When moms start weaning, most women are eager to start wearing their old bras again. But is there a specific time frame for when this should happen? And are there any benefits to waiting? Here’s what you need to know.
Most women can start wearing a normal bra about 4 to 6 weeks after they stop breastfeeding. It is important to wait until your breast milk has dried up and your breasts are not getting engorged anymore.
Let’s take a deep dive:
When can I stop wearing nursing bras?
You might be feeling self-conscious about wearing nursing bras after you have weaned your baby. However, nursing bras are designed to provide extra support and comfort while breastfeeding. These benefits don’t go away when you stop nursing.
Many women find they prefer to continue wearing nursing bras long after they stop breastfeeding.
There is no set rule for when you can stop wearing nursing bras. The transition from nursing bras to regular bras is a personal one.
Generally speaking, you can stop wearing nursing bras when:
- you stop producing significant amounts of breast milk (a little is fine)
- your breasts stop getting engorged
- you stop leaking milk
- you don’t need to pump to relieve breast engorgement anymore
- your breasts shrink so much that your nursing bras don’t fit anymore
How long does it take milk to dry up?
When a woman stops breastfeeding, her body begins the process of drying up breast milk. How long it takes and how painful it is can vary depending on how quickly you wean.
I recommend weaning slowly over a period of weeks to months. This makes it less shocking to your system and for your baby. When you wean this way, you won’t experience as much breast engorgement and pain.
If you stop cold turkey, your breasts will become painfully engorged for at least one to two weeks and you’ll need to pump to relieve it anyway.
After you stop breastfeeding entirely, it takes 4 to 6 weeks for your breastmilk to dry up and for your breasts to stop fluctuating in size.
However, every woman is different. Many moms still make a little breast milk even 4-6 months or longer after weaning. This amount is insignificant and doesn’t cause accidental milk maps and breast pain.
Wear soft breast pads when weaning to catch milk leaks:
Check it out on AmazonWhat bra should I wear for weaning?
Weaning can be a painful process for many women. In more ways than one. You not only have the physical pain from engorgement as your breasts realize they don’t have to make milk anymore. You are also left with this feeling of emptiness and grief.
During this difficult time, choose a bra that is supportive, stretchy and comfortable.
You should be able to use the same bras you wore for the start of breastfeeding. Remember those ones? They were wireless, super stretchy and ultra soft.
And don’t forget, you might need some nursing pads to collect milk leaks.
These eco-friendly Majamas Bras are the perfect ‘nursing bra’ to wear when you are weaning:
Check it out on AmazonWill I need new bras after breastfeeding?
Some moms go back to their old bras after breastfeeding because their breasts go back to their pre-pregnancy size and shape.
But your breasts may be very different to what they were before breastfeeding. Some moms find they have bigger breasts and some find that their breasts look somewhat deflated and saggy.
If you find that your old bras don’t fit as well anymore, it is time to go for a bra fitting and to shop for new bras.
There is variation in bra sizes between brands and stores, so it is important to try on different styles and sizes to find the best fit.
Your breast size will gradually shift over the next 6 months, so it is advisable to get fitted several weeks to a month after finishing breastfeeding and again at the six-month mark.
If you are buying new bras in the early months post-weaning, make sure you don’t buy too many as your breast size might change.
The Playtex 18 hour Silky Soft Wireless Bra is an affordable option for the first few months post-breastfeeding:
Check it out on AmazonWhat to look for in a post-breastfeeding bra
Many women feel self-conscious about their breasts after breastfeeding. They may feel that their breasts are not as perky as they were before they had children.
It is important to keep in mind that pregnancy and breastfeeding can cause some changes in the appearance of your breasts. The most common change is that breasts may look deflated. This is especially obvious because your breasts were full with milk when you were breastfeeding.
Post-breastfeeding and with increasing age, the 2 most important features to look out for in a bra are:
Support
The ligaments that hold your breasts up get lax with pregnancy and age. A well-fitting bra that is supportive will help the Cooper’s ligaments do their job better and keep sagging at bay for a while longer.
Comfort
I always thought bras were a necessary evil. You need them for support and modesty but they were never meant to be comfy. Since I was exposed to the world of nursing bras, I know better now and expect much more from my regular bras as well.
In fact, I continue to wear my nursing bras because I find them so much softer and they are just as supportive as my regular bras.
To wrap up
It is safe to start wearing a normal bra after breastfeeding when your milk supply has decreased and you are no longer experiencing breast engorgement. Until then, continue to wear a nursing bra to provide support and comfort.
Alternatively, you could continue wearing nursing bras as I have.
Check out these sexy nursing bras that look even better than regular ones.
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