Bra Shopping After Baby

There are two things in this world that I can honestly say I hate to do. The first is shopping for jeans. The second – bra shopping. I feel like those are the two articles of clothing that require a perfect fit. A fit that is impossible very difficult to find. This is a challenge that is exacerbated by the inevitable changes our bodies face post pregnancy and post breastfeeding. After being pregnant for nine months and breastfeeding for eleven months, I was ready to buy some new bras. My pre-pregnancy bras did not fit correctly anymore and my nursing bras were worn out and fitting poorly as well.

1. Do your research. Find a place that trains the employees in proper bra fitting. I LOVE going to Soma Intimates. They will measure you in the dressing room (anyone ever had the experience of being measured out in the middle of a certain store? Awkward.) and they will come in and actually assess the fit of every bra you try on.

2. Don’t be shy. Be honest with the sales people. As soon as I walked in, I told them I had just finished nursing my son for 11 months and was in need of some new bras. Allow the sales people to come in and look at the fit of the bras.

3. Get measured! This one gets an exclamation point. Don’t just assume that you are in a certain size. Side note – don’t wear a sports bra or a padded bra when you go because this could throw off your measurement. Also, measuring with a tape measure can be a little off. This is why it is super important to allow the sales person to assess the fit of the bras you try on. This will allow them to help you get the perfect size.

4. Wear a form fitting shirt. Make sure you try your shirt on over the bras you are trying on. This will help you see how the bras will look under clothes and will allow you to asses any issues with the fit.

5. Leave your bra comfort zone. Just because you have always bought the demi cut with super padding doesn’t mean that this style will still complement your post-baby body. Be willing to try different styles. Prior to being pregnant I had never even tried on a bra without underwire. Some of my nursing bras were wireless and I fell in love with them! They are way more supportive than I thought they would be and they are oh so comfy.

6. Leave the kiddos at home. Finding the perfect bra will take some time. It will be best if you don’t feel rushed.

7. Save up a little cash. A good bra is not going to be cheap. I know it can be difficult to stomach dropping so much money on such a small piece of clothing but trust me, your boobs will thank you! So, if you are like me, you may need to put a little money aside every week for a few weeks and then go treat yourself! Quality over quantity. If you can’t afford to buy several expensive bras, just buy one to start with and then slowly replace your bra wardrobe one-by-one. My personal rule of thumb is buy two of of your favorite style – one nude and one black or colorful. Then wash both on the weekends. Also make sure to check for coupons before you go and look to see if the store has an email list you can sign up for.

Did you know that any time your weight fluctuates by 10 lbs. you should be refitted for a bra? A great fitting bra can boost your comfort and your confidence and can help us mamas out who have gone through some post-baby body changes!

In case you are curious, I ended up purchasing {THIS} bra in both black and nude.

Do you have any bra shopping tips? We’d love to hear them, so share with us!