How to pick a well fitting nursing bra

Because a woman's breasts undergo numerous changes during and after pregnancy - becoming larger, heavier and more sensitive - it's important to get a good maternity bra. A well fitting, supportive bra will help reduce fatigue and make you feel more comfortable. Furthermore, a good fit is imperative because it ensures successful breast feeding by maintaining proper blood flow, which in turn prevents plugged ducts and mastitis.

Because breasts are more sensitive during and after pregnancy, most women abandon their underwire bras in favor of an all-fabric construction. Only women accustomed to wearing an underwire bra should consider doing so while nursing. A proper fit is critical: make sure the wire doesn't put pressure on the breast tissue.

When shopping for a maternity bra, don't rely on buying the same size you've been wearing. To get the most comfort and support, it's best to be fitted by a specialist. Take advantage of the sales staff's expertise.

The bottom band should fit snugly. A bra should not be worn too loosely around the rib cage; that allows it to ride up, keeping it from providing sufficient support and allowing the breasts to droop. The more you tighten the shoulder straps to raise the breasts, the more you raise the bra back above the shoulder blades, reducing support and increasing discomfort.You should be able to feel your rib cage just below the bra.

The breast should not be below the bottom edge of your bra, and each breast should be completely enclosed within the cup. If the bra seems to fit but continues to ride up in the back, try a larger cup size.The cups should be large enough to provide full coverage, with sufficient depth to fully support the breasts. If the bra doesn't fit snugly against the rib cage, the cup size might be too small. The result is inadequate support, potentially with ride-up in the back, drooping in the front or breasts slipping or bulging out from the bra.

Things to keep in mind when shopping for maternity or nursing bras:Choose a bra that allows easy access to the breast, with skin-to-skin contact for convenient nursing. A one-hand cup opening can be particularly handy.The best time to shop for maternity or nursing bras is during the final weeks of your pregnancy. Your breasts will continue to change as your due date approaches, but selecting a bra in the last weeks will help guarantee a good fit after the baby is born. You may have to get a different size later when your milk supply is increased.

Good luck!

Thanks squidoo.com/nursingbras for the great tips!

How to be free of back pain when Breastfeeding.

If a new mother does not get her posture just right during feedings, back pain can often occur.
If a woman suffers from back pain while she is carrying her child inside her, it is very likely she could suffer from back pain while breastfeeding her new baby. But new mothers should not be discouraged by that fact, as there are many tips to get the most out of breastfeeding while still keeping her back in good shape. Here are a few quick tips to help:

-Use a good supportive chair or place a pillow behind you to ensure support and comfort.

-Use a chair with arm support.

-Use a foot rest.

-Make sure you are bringing the baby towards your breast rather than straining your back to lean over the child.

For the full article check out this link: http://www.betterhealthcentre.com/breastfeeding/breastfeeding_back_pain.htm

Mastitis vs. Blocked Duct and what to do about it

Mastitis is a bacterial infection of the breast that usually occurs in breastfeeding mothers.

Mastitis needs to be differentiated from a plugged or blocked duct, because the plugged or blocked duct does not need treatment with antibiotics, whereas mastitis often, but not always, does require treatment with antibiotics. A blocked duct presents as a painful, swollen, firm mass in the breast. The skin overlying the blocked duct is often quite red, similar to what happens during mastitis, but less intense. Mastitis is usually also associated with fever and more intense pain as well. However, it is not always easy to distinguish between a mild mastitis and a severe blocked duct. A blocked duct, can, apparently, go on to become mastitis. In France, physicians also recognize something they call lymphangite that is fever associated with skin which is hot and red, but there is no underlying painful mass. They do not believe this requires treatment with antibiotics.

Blocked Ducts
Blocked ducts will almost always resolve spontaneously within 24 to 48 hours after onset, even without any treatment at all. During the time the block is present, the baby may be fussy when nursing on that side, as milk flow may be slower than usual. Blocked ducts can be made to resolve more quickly by:

-Continuing breastfeeding on the affected side.

-Draining the affected area better. One way of doing this is to position the baby so his chin"points" to the area of hardness. Thus if the blocked duct is in the outside, lower area of your breast (about 4 o'clock), the football hold would be best.

-Using breast compression while the baby is feeding, getting your hand around the blocked duct and using steady pressure.

-Applying heat to the affected area (with a heating pad or hot water bottle, but be careful not to injure your skin by using too much heat for too long a period of time).


-Trying to rest. (Not always easy, but take the baby to bed with you.)

By Vincent Iannelli, M.D., http://pediatrics.about.com/od/breastfeeding/a/mastitis.htm