maternity bra - Stuff Parents Need

We’ve talked before about the importance of having quality nursing bras in your collection, and having them ready to go before you bring your little bundle home (I promise you will NOT want to go bra shopping the week after you have a baby!). This is such an important topic that I’m bringing it up yet again, because I really want the message to be received!

Today I’m featuring a company that specializes in nursing and full figure intimate apparel, and has been in the business since 1939…they must be doing something right! Leading Lady really strikes a great balance between comfort, style and affordability, all while keeping “real” women and their comfort in mind. Their mission falls in line with exactly the type of products I need and want, so I’m excited to show them off here on Stuff Parents Need, especially if you are not currently familiar with the brand.

Their entire collection, for the first time, is now available to purchase online. So even if you don’t have a nearby retailer, you can still shop for a nursing or full figure bra that meets your needs. Simply head over to LeadingLady.com and check out their great selection! I actually prefer to shop for bras online because I often find in the stores that they either don’t carry or are out of my size. It’s so frustrating to not be able to purchase what you need when you make a special trip to go get it! Shopping online eliminates that issue!

Lately, I have been wearing the Santoni Wirefree Nursing Bra and I absolutely ADORE it. It is doing a great job of offering the support I need (without uncomfortable wires) AND it has removable bra pads that I can use when I am out and about and want a bit more modesty. The nursing clasp is easy to remove, but at the same time, doesn’t look as though it is going to come off on its own (I’ve had that happen in the past with other bras!). Nursing bras are available in sizes 34B to 48 F, so there’s something on their site for every shape and size!

I’m also very pleased with the overall fit of this bra. Leading Lady ensured I got the right fit thanks to their bra fit calculator that helps determine your bra size. I highly recommend using it to make sure you get exactly the size you need, not the size you think you need!

Leading Lady is also a company that supports programs empowering and supporting the health and welfare of women throughout the nation. It also is working on sustainability issues as a company by actively working on reducing their packaging and using more products made of post-consumer recycled materials. I love when a company is thoughtful about these issues, as it falls in line with what I value, too!

Edit: this giveaway is now closed.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a nursing bra in your choice of style and size from the e-boutique at Leading Lady, as well as free shipping!

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Welcome to the next installment of Maternity Monday! Today I’m tackling bras. Yes, you most definitely need some new bras when you are pregnant, as your breasts are going to grow a bit! The majority of your growth actually happens in your first trimester, so even before you might need maternity tops and pants, you probably are going to be shopping for new bras.

When I was pregnant the first time, I got some very practical advice about buying bigger bras. Since I was planning to breastfeed once I had the baby, it was recommend that I just go ahead and purchase some nursing bras, and it would be fine to also wear them during my pregnancy. Sounded smart to me. I always appreciate an opportunity make a purchase last as long as possible.

And then I went nursing bra shopping. At which point I gasped in horror, and if I recall correctly, actually cried. I’m not a bra snob by any stretch, and even by the time I was expecting my first, I was beyond the stage of my life where underwear could be cute at any cost (meaning that it was ridiculous to try to wear in public…you know what I’m talking about). I valued comfort and functionality. But oh my lord. When I saw “maternity” bras, I could not believe the degree of ugly that was waiting for me. It blew me away. I also found that the nursing bras looked strange under my clothes, what with all those extra hooks and with fabric that wasn’t all sewn together in one unit. It was awful, and I decided that I’d just fork over more money to get non-nursing bras for pregnancy, and I’d wear those horrible contraptions not a moment before I had to once Darah was born.

Did anyone else have a similar experience to me? I’m curious!

This time around, I’m a bit more savvy. I know that there are other options, and I was determined to find some nursing bras that wouldn’t want to make me gag at the site of them. Not only did I find that, but I also found some maternity and nursing bras that are downright GORGEOUS. No, really! Check this out!

Can you even believe that the model is wearing a nursing bra???? She totally is! And, ladies, it gets even better….the bra is designed to beautifully support those of us who have fuller busts WITHOUT UNDERWIRE. Say what???!!! Yes! I swear it!I will not keep this company a secret from you one minute longer. They are called Cake Lingerie, and they are revolutionizing the world of maternity underwear (check out the New York Times article on them!). Thank goodness! I was sent the set above, which is called Cheesecake (cute, right?!). I was nervous about it. I mean, come on…I think we’ve all gotten our hopes up over wireless bras before, only to be quickly reminded that gravity wins and we need some extra support up there. But we also know that when you are pregnant, and ESPECIALLY when you are nursing, the last thing you need is a wire digging into you. This bra really and truly gives you the support you need. It is so comfortable.It is also so unbelievably beautiful. Pregnancy is such a vulnerable time, and in my experience, it can be a real challenge to feel pretty as you watch your belly expand and your body take an overall different shape. It adds insult to injury to have to wear a bulky, awkward nursing bra on top of it all. Cake Lingerie has an entire line of exquisite pieces that you will swoon over, and that will make you feel as lovely as you really are!This bra is also a nursing bra, so it will come in handy after the baby is born. But it doesn’t wear the way most nursing bras wear. You cannot tell that you are wearing a nursing bra. The hooks are discreet! This is the first nursing bra I have ever owned that I don’t worry about wearing out in public.My only wish for this bra would be that it had a way to add some extra lining to it. Perhaps something removable since I can see where it would be in the way once you started nursing. I do prefer my bras to have some light padding, just for modesty. But other than that, this bra is a home run, all the way.

And don’t get me started on the joy of having matching underwear to go with it. The set is so pretty and makes me feel so feminine and just beautiful. It’s a great feeling to have, especially right now!

So, if you are expecting or thinking about getting pregnant, now I can give the same practical advice that others gave to me. Go ahead and buy your nursing bras now to wear during pregnancy. But head straight to Cake Lingerie to make your purchases. You won’t regret it for a moment, and you’ll never have to even contemplate wearing those awful maternity bras that they sell everywhere else!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win a Cheesecake bra and panty set from Cake Lingerie! SQUEAL!!!!

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