Finding the Right Nursing Bra
For me, personally, finding the right nursing bra still hasn't happened. I have two that I wear regularly, several that I will wear only in dire situations (ack the laundry drain is plugged!) and a bunch that I should probably throw away from my last nursing era. I did find a few decent Japanese Weekend bras at Generations on Hawthorne, but they aren't my favorite. I actually haven't loved ANY of my nursing bras, but that's probably because I don't like the traditional designs. I also don't need (ahem) a whole lot of support. One of our readers asks this question, in an effort to find her perfect nursing bra:
I am looking for shops in the Portland area that sell good quality nursing bras in smaller sizes. Any suggestions for places and brands? Thanks!
Have any of you found a great bra? If so, do share your success!
I can't recommend a particular brand since each bra style/brand fits each person differently, but I can recommend that you go to Just Like a Woman on Macadam. This is a fabulous, locally owned store owned by two healthcare professionals (women) that specializes in all things breast care. I love this store as they provide certified fitters and cater to maternity/mastectomy, and hard to find bras. They are very supportive of breast cancer issues and offer seminars and support groups on a variety of women's health topics and will even do insurance follow-through for mastectomy bras. Plus, they have cute "regular" bras too! Their website is: www.justlikeawoman.com
Posted by: Allison | March 05, 2007 at 04:08 PM
You might try Nordstrom's (downtown). They have great fitters and several bras to choose from - they are spendy (the two I own were more than $50 each) but they feel great and that's hugely important.
At the opposite end of the cost spectrum, I really like the nursing tanks I bought from Target - and I got some others from Motherhood (check the Web site for sale stuff) that I like as well, though the catch-mechanism isn't as easy on the ones from Motherhood.
Posted by: Betsy | March 05, 2007 at 04:21 PM
My favorite nursing bra was by Moving Comfort. I bought it at Title Nine in the Pearl (Kearney and 13th or 14th?). It was stretchy but not tight or constricting. You can check it out online, too.
Posted by: Michele | March 05, 2007 at 04:27 PM
We have carry the Medela comfort nursing bra at Milagros but for professional fitting and selection, we send folks to the Breastfeeding Center at Providence Hospital.
We had some info on this on our site:
http://milagrosboutique.com/?p=248
All the best,
Jen and Tony Fuentes
Posted by: Milagros | March 05, 2007 at 04:33 PM
I've been nursing my little one for 15 months now, and the only nursing bra I own is a tank top from Glamourmom (I actually have 3 of them in different colors). Their website is www.glamourmom.com--they are a little spendy, but totally worth it! Also, keep in mind that they run a little small, so if you are normally a medium, you might need a large.
Posted by: Tammi Bailey | March 05, 2007 at 07:27 PM
The lactation clinic on NE 28th/Burnside has a nice selection of nursing bras and the women there are great about helping you find the one that fits you best. I also got one from Target (Liz Lange) that wasn't too bad at all.
Posted by: Kathy | March 05, 2007 at 07:30 PM
I second the Providence Breastfeeding center for fitting. For nursing bras, my own vote goes to the Bravado line, which can also be found at Generations on Hawthorne. Spendy in their own right, but they suited my needs so well that I bought a bunch of them. They stood up well under lots and lots of wash and wear.
Posted by: LeeAnn | March 05, 2007 at 07:35 PM
I actually never wore a nursing bra with either of my babes. After trying a few different nursing bras, I ended up getting good fitting cotton regular bras without underwire. I found it was easier to just lift the bra up over my breast than to fiddle with snaps or anything like that.
Posted by: clementine | March 05, 2007 at 08:19 PM
I found the salespeople at Nordstrom to be very helpful. They don't have their nursing bras on the floor, so you have to ask. That way they ensure that each customer gets a perfect fit. I bought mine at the Clackamas Town Center Nordstrom and won't go any other place from now on!
Posted by: angiebaby | March 05, 2007 at 08:54 PM
i second the ladies at just like a woman on macadam. they are extrememly kind and helpful. but to be honest, i didnt fall in love with my nursing bras that i got there (bravado) and ended up not wearing one.... until i found the glamourmom tanks. LOVE them. i got mine at generations on hawthorne. mind the light colored ones as they are a bit see-through but the dark ones are just like any other tank. you can also get them at mother natures on clinton. good luck and congratulations on your little one.
Posted by: sarah | March 05, 2007 at 09:02 PM
A Beyond Birth lactation consultant can fit you for a nursing bra and as Beyond Birth is within Zenana Spa and Wellness Center (www.zenana-spa.com) the boutique there has a variety of bras for many body types - including blue canoe bras - www.bluecanoe.com - which i love for nursing or for not nursing, medela hard to fit sizes (smaller and larger end of the spectrum), the medela comfort bras, and the glamour mom tanks, with new styles added fairly regularly.
Posted by: Lyla | March 05, 2007 at 09:04 PM
i've tried a bunch - japanese weekend (comfy but not very supportive, not that i need much), bravado (didn't like the snaps), yes (similar to the bravado, but much cheaper), target/in due time tanks and assorted bras (all fine)...i finally went and got fitted at nordstrom, and ended up ordering a elle macpherson maternelle bra from their website. i love love love love it. it's the only one i ever want to wear, and i really should get a second one 'cos i'm always annoyed when i have to wear something else when it's in the wash.
i used to swear by the nursing tanks, if only because they cover my stomach, but now i wear the elle bra and a belly hugger (bellyhugger.com) and life is good.
Posted by: jj | March 05, 2007 at 09:17 PM
I got the Elita Silk Magic Crossover Bra from nurturecenter.com; it's not technically a nursing bra, but it's easy to pull down one side of the crossover. it doesn't look like a nursing bra, which, to me, is a real plus, and is very comfy.
Posted by: sarah | March 05, 2007 at 10:06 PM
Being a 34 H leaves me with very few options. I wore the Bravado for the first eight months and loved the crossover style though I needed much more support than the bra could offer. Then I went to Nordstrom and bought a nursing bra that nrvrrt made it out of the bag. I found bras to be at least ten dollars cheaper ay Just Like a Woman. Hate the design of the nursing bra. Can't one of us design one that works, is comfortable and doesn't poke our kid's eye out with that plastic tab!?
Posted by: plain jane | March 05, 2007 at 10:26 PM
Love the Glamourmom nursing tank! Can nurse discreetly without chilling my tummy and it can be fastened with one hand.
Posted by: sandrala | March 05, 2007 at 10:49 PM
I also had good luck at Nordstrom. It's true they don't have them on the floor and you have to ask, but you should really get a fitting when you buy one anyway. In the brand I bought I'm a 34E (I'm normally a 34D), which I never would have guessed. I have one in beige and black and I alternate between the two. They're very supportive and made a huge difference in how my clothes fit me, especially jackets.
Posted by: Kat | March 06, 2007 at 12:25 AM
I highly recommend Just Like a Woman on Macadam! They are very helpful and have a very big selection.
Posted by: Cassie | March 06, 2007 at 08:25 AM
I have several nursing bras, I like my bravado, hate the glamourmom tank (too tight and the fasteners can't be done up with one hand.) but I LOVE my Blue Canoe yoga bra from Generations on Hawthorne.
It's just a yoga bra, but it crosses in front making it easy to get your boob out. It is made from organic cotton, so it's really nice and soft. It doesn't leave you with a uniboob like some other ones do!
Posted by: Ellie | March 06, 2007 at 09:53 AM
oh and i meant to say, beyond birth has a sale on right now on blue canoe OR medela bras - buy 2 get the third for half off:
www.beyondbirthservices.com
Posted by: Lyla | March 06, 2007 at 03:26 PM
oh and i meant to say, beyond birth has a sale on right now on blue canoe OR medela bras - buy 2 get the third for half off:
http://www.beyondbirthservices.com
Posted by: Lyla | March 06, 2007 at 03:27 PM
There is a bra shop in Gresham called 'It's Me' that specializes in nursing and mastectomy bras. They have bras that you can't get anywhere else, and an expert fitter.
Posted by: Rhonda | March 07, 2007 at 04:34 PM
Not sure of your definition of small. I'm a barely A cup and when I was breastfeeding I became a full A cup. I was never able to find nursing bras for small boobies. I ended up using tank tops, not as easy as my friends who got all the great nursing clothing/bras, but it works. Let me know if anyone knows of a company that makes them for small cup sized women! I'm pregnant with number 4 and not looking forward to nursing bra envy! lol
Posted by: Murphy | March 07, 2007 at 05:41 PM
same problem here as murphy had...and now i'm back to the pre-teen section... ;)
i did get one from title nine that i liked, and they're having a huge sale at the convention center next weekend (3/15-18). you might find one there.
i really like the nursing tanks as well - glamourmom and the basic ones from... um...where did i get those? hmm, anyway. they worked. my brain doesn't.
Posted by: leslie | March 07, 2007 at 06:51 PM
...also, we have a small variety - probably 4-5 kinds - of nursing bras and 2 or 3 styles of nursing tanks at LilyToad if you're not sure you want to spend the big bucks on something that may or may not work. or maybe it's the one you DO like and you need another?
...and i second the notion of learning about proper bra fit from a professional. their knowledge is invaluable.
Posted by: leslie | March 07, 2007 at 07:03 PM
sarah, i feel ya! i was a 34 G before nursing, and went up to a 34J myself, H was a fond memory of pregnancy. i do ditto some of the things people are saying about just like a woman, BUT, they couldn't come up with one bra to fit me while i nursed. and what they do have is, well let's just be frank, not the most gorgeous things you've ever seen. i did find a great solution though, make your own!! i got some great regular bras that fit well, then bought good elastic (nice ones availalbe by the yard at fabric depot in SE) and some S hooks and nursing bra clasps (which work, but only if your straps are 3/4" wide or less). then i took the bras into a seamstress w/ a regular nursing bra as an example and told her to use some really strong stitches. i'm happy to say they worked GREAT. i spent the first few months barely leaving the house cause the only nursing bras i found hurt so bad and were difficult to use and looked awful. wish i had figured it out sooner!
Posted by: virginia | March 07, 2007 at 10:54 PM
After reading the comments here, I went to Just Like a Woman as my final attempt at finding a nursing bra that comes in my size. I was expecting to be disappointed, but not only did I find a bra in my size (32G) but it also fits! They were wonderful, so helpful, and unlike most shopping trips, I came away happy.
There are bathing suits there too and breastfeeding accessories. There are quite a few restaurants around and a pet shop, so if it's a drive for you, there are other things to do too.
Posted by: Blair | March 15, 2007 at 05:45 PM
I posted the original question. Thanks for all your suggestions! I went to Generations and bought a bra. It fits fine but what I'm looking for is a bra that's padded so when I wear a fitted shirt or sweater, it looks seamless and my nursing pads don't show through. The nursing bras I've seen so far are cotton or thin and not something I want to wear under work clothes. I was fitted at Nordstrom and am a 32D but the nursing bras they had in that size were not padded and seamless. I'll keep looking!
Posted by: Mariko | April 25, 2007 at 09:07 PM
Have you tried Motherhood? I just bought one maybe 2 weeks ago that was very slightly padded in nude color there. AND it was only $16!!!! It was at the Clackamas mall.
Posted by: sharonk | April 25, 2007 at 09:44 PM
A little nudge on this one, a customer mentioned this post...
We carry a much wider selection of nursing bras and tops at Milagros these days. In addition to Medela, we have Bravado Designs, and the Miracle Cami. In general, our nursing support section has grown quite a bit.
Also, we host the Nursing Mothers Counsel's breastfeeding intro classes at the shop on the fourth Thursday of every month. It is a free class and a great way to get your breastfeeding questions answered.
Posted by: Milagros | July 15, 2009 at 12:30 PM
I know this is old, but I just want to second the Elle Macpherson bras, it sounds weird but they are SO comfy and not that bad looking for a nursing bra!
Also, the ladies at Nordstrom are so awesome and you really do need to be measured, I was shocked that I was a 36DD, instead of a 36C!
(I tried: medela- i was not impressed, 2 different bras from GAP maternity, glamourmom-which was great, and a cheap bra from target that is total crap.)
Posted by: GreenMami | November 10, 2009 at 05:00 PM
Thank you for the post, really very much impressed, keep impressing.
Posted by: Underwire nursing bras | January 30, 2010 at 11:15 PM
I was recommended to go see an old lady who ran the store "A Bra Boutique" that was located on SE Division & 122nd several years ago. She now runs her store out of her home. Her bras are very expensive BUT... for someone who is small around but has a very large cup size these bras are worth it. I haven't found a bra that actually supported me in years. She specializes in an "Anti-gravity bra" that is not a "nursing bra" but can be used as one since they all detach at the same place nursing bras. One more thing about the lady that owns it. She is very old and forgetful. Yet I go back to her because she is very good at fitting you to the correct bra but she takes forever since she often forgets what size she was looking for. If you go see her plan on spending an hour or sometimes two at her shop. Is it worth the price and time? In my case YES! I haven't found anyone else who correctly taught me how a bra should fit and why. I have had numerous bra fittings and ever time (except from her) have left with a bra that I never was satisfied with. Hers will work for nursing and everyday plus very supportive regardless of your size. I've been very happy with my bra. I just wish they were cheaper so I can afford more than one at a time. If you don't mind spending $$$ for a great bra and a correct fitting then go and see her! Just remember to be patient and know it will take a some time!
Store Info: A-Bra Boutique
12304 SE Sherman Street, Portland, OR
503-760-3589
Posted by: MeriBeth Lee | June 06, 2010 at 08:42 PM