Someone asked about underwire nursing bras a few days ago. The advice we
give is this:

Nursing bras with underwires are usually not a problem IF:

-it fits properly (i.e. the U of the underwire is wide enough to fall
outside of and not on top of soft breast tissue where there may be milk
ducts)
-it is not worn while sleeping
-one also has a soft cup bra to rotate with, and especially, to use while
sleeping

This is not a time to try an underwire for the first time. But, some
women are very partial to underwire bras and they need not automatically
rule them out. However, not all can be fit properly. Some women have
quite a bit of breast tissue to the side below the arm and they will have
more difficulty finding an underwire to fit.

An underwire is not the only part of a bra that can lead to plugged
ducts, of course. Just the most obvious. An irritating seam, a tight
strap, etc. - any of these can cause a problem.

So does that mean we would be better off not wearing bras at all while
lactating?

Lawrence notes that the average pre-pregnant breast weights 200 gm, that
average breast at the end of pregnancy weighs 400 gm, and a lactating
breast weighs between 600 and 800 gm.

Does not wearing a bra make breasts sag now or later in life? There were
some great chuckles as this was debated on Lactnet some months ago, the
general consensus being that heredity was probably the controlling factor
for sagging breasts.

Comfort (relieving back, neck and shoulder strain) and keeping bra pads
in place to absorb leakage seem to be the best reasons to wear a nursing
bra (culture and modesty aside).

Life plays great tricks on us. I'm the one who tends to think a
comfortable bra is an oxymoron, and here I am giving advice and fitting
bras daily.

Sue

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Sue Petracek              * [log in to unmask]
Bosom Buddies, Inc.       * www.bosombuddies.com
(888) 860-0041 Toll Free  * Helping mothers breastfeed successfully
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