A few questions from me...

I got a proper maternity bra at about 36 weeks. I read somewhere that by then your breast are as big as they're going to get before the milk comes in and the way to measure if you have the correct size is to put your hand in the cup too when you're trying the bra on.

I stopped wearing underwire before my 2nd trimester, my boobs started growing big almost straight away so I moved into a non-underwire bra as soon as I had to move up a size. I found it really hard though to find a 10D without underwire so next time I'll go straight for a maternity bra.

I'd say to definitely get a couple of packs of maternity pads, later in the lochia stage you can use normal pads but initially there's soooo much blood. For the first few days I used 2 maternity pads side by side (so buy some nana knickers too).

Have you tried baby factory or baby star for the breast pads?

Edited by MrsMojo

With my first I moved out of an underwire as soon as my breasts starting hurting and into a sports bra (with no underwire). It was so comfortable and helped ease the pain of walking (and bouncing) immensely. Then in my 3rd trimester I was fitted for proper maternity bras.

This time around - I moved into my old maternity bras (yep I kept them - I hoard!) and although the width is bigger than I am now so I have them on the first setting but the cup size is right. I plan to get resized properly in my 3rd tri again to see if I should be wearing a different size and if so, I'll buy more.

As for the pads - definitely need to buy some. The discharge/bleeding afterwards is very heavy and different from anything you've ever experiened. Sorry if TMI.

breastmates sell reusable nursing pads.

Thanks for all your help!

Now I'm nervous about the amount of stuff thats going to come out of me lol.

Will definitely be getting some maternity pads from what you've all said and will check out Bee's site.

Might wait for a bit til I get a proper bra, the ones I have are a larger size I got at about 16 weeks coz my breasts were just so so painful. These ones are still fitting well for now.

Can't help with the maternity bra thing - I didn't wear any until Jack was born as I find them gross and then I didn't b/f so it didn't matter.

Maternity pads - I took 4-5 packs to hospital I think and then had to get a few packs for home. Could move onto normal super pads after a couple of weeks I think (you do bleed a lot but its OK, you don't care cos you've finally got the sucker out of you :)

I bought washable breastpads off www.tweedle.co.nz I think they were $15 or something like that. Didn't stick to cracked nipples which was great, nice and soft. I hated disposable breastpads as they always moved around and didn't have as much coverage as cloth.

I got of an underwire bra by my second trimester, by the third maternity bras where all that were comfy. As an aside I believe it is recommended to avoid underwire bras as it can play havoc with your milk ducts if breast feeding.

And as for maternity pads, I loved the thick ones for the first few days then I did personally prefer the thinner ones.

I got flexiwire maternity bras at 12 weeks (rapid expansion here!) and am going to get a BF bra tomorrow (34 weeks and one day, not that I'm counting ).

I got a box of Signature Range disposable breast pads for the initial stages then a pack of 6 reuseable ones from Baby Factory ($10).

I got 3 packs of proper mat pads after advice on OB, and will review it after that.

I also got some BF singlets (Nurture at Farmers) - well worth grabbing some when they're on special.

I think that's everything on my "mum" list that I had to get. Will see how useful those things are in 6 weeks!

I used Tommee Tippee washables with Maya and the gremlins, but have bought some yummy ones this time from Bee and from Kebakat (her minky ones are sooooo soft!).

With Maya I needed maternity pads for about two weeks, with the gremlins I didn't need them by the time I left hospital, I was able to just use normal ones.