One of the most frustrating things for a person in their childbearing years, is finding a sports bra that can see them through pregnancy and the post partum period. There are very few choices for people who wish to exercise in a supportive bra AND be able to feed their baby, if necessary, in the middle of a sweat session. That’s why we’re excited to be collaborating with AFTER9, the only Canadian made and owned activewear brand that’s designed especially for the population we serve!

Buying a sports bra is hard at the best of times. Add pregnant or post partum breasts in and it’s downright difficult! And, it’s one of the hottest topics at both our prenatal and post natal fitness classes! So, we’re sharing this guest post on how to buy a nursing bra, written by Olivia Glauberzon, founder and CEO of AFTER9, one of Canada’s only maternity & nursing activewear brands actually made in Canada, to give you guidance when you’re up in the middle of the night feeding your baby, looking to start moving again and wondering how best to support your ever changing chest!

Determine what you’ll use the bra for

Just like you wouldn’t run a marathon in heels, you can’t expect one nursing bra to do it all. You will probably require two bras at a minimum – one for day-to-day wear that’s less structured and a nursing sports bra that keeps your boobs more supported during workouts, which you may plan to do alongside your baby.

Depending on your support needs, you may find that your nursing sports bra also finds its way into your daily wear, since bigger busts can be painful when left to flop around.

Take your measurements

If you don’t have a measuring tape at home, get one. It will save you a lot of drama when online shopping. Measure around the widest part of your boob area for your “bust” measurement. Then measure right underneath your boobs for what we call the ‘underbust’ measurement. Take all of your measurements in the same unit of measurement – i.e. inches or CM.

Those two measurements together should point you towards what bra size you need.

Choose a built-in foam cup for added support and rounder boobs

Foam cups offer a superior shelf for your breasts when it comes to support than removable cups for a few reasons. Think of a soft hammock vs. a couch. Both are soft, both let you lie down, but one has a more solid structure and frame than the other. The breast tissue is less likely to spread and stay contained in a foam cup.

A foam cup looks best on someone with rounder melon-like, or eggplant shaped boobs. Someone with flatter wider boobs, which I call ‘pancake’ boobs is likely better off in a sports bra without foam, as the fabric will wrap the breast more easily and not be confined to a more outward facing dome-like structure.

Look for a nursing bra sold with an extender

With the pregnant woman’s body changing shape more times in nine months than a man’s will in his lifetime, you need a bra with an adjustable underbust. The best bras will do this by including an extender. An extender enables you to let out the underbust with your growing torso, and remove it as your torso contracts inward after birth.

Look for adjustable straps

As your boobs fill with milk, you’ll find one moment you’re a size C and then you’re moving on to a DD. Look for a bra where you have the ability to shorten the shoulder straps to accommodate your boobs as they shift in structure.

I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to always adjust your strap for a proper fit. Most sliders on bra elastic do just that – SLIDE. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t be adjustable. However, with that flexibility to find your sweet spot for fit also comes slippage with day to day wear, therefore they must always be readjusted upwards for a proper fit.

Ask for help

Buying a bra online has to be one of the toughest things to do. Don’t be afraid to ask the company for a virtual fitting to help with measuring you, or seeing the product in a video to get it right. At AFTER9, we are always happy to help our customers the best we can with fit, to save the hassle of having to swap bras by guessing.

Invest in a nursing sports bra you love

The right nursing sports bra is more than an undergarment these days. It’s a statement piece under blazers, part of a short set, and a top on its own. Choose wisely, as you’ll only need to invest in one or two for your entire journey. You might as well have your boobs enjoy the ride. If cost is an issue, consider the average breastfeeding mom saves her family over $1200 on formula per year. What’s a small bra splurge in the scheme of things?

Interested in joining us? Our classes are a great way to meet other new parents. Fitmama Strong Durham has been operating in the Durham Region since 2010. We offer prenatal fitness, prenatal yoga, babywearing fitness, stroller fitness, live-online classes and and on-demand library of workouts. Our in-person and online community is a thriving and welcoming space for you and your littles.

#startwithus and #growwithus by purchasing one of our class passes. We can’t wait to have you join us! (formerly FITMOM Durham)