. It's the breathable part that is important for bras. If you have sensitive skin or overheat easily then you need a breathable material that won't irritate your skin. Trapped moisture can cause rashes, sores and chafing. Cotton allows your skin to breathe reducing the risk of irritation.

Heather Nursing Bra from Royce with a 25% Cotton Content

Cotton content is very important in nursing bras because your temperature rises when you're pregnant and your skin can become more sensitive so using natural fibers next to your skin is important.

I hope this crash course in bra materials helps you understand what's best for your skin and lifestyle. If you have questions just write them below and I'll be happy to answer them. xx 

Mammoir of a Busty Breastfeeding Mom

Elisabeth's book available at Amazon

This week we are incredibly fortunate to have the author of bOObs: a guide to your girls, as our guest blogger. Elisabeth writes Mammoirs about life as a busty woman that are empathetic, enlightening and entertaining for all women! 

When Christina Aguilera appeared on the Ellen Show shortly after the birth of her new baby, she didn’t hide her swollen, lactating breasts. Ms. Aguilera proudly rocked her bonus cleavage. I wish I’d felt the same way about my breasts when I first travelled down the nursing path. Well-endowed from puberty, I hoped my first pregnancy would place the emphasis on my growing belly -- not my chest. But where I carried my weight in my expectant condition couldn’t be ignored, or covered with ease.

Learn more at www.thebreastlife.com

In the early 1980s, my pre-baby 34DDs were a rare sight. It was difficult to find the pretty, feminine bras I longed to wear. Lingerie department saleswomen would direct me toward the back wall, where I found a selection of stiff, white, wired grandma bust supporters. Market demand for bigger bra sizes has since radically changed these options, for both regular and maternity wear. Although Victoria’s Secret doesn’t go past the DD mark , other manufacturers have stepped up to meet the fashion needs of a more busty demographic. The downside? Increased engineering support drives up production costs, which are passed on to the consumer. Women must spend more time and money to find the proper gear for ample breasts. Purchasing temporary nursing bras can stress out our clothing budgets.

Fitters claim that women wear up to six different bra sizes in their lifetime. My mammaries morphed that much over one nine month period. Experts also agree that a woman’s cups can double during pregnancy. That’s all good if you’re moving from an A or B to a C or D cup.  My girlfriends with smaller breasts were overjoyed at the prospect of their extra boobage. But it’s a whole other story when you start climbing up the alphabet cup toward a G, H, I, or beyond. I dove into bra cup denial when expecting my first child, praying that my belly would eclipse my ever-expanding bosom.

Lauren Nursing Bra from Royce

My bigger bust prevented me from taking advantage of all the perks offered to most expecting moms. The grocery clerk rarely asked if I needed help with my cart, because my chest made it less certain that I also carried a bun in the oven. Size also didn’t matter when it came to breast milk production. Carrying most of my extra weight up top didn't mean I was filled to the brim and wouldn't face supply issues. The transformation of my areolas was another big surprise. Similar to an over-inflated balloon, my nipples flattened out and disappeared into widening breast flesh. This led to challenges for my baby, as he had difficulty latching on to a level surface.  I would look down at his perfect, angelic face while he nursed, stunned that the circumference of my breast exceeded that of his newborn head. Larger breasts also required breastfeeding positions outside the typical babe-in-arms scene that appeared on most nursing guides.

Imagine my surprise when two subsequent pregnancies led to totally different breast experiences. No baby or boob growth was identical. Sometimes it was easy, and other days more difficult. I may as well have embraced and celebrated whatever happened to my chest – much like Christina Aguilera. Breastfeeding presented me with a whole new dimension to boob ownership, no matter how long I nursed or pumped. I will forever treasure the small window of time when my sweater puppies nourished and sustained a new life. That’s pretty amazing, whatever their size. 

Elisabeth Dale is founder of TheBreastLife.com and author of bOObs: A Guide to Your Girls, a humourous and informative book about breasts. Please visit TheBreastLife.com to read and share other breast perspectives or mammoirs, and learn more about supportive gear and garments that have earned The Breast Life Seal of Approval.

New baby, new boobs, new bras

It has been a rather magical six months on the baby front in my life. First my best friend Sarah gave birth to a gorgeous baby girl in December. Then my beautiful sister announced that she is pregnant with my first niece and my fabulous friend Jess is due in September. 

With all this wonderful baby news, and Mother’s Day just around the corner we're talking about new babies and the new boobs that come with them! You can find lots of in-depth information on our website but this is the top five must-knows when fitting your baby boobs.

1) Maternity bras are not nursing bras. Maternity bras are stretchy bras that change with your shape before and after baby and can be worn at night to give you extra support as your boobs get heavier and more sensitive. Nursing bras have release clasps on the cups so you can easily access your boobs for feeding. Maternity bras in D-K cups can be hard to find but there are lots of bras with stretch in the cups that can accommodate the fluctuation. Andorra from Panache is a good option.  

2) Size Matters. If you’ve never bothered with getting the right size before – bother NOW! Wearing the wrong size will make you really uncomfortable before and after pregnancy and worse than that it can actually cause infection if you get a blocked milk duct from an ill-fitting bra. Follow the instructions in our Fitting Room and check out our Bra Size Calculator to see how to keep track of your changing shape then buy the right size accordingly.

3) There’s no hard and fast rule to how often or how much your boobs are going to change, but a good tip if you’re going to breastfeed is to buy ONE nursing bra in your last trimester based on your current size at that time plus one full cup size. The chances that this will be your exact size are slim but it will be close and it will give you the instant convenience of a nursing bra when the baby arrives. Bra shopping in the first week after a new baby will be low on your priority list.

4) Good maternity and nursing bras should be made of breathable material so look for ones with a high cotton content or made of microfiber material – this will keep your skin cool and rash free. Make sure your bra has wide, soft straps to keep you comfortable as your chest becomes heavier.

5) Unless you are fastidious about wearing the correct size bra you should wear wirefree bras after giving birth. This will reduce the risk of unwanted pressure on your breast tissue which can cause duct blockages.  Never sleep in a wired bra, pregnant or not!

On average a woman’s bra size changes by two cups during pregnancy and breastfeeding. This can seem overwhelming for big busted girls but can be mind-boggling for women who go from a regular high street size like a C cup then don't know where to find a pretty nursing bra in an E cup. If the changing shape of your breasts seems a little daunting you can email our support team to talk through your concerns about maternity and breastfeeding.

Remember that this is an exceptionally special time in your life and being supported (emotionally and physically) makes the whole experience more enjoyable. Being in a supportive bra will remove some of the stress and allow you to be a happy and comfortable mother.  To all our customers who are expecting a new arrival this year, or who have just had a baby, my HUGE congratulations! xx