Spring Is In The Air

Lift And Support And Fit…Oh My!

I just received a brand-new nursing bra in my store (making it 50 different types of nursing bras that I carry – HOLY COW!). It is called the Smoothing Underwire Nursing Bra and it is made by Elomi (part of the Eveden family of bras designed specifically for women with larger busts). I ordered this bra because I am always on the look out for good nursing bras – especially ones that come in large cup sizes. And one combination that seems to be especially difficult to find is a bra that comes in large cup sizes AND has an underwire. I don’t know why – but this is almost impossible to find! Well – it’s impossible to find one that is comfortable anyway….

Well, I’ve found it! And when I tried this bra on, I found myself singing “Lift and Support and Fit … Oh MY! Lift and Support and Fit …. OH MY!” (to the tune of Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh My!) This bra is fantastic! It gives great lift (important when your breasts are the size of small or in some cases large melons!). It gives great support - again very important when you have large breasts and it fits FANTASTIC!! The underwire is comfortable, the cups are flattering to your figure and it places your girls – right where they belong – IN THE CENTER OF YOUR CHEST - not down in your belly!

This bra comes in sizes 34-48, DD-K. The sizing is a “funky” in that they use some European sizing standards which we North American’s are not accustomed to – but I have put “equivalent” sizing on my site so that you can get a better idea of which size to order.

If you have large breasts – then this is the bra for you! Try one out today! “Lift and Support and Fit … Oh MY! Lift and Support and Fit …. OH MY!”

Disclaimer: I received a free sample of this bra in order to decide if I wanted to order it for my store or not. I was not expected nor asked to write a review of it. I did that purly of my own volition because I was so super impressed with how truely wonderful this bra is!

Out With The Mini – In With the Maxi!

Oh My God They’re Huge!

This might be something you’re saying to yourself as you progress through your pregnancy and start breastfeeding. Most women will gain 1-2 cup sizes in their breasts from the time they get pregnant to the time to they begin breastfeeding. When the cup size gain comes is different for everyone. I personally went up 3 cup sizes while I was pregnant (from a DD to a G), but didn’t change at all when my milk came in. Other women don’t change much while they are pregnant, but may increase 1 or 2 cup sizes when their milk comes in.

If you are a B-DD/E cup, then you won’t have any difficulties finding a great nursing bra. There are even quite a few styles to choose from for F-cup gals. But once you get BEYOND the F-cup, the selection of bras goes WAY DOWN. I personally didn’t even know bras came in a G-cup until I needed to buy one. I had to wear the most uncomfortable bras throughout my pregnancy and nursing days because I couldn’t find on that actually fit me properly.

Well, have I got knews for you! Bravado! Designs has come out with a BRAND-NEW nursing bra (which I reviewed during my Blogiversary Celebration) called the Sublime Nursing Bra - and boy is it ever!!

There are THREE things that I love about this bra.
1) It is pretty
2) It gives great SUPPORT and SEPARATION
3) It comes in cup sizes from B to K – yes, that’s right – K!!

So now, all of you mamas who are in the “larger than an F-cup” category have some choice – a beautiful bra, with great support at a very reasonable price! What more can a well-endowed mama ask for??

**Disclaimer – I was not compensated in any way for this review – I wrote it to express my gratitude for a nursing bra that is beautiful, functional and comes in large cup sizes.

Pre-Season Sale – Save Up To 60%!

Stop by and check out the items in our pre-season sale. Most of our Spring maternity & breastfeeding items are on sale. Savings up to 60% off! No coupon required – visit today for the best selection!!

Gearing Up For The Holidays

Every mom needs something nice to wear to when it comes time for the holidays. So we’d like to help you get that something special this holiday season. To do so, we are offering an astounding 20% off on any of our dresses – just use promo code “holiday09″ at checkout.

This offer is valid on any in-stock dress in our Boutique Store and expires 12/31/09. We have some super cute maternity dresses and breastfeeding dresses – so if you are a mom or mom-to-be – there is definitely something for you! Stop by today for the best selection!

Mom’s Most Supportive Friend: 5 Things To Look For To Fit The Perfect Nursing Bra

By Alina Szober

The burps, the leaks, the sleepless nights – and then the baby arrives! And when that little one gets here, a well-fitted, comfortable and easy to use nursing bra can be a new mom’s new best friend.

The ideal time to be fitted for a nursing bra is a few weeks before your due date. Because your breasts have been preparing to nurse during your entire pregnancy, you’ve likely experienced some fullness or size increase. Every woman is different as to when and how much she experiences, but purchasing a nursing bra close to your due date will give you the most accurate prediction of your nursing size. During pregnancy, you’ll only need a new bra if you find your pre-pregnancy bras getting snug or uncomfortable. If that happens, most women just choose to buy a nursing bra instead of a regular bra, since nursing bras generally give you more room to grow, and you’ll be able to use them after the baby is born as well.

When you’re trying on nursing bras, the first thing you want to make sure of is that the bra is sitting just right on your body. To do that, once you have the bra on, bend over, and reach your right hand into your left cup, cup your breast, and lift it into place in the bra. Do the same for the other side. This ensures that all your breast tissue is correctly placed in the cups, and none is being constricted by the bottom band or sides of the bra – which is especially important if you’re nursing, because constant pressure in one spot could lead to soreness or infection. And frankly, the girls need all the TLC they can get at this point!

Once you have the bra on, there are several things you can look for to ensure it is just the right size and fits your body well:

1) Scope out the rib band
The band should be sitting evenly all around (level to the floor) in the front and back. If you find it’s riding up in the back, first make sure the straps are properly released to your comfort; and if it’s still riding up, then try a smaller band size. You should be able to run one or two fingers comfortably under the band. If you can’t, the band is too tight – go up a rib band. If you can run more than two fingers, the band is too loose – go down a rib band.

2) Check out the straps
Adjust the straps to your comfort, so that they’re not digging in or providing support. A good test is to let them drop over your shoulders – the cups and rib band should stay in place without them. If they don’t, the bra is likely too big.

3) Make sure your cups don’t runneth over…or under
When looking at the cups, see if there is any gaping, puckering, or extra fabric. If so, the cup is too big, and you should try a smaller cup size. The cups should cover the breast fully. Breasts should not be bulging out of the top or sides – do a finger test at the top to make sure you have a little room. Another thing to look for is where the seams lie in the cups (if the bra has seams), and to make sure they run to the sides of your nipples for your comfort.

4) A new meaning to easy access
Another important thing to try is the nursing closures on the bra. They should be easy to operate once you get used to them (most closures take a few tries to get the hang of). Bend over and wiggle around a bit to make sure they don’t open spontaneously. Better to find out now, instead of when you’re leaning over to grab some cereal from the bottom grocery store shelf! Needless to say – don’t buy it if it does that.

5) Overall look and feel
Last but definitely not least, think about whether the bra is comfortable and if you feel supported. Is anything bothering you? Do you find any of the seams irritating or any of the fabric scratchy? Make
sure to move around in the bra to ensure it stays put (that the rib band doesn’t ride up, the straps don’t fall off). As well, put your top on over your bra, and look at yourself in profile to see your shape. Are you getting
the silhouette that you want? Do the nursing closures lie flat under your clothing?

And remember, today; you don’t have to sacrifice a stylish bra for comfort and function.

Alina Szober is the Marketing Manager at Bravado Designs Inc. Mom owned and operated, Bravado Designs holds over 17 years of combined experience and knowledge in the nursing apparel industry from its thousands of wear testers, mommy designers, and its fearless owners – one of which is a certified lactation consultant. Alina has been with Bravado for 4 years, time she has spent understanding nursing mothers in their own words, through Bravado’s proprietary database of over 80,000 moms.

Bravado Designs is also proud to be a sponsor of the Mommy News & Views Blogiversary Celebration. Stop by and visit their Review/Giveaway in our Blogiversary section!

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