Right after you have a baby is not the time when you are generally feeling your sexiest, right?  But still as women, we always want to look pretty, even if we have to wear functional nursing bras.  So can bras for nursing be both pretty and functional?  The answer is absolutely - YES!

First let's tackle functional.

Here is what to look for a pretty nursing bras.

Does your nursing bra fit well?

No matter how good your bra looks, it needs to fit.  If you are unsure about how to fit your bra correctly, check out this post on how to fit a nursing bra.

Is it easy to operate?

This question makes your bra sound like a piece of machinery, but it is important.  The nursing flap needs to be able to open one handed without a lot of hassle.

Is it comfortable?

You should always look for seamless nursing bras (or at least is should have no seams over your nipples).  This is very, very important.  Your nipples may be sore already from nursing... you don't want to make matters worse.

Is it supportive?

Your nursing bra should be very supportive and not leave room for a lot of motion.  This will make you much more comfortable in the long run.  This is particularly important if you are well endowed.  You can read more about plus size nursing bras here.

Once you have all of these bases covered then you can go for pretty.   These are some of my favorite pretty nursing bras (I love lace). 

QT INTIMATE PRETTY LACE DROP CUP MATERNITY NURSING BRA NEW    US $11.99

PRETTY BEIGE NURSING BRA 36C DAISY FRESH 5493 VINTAGE MATERNITY NO UNDERWIRE    US $5.52

Technorati Tags: functional bras, nursing bra, nursing bras, pretty nursing bras

I think that the best tactic is to start out with two or three (don't forget to measure yourself for a good fit ).  The reason is that after you've been nursing for about a month your size can change pretty dramatically.  So to start out with get two for daytime and one sleep nursing bra, and then measure again in a month.

After that (and when you know you are going to stick with nursing) buy more.  My personal preference is to have at least 4 bras for daytime and several for night, with at least a couple of them being nursing sports bras, because I like to work out.  But mostly it is just personal preference.

When it comes to actually buying the nursing bras, there are two things that I always tell people to look for.  The  first is comfort, which is very, very important when you are nursing and the second is the nursing opening itself.  Is it easy to use, or difficult?  You want to be able to open your nursing bra with just one hand to make nursing your baby easy.

Finally, when you are considering how many nursing bras to buy, you will want to think about you and your lifestyle.  If you are really good at keeping up on laundry, you can buy fewer.  But keep in mind that new babies are exhausting and you may not keep up on things quite as well as normal during the first few months - this is pretty common and nothing to feel bad about.   If you think that is the case you will want to purchase more bras.  So you will need at least 3 to start out with and then 4 to 8 depending on your personality. Get the best nursing bra you can afford and you won't be disappointed.

Congratulations on your decision to breastfeed!

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Here are some large cup size nursing bras from Ebay that are available now:

NEW MEDELA NIGHT NURSING SLEEP MATERNITY BRA    US $15.49

♥New Undercover Mama Nursing Maternity Bra Top Tank    US $19.99

NEW Glamourmom® Nursing Bra Tummy Control Long Tank    US $53.99

Large nursing bra    US $.99

Ebay has a huge selection of nursing bras in really hard to find sizes and good prices.

Here are some of the best nursing bras from Amazon .

	Lansinoh Disposable Nursing Pads
	Lansinoh® Disposable Nursing Pads allow mothers to keep their active lifestyles after giving birth -- without having to worry about embarrassing and uncomfortable milk leakage.

	Philips AVENT Washable Nursing Pads, 6 Count List Price: $6.99 Sale Price: $3.00
	These soft, cotton nursing pads prevent staining while adding comfort for breastfeeding mothers. They are machine washable and dryable and includes laundry bag.

	LPS-Large
	LilyPadz® are a patented, innovative nursing pad made of a skin-like layer of silicone. The unique design of LilyPadz® maintains pressure on the nipple while in place and forms a non-absorbent barrier that actually PREVENTS breast milk leakage...

One of the things that I like best about Amazon is that the bras are rated directly by the customers, so that you know exactly what other peoples experiences are when it comes to bras. It gives you a lot more confidence with what you buy. There is always a nursing bras sale at Amazon too.

Some of the things you should look for when it comes to nursing bras are:

What does the lining of the bra look like?

You want the inside of the bra to be smooth soft and seam free.  Your nipples will be tender for a while and you want a bra that doesn't rub against them.

What is the nursing fastener like?

You should be able to unhook and rehook the fastener with one hand, because you will need to when you have a hungry, crying baby.

Does the bra have wide supportive straps?

This is really important for fuller busted women.  The bra needs to have wide supportive straps so that you can protect both your breasts and your back.

Whatever nursing bra you decide on, be sure to get one that fits correctly.  It will make your nursing experience much easier and much more enjoyable.  Congratulations on your decision to nurse your infant!

Technorati Tags: firt nursing bras, larger cup nursing bras, nursing bra, nursing bras

With nursing bras, fit becomes even more important.   As every woman who has had a baby knows, your bras size can change a great deal from before pregnancy to after the baby is born, and you need to have nursing bras that really fit.

A good fitting bra will go a long way toward making you more comfortable when you are nursing your baby.  Luckily fitting nursing bras uses the same technique as fitting a regular bra, and is really easy to do yourself.

Step 1. - Determining Band Size

Take your tape measure and measure directly under the band of your current bra (right under your breasts.  Write this number down.

If the measurement is even, add 4"
If the measurement is odd, add 5"

This is your band size.

Step 2. - Determining Cup Size

Take your tape measure and measure over the fullest part of your bust then write the number down in inches.  The difference between this measurement and the band size is your cup size.  Here is a chart to help.

Here is a video that shows you exactly how to take the measurements.

Having great fitting nursing bras is as simple as these two measurements.  You can either do the measurements yourself or have a bra fitter do them for you.  You can find quality bra fitters at many major department stores.   Whichever way you go, you will have a great fitting comfortable nursing bra.

Technorati Tags: fitting a nursing bra, nursing bra, nursing bras