Bra or no Bra at night?

Sarah - posted on 01/29/2013

I have always used a 'sports bra'-type nursing bra for sleeping. So much more comfortable, and does the trick perfectly. Bravado makes a fabulous one, if you're still looking.

Sally - posted on 01/27/2013

It depends on the bra Underwire or any tightness is just asking for blocked ducts. They make sleep nursing bras just for people like you though. Go to a good maternity store and get fitted. It will be worth the extra expense to get one that will help instead of hurting.

Cleaver - posted on 01/24/2013

when i went through this i just washed the sheets when i got up but i hate wearing bras

Rhonda - posted on 01/23/2013

There is a brand new product developed by a mom that had issues with leaking the entire time she nursed her kids. It is called Rest Assured Nursing Pads. They are designed to cover completely so moms do not have to sleep in a bra. They are great!! You wear them with a tank top or a nightgown that fits closely. It is easy to feed your baby then just go right back to sleep. My back felt so much better after using this instead of sleeping in a bra!

You can find them on Amazon or at www.restassurednursingpads.com

Hope that helps!

Lee-Anne - posted on 09/01/2012

www.Drytatascom & www.omamma.com are illegally trading. Rita George is getting stock from my old manufacturers which are contravening patents & legals.



My new manufacturers have the Latest technology !!! The New Bra designs are great & comfortable.



Contact lkassel@evanesse.co.uk if you would like to supply to mothers & keep them Dry in America.



Happy Breastfeeding.

Lee-Anne - posted on 09/01/2012

Hi - If you have loads of leaking at Night. Try the Evanesse Washable Nursing Pads, The E Cup Size. lkassel@evanesse.co.uk or www.evanesse.co.uk send your request to give you an american supplier. The Evanesse Leak- Proof feeding Bra's have evaporative technology. They great & Breasfeeding Mothers Love them.!!!

Crystal - posted on 08/27/2012

i heard its safe and yea the restriction isnt fun i put a towel on the bed when i want to sleep without a bra its just uncomfortable to me, and either baby oil or vitamin E oil, baby oil has vitamin E pplus it will make your skin moisturized n sooo soft

Marian - posted on 08/26/2012

I wear a cotton Cami with built in shelf bra with my nursing pads. The pads catch any leaks and stay put and I am comfortable enough to sleep.

Alysha - posted on 08/20/2012

I wore my breastfeed bras with the pads in them. I leaked a little bit, but I was very chapped, so I used the nipple cream to help with it.
As far as stretch marks so, I wouldn't put any lotion or creams on your breast that has scent to it, it can soak into your milk or your baby can get some of the lotion into it's mouth. The nonscent, lotion is better, but I would ask your doctor before switching.
As far as the restricting of getting in milk, if your milk is coming is quickly, than I wouldn't worry about it while wearing a bra. I would pump before going to bed and try to during the middle of the night, maybe set a little alarm that'll go off in the middle of the night to remind you to pump, if you haven't already fed your baby.
I hope this helps?

Samantha - posted on 08/18/2012

I wouldn't pump, you'll only stimulate the supply more. Mine used to leak if I turned over at night and there was pressure on certain ducts, or even just randomly. I ended up getting some stretchy knit pyjama tops and wearing those with a cloth nappy/towel folded in half over my front, held in place by the knit top, because I hate the restriction of wearing a bra at night.

Claire - posted on 08/13/2012

Its fine to wear a bra and nursing pads at night. I had to too. I hated waking up with a soaking wet shirt. Get a breastfeeding bra as they are usually looser and wont restrict. As far as stretch marks, not really sure if you can do anything about them, They are a hereditary thing. :-( I have them too AHhhhhhhh

Michelle - posted on 08/11/2012

I wore a bra because I had the same issue, I wore a wireless (which apparently women should wear when they have breastmilk anyway) wore it looser than I would during the day to make it more comfortable. (not the same bra but I had a number of nursing bras)

Cassondra - posted on 08/11/2012

lol yes just make sure its a comfy some what loose bra and what i actually had to do was fold up socks and put those in bc i was leaking so much that it would get all over my bed and my husband! lol. do you have a nursing bra? those make t hings sooo much easier. but get a good one that holds you up and you dont have to worry about it not supporting you. wash it frequently and no matter what wear a bra. you actually may leak less bc when you dont wear a bra your breasts get so heavy that the pressure of them being weighed down makes them leak.

Catherin - posted on 08/09/2012

i sleep in a nursing singlet ( hate getting a cold belly!) you could always use lanolin for your breasts. Its the same stuff they make lansinoh out of. A friend of mine used bio oil around the breast but not near the nipple

Sarah - posted on 08/03/2012

I slept in a sleeping bra for the first 2-3 months, with THICK nursing pads because I leaked so much. I even leaked during the day between feedings for quite a while. I was wearing bras/nursing pads 24/7! I still sleep in a nursing tank and use nursing pads at night because I still leak just a bit at night (my daughter is 4 months). Sleeping in a bra is only going to help, not hurt. I also use palmers for the stretch marks. As long as it's not getting on your nipple, it's fine!

Shanna - posted on 08/02/2012

I used a folded towel and a thin waterproof type of liner between myself and the mattress when I was in that phase. It really helped to keep me comfortable and to keep the mattress from becoming soiled. Good Luck and remember "This too shall pass." :)

Margarita - posted on 07/28/2012

I meant to mention this before regarding the pumping. If you are leaking, but are not engorged, you don't really need to pump, just change the nursing pads. OTOH, if you are engorged, you definitely need to pump to prevent all sorts of issues - from discomfort to mastitis. If you work away from home and need to build a stash for when you go back, or are trying to increase your supply, I believe the rule of thumb is to pump until you empty your breasts, plus five minutes. A double electric is best for this, but you can make do with other options. If you are SAH, you should only pump long enough to relieve the pressure, maybe a little extra to tidy you until baby wakes up. A hand pump or plain old hand expression will work best for this. Otherwise, you will stimulate your milk production and create a vicious cycle of producing more, then needing to pumpmore, which will make you produce even more. This isn't a problem if you WAFH as apparently pumping doesn't stimulate production as effectively as nursing does, so you kind of need the extra pumping so you can keep up, but not so much if you are already nursing round the clock. You can also try something called the "dream feed." At this age, babies are both sound sleepers and instinctual eaters. Soooo, before going to bed yourself, you pick up your baby, still asleep and swaddled, and let him nurse. Once he stops, just put him back to bed. If he starts to wake up in the process, then you can go back to pumping. It is worth a shot, and it tends to get you a little more sleep! Good luck.

Margarita - posted on 07/23/2012

If your nipples are itching, check your baby's mouth. If you see white marks that don't scrape off easily (like milk would), it's possible you've developed thrush. It's not a huge problem, but it is incredibly uncomfortable. Talk to your doctor and/or your baby's pediatrician. If it's thrush, they will prescribe Nystatin for both of you (a cream for you and drops for baby). If it doesn't work they will put you on Diflucam, but most insurance won't cover it unless you go on Nystatin first. Just make sure you apply the cream after each nursing as baby will lick it off (it's perfectly safe for them and don't worry about applying too often. Ditto for giving them the oral version after nursing so they don't just swallow it since it's technically supposed to be a topical, but you can't exactly just rub it in their mouth. If you have to go to Diflucam, you want to give it to them before a nursing since that is definitely an oral. The other things you will have to keep in mind if this case is you will want to toss any milk you pump (you'll just end up getting thrush again) and you won't be able to apply milk to your nipples as it will make the problem worse (normally it's wonderful for healing, but not in this case).

Whether or not you actually have thrush, you should definitely wear a sleep bra. I started a few months before giving birth since my breasts were so tender. Most maternity stores and many baby stores have nursing sleep bras that are quite comfy and breathable. I prefer the disposable pads at night over the cotton ones since they are better at keeping you dry (during the day you can just change the cotton pads when you leak so they work fine if you prefer a reusable option). Don't use soap on your nipples, and be careful to drip as little soap/shampoo on your breasts during the shower as they can be quite drying. Use nipple cream on the aureola and surrounding tissue and a gentle moisturizer on the rest of your breast if they are dry. Another thing to consider is that you might be allergic to lanolin (not all people who are allergic to wool are allergic to lanolin, but some are). They do have one or two nipple creams out there that are not lanolin based. Check with your local maternity and baby store to see if they carry one. You can also try health food stores or look for them online. I think The First Years makes one of them.

Good luck!

Dora - posted on 07/23/2012

I have always slept with a bra and nursing pads while breast feeding. I used to have the same problem with leaking. The bra and nursing pads at night stopped me leaking all over and waking up soaked.

Tiffanie - posted on 07/22/2012

I laid a towel under me in my bed for my first child. He was a co sleeper so wearing a bra wasn't convenient for me. While he was nursing on one side I could easily grab the towel and hold it against my other breast until it was time for him to nurse on that side.

Becky - posted on 07/22/2012

I always sleep in a nursing bra, or my bed will be soaked.Sometimes if the bra is uncomfortable or I just want a break from it, I will put a hand towel underneath me on the bed.
I've had four kids in the past 5 years, and I've spent almost 4 years nursing now. We are done having kids! so I can't wait to go back to sleeping without a bra!! LOL!

Jill - posted on 07/22/2012

I sleep in a nursing tank with breast pads due to the same problem with leaking. Sorry no advice about the stretch marks

Janine - posted on 07/18/2012

comfy night time nursing bra.... so comfy I have been known to wear them in the day time too! I have La Leche League, Motherhood Maternity and LaMaze, you can get them on Amazon too!

Jessie - posted on 07/18/2012

I used a cotten bra with nursing pads, becuz I leaked a lot! all over. it really helps.

Cara - posted on 07/18/2012

I wore a soft nursing bra and pads to bed every night until my daughter was 2. It can't harm anything just make you more comfortable. Pick out some pads that you really like.

Sally - posted on 07/17/2012

A couple of things Tiffany.
1) You really need to wear a nursing bra to bed while you are still breastfeeding.
2) I make a special effort not to forget to pump each night before I go to bed because my breasts make enough milk even if my daughter wants to feed, I try not to forget, most of the time I do not.
3) Don't use any lotion on your breasts but I do use a mild Vitamin E lotion on my nipples, and I use a mild soap such as Ivory in the shower each day on the rest of my body. If my daughter is in the shower with me I do not use the soap until I have put Emily to sleep and I can be alone in the shower.

Jamie - posted on 07/17/2012

i guess im the one singled out here. i slept and went without wearing bras. i didn't like the feeling of discomfort i felt while wearing them.

Laura Juliana - posted on 07/17/2012

Bra's were extremely uncomfortable for me to use at night but I leaked a lot and always woke up with wet sheets. I started using fitted tank tops with Breast pads. They have organic cloth pads that might help with the itching and probably save you a lot of money as they are reusable. I never tried those but they were recommended by a friend. Also, as long as you keep pumping at night your milk will continue to come in. I would stop pumping and eventually you will stop producing unless its baby's feeding time.

Aimee - posted on 07/16/2012

I always wore my bra with nursing pads until I didnt leak anymore. A lot easier then having to change the bedding EVERY day :)

Melissa - posted on 07/16/2012

It is fine to wear a bra and breast pads at night. If you pump at night even sometimes you will continue to produce more milk than your baby is needing.

Antoinette - posted on 07/15/2012

I often wear a fitted tank top to bed and just stick the nursing pads inside my tank top. I also wear the cotton nursing bras sometimes. There's nothing wrong with putting palmers cocoa butter on your breast 4 stretch marks and itching, but I would try to aoid the nipple and areole as u dont want your little one ingesting cocoa butter while nursing.

Bernadette - posted on 07/15/2012

I NEVER went without a bra when I was breastfeeding. I couldn't not wear bra pads, due to leakage. I just wore regular nursing bras, as they are made to be pretty comfortable and not constricting at all since they don't have any underwires or anything. I couldn't wear the ones with the molded cups to bed (when you lie on your side, gravity means they aren't really that effective...) but just the soft cotton ones. Wearing a bra and pads to bed won't hurt.

Heather - posted on 07/15/2012

Try pumping before you go to bed, and again in the middle of the night if you need to. You can also wake your son up, but that's up to you. You should be wearing a bra at night with nursing pads. You should be wearing a bra 24/7 right now. It will takes a few months before they stop leaking at night. Sports bras and nursing bras are the best!

Try Eucerin lotion with Calming Creme! It's the best! Your OB might also be able to give you something to make them stop itching. It can't hurt to ask!

Beth - posted on 07/15/2012

With my first son, I always wore a nursing bra at night, the kind that's like a sports bra. That way I could wear the pads in case I leaked. It never interfered with my milk production.

Lori - posted on 07/14/2012

I wore a soft cotton nursing bra that resembles a sports bra, but it's not tight and restricting like a sports bra. And for the first 9 months of nursing I wore nursing pads to catch leaks almost constantly. There's no reason you can't wear a comfy bra to bed at night.

Heidi - posted on 07/14/2012

No bra. A t-shirt with a receiving blanket tucked under to catch leaks.

Rebekah - posted on 07/14/2012

I wear a bra 24-7 with nursing pads when I'm nursing. Nursed my daughter to 15 months and I slept in a bra every single day until she was 100% weaned.

I have never used a product for stretch marks on my breasts until after I weaned-- BUT, I was surprised that when my breasts shrunk back to their normal size most of the stretch marks weren't as noticeable and had faded.

Dove - posted on 07/14/2012

I wore a bra at night until my son was almost 3. It didn't harm anything.

I wouldn't be putting lotion on my breasts though. Only the Lanolin stuff on your nipples. I also NEVER soaped my breasts. Nothing but water.

Amy - posted on 07/14/2012

I always slept in a nursing bra because of the leaking problems, if you go to a maternity store you can get a cotton bra to wear.

Kaitlin - posted on 07/14/2012

while you're bfing, i wouldn't use anything other than nipple ointment on your breasts. They have MANY different kinds of sleep bras- check out any maternity store or section in a bigger store. You can also use a slightly big sports bra. You being 6 weeks in, you milk has already been established. Just make sure it's a nice, breathable fabric so your skin isn't irritated. If you're itching badly, try switching soaps in your shower, or rubbing the last bits of milk after you breastfeed all over your breasts. Again, don't use other products on your breasts while breastfeeding unless it's lanolin or other nipple cream- plamers is NOT nipple cream.