Stuff Parents Need

Easing the chaos in the nest, one find at a time.

Loving Moments by Leading Lady: Best Nursing Bras (Giveaway!!!)

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When I was pregnant and nursing, I had a favorite nursing bra. It was the one I pulled out of the laundry pile the instant it was clean because it was so supportive AND so comfortable.

That bra was from Leading Lady, a company I have highlighted before and that I continue to love even though I’m no longer nursing. Leading Lady also offers an excellent selection of bras for full-figured women, starting with size 38A. This is a brand I would recommend to any of you in that size or higher!

If you are shopping for a nursing bra, however, Leading Lady sizes start smaller, and as you know, I think they are FANTASTIC! They have just launched the Loving Moments Collection, available exclusively at Wal-Mart and WalMart.com.

best nursing bras from leading lady

And I’m just thrilled to see that right now, Loving Moments by Leading Lady and Pampers are teaming up to offer new moms a limited time gift with their purchase of a Loving Moments Wirefree Sport Nursing Bra and a Loving Moments Nursing Bra Tank.  When purchasing either of these styles, new moms will receive a sample of Pampers Newborn diapers and wipes.  Plus, Loving Moments is hosting a fantastic contest and giving moms the chance to win a complete Loving Moments nursing bra wardrobe and one year supply of Pampers diapers at LovingMomentsBras.com. So much cool stuff happening with this company. Love it!!!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a bra of your choice from the Loving Moments collection!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, found on the sidebar of my page.

I received a complimentary bra for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

Preparing for Nursing Now with Bravado (Review and GIVEAWAY!!!)

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As I head into my third and final trimester of pregnancy, my body is starting to really prepare itself for becoming a mom. Those of you who have been pregnant before know that your breasts grow quite a bit in the early part of your pregnancy, and they grow a bit more in the final trimester, as well. They also sometimes start leaking colostrum (sorry if that is TMI, but its something I wish I had been told the first time around, because when it happened to me it totally freaked me out!).

I recommend sleeping with a comfortable nursing bra as early as late in your first trimester. I would say to absolutely be sleeping with one by your third trimester. At this point in my pregnancy, sleeping on my side is a must for the health and safety of the baby. But sleeping in this position without providing some additional support for my breasts is a recipe for a terrible night of sleep (I know from experience!). Quite frankly, your breasts are just heavier than they have ever been, and they need some support so that you aren’t feeling really uncomfortable.

So why get a nursing bra instead of something else? Well, first and foremost, you need something that offers a balance of support and softness. I promise you don’t want any underwire within a 10 foot radius of your breasts! Also, since you are going to need a nursing bra in the near future, it makes sense to go ahead and get one now so that you can get even more use out of it. But shop carefully, because I cannot stress enough how important it is for this bra to be comfortable. In just a few short months, you will be wearing it to bed and using the nursing feature all hours of the day and night!

I have been wearing the cotton nursing bra from Bravado lately (poor thing is constantly getting yanked from the dryer and then worn and worn some more until I give it a break, but only to be washed and quickly dried before the cycle repeats!). This bra is EXCELLENT! I am top-heavy, and it rises to the challenge of providing me with the support I need. In the past, I’ve had the experience with some wire-free bras where they felt nice, but were sort of pointless in the support department. This is not the case with this bra. With that said, comfort has not been sacrificed. I have also practiced unlatching the bra so that I will know how to do it when it is time to breastfeed, and I’m pleased to report that it is very easy to do with one hand.

Want to hear something REALLY cool? This bra comes with a neat little conversion kit so that when you are all done with breastfeeding, you can covert the bra back to something more traditional. What a great value this provides!

Wherever you may be in your pregnancy or breastfeeding journey, I can say with full confidence that this bra is a terrific purchase choice. I already love it because it keeps me comfortable day and night (a decidedly difficult task at this point) and I know I’m going to enjoy using it as a nursing bra, as well. Bravado really got it right with this product. Well done!

Buy it!: The Bravado Original Nursing Bra is available online for $35 and comes in several attractive colors and patterns.

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to win an Original Nursing Bra from Bravado!!!

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Maternity Bra Nirvana: Cake Lingerie Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

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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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