Product Review Revisited: Leading Lady Molded Stretch Pad Nursing Bra

You might remember my glowing review of the Leading Lady Molded Stretch Pad Nursing Bra. I still love this bra for its fit and value, and wear them almost exclusively, but I've just noticed that one of mine is falling apart. Despair!

I guess you could expect this from a $20-ish bra that I have been throwing into a laundromat washer and drier, but I was still sad to see the front of one bra cup separating from the molded pad beneath after 4 months of (heavy-duty) wear. Then again, most bras do fall apart over time--even the fancy $40+ ones from Victoria's Secret that I wore before Andrew commandeered my boobs. So, I'm glad that I didn't spend much on these and can actually afford buying a replacement.

I guess there's a lot of bra hand-washing in my future. One more bra will not be murdered by my laziness!

3/10/13 UPDATE: I've purchased and am wearing a bunch more of these while breastfeeding my second child and--while they are still the most normal looking nursing bra I've found--I've noticed they are prone to having the underwire pop out at the center of the bra as well! No, I haven't been handwashing the bras as promised above. But it seems handwashing really is a must with these. 

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Product Review: Leading Lady Molded Stretch Pad Nursing Bra

A while back, I promised I'd review my Leading Lady nursing bras once I had given them a test drive. Well, test drive achieved--they are two of the only three bras that I can wear these days!



I ordered two Leading Lady molded stretch pad nursing bras from Amazon.com for $23.62 each, and, for that price, I am quite pleased. The bra is supportive, not hideous, and looks great under clothing (comparable to my $38 Victoria's Secret bras--ridiculous!). It is very easy to breastfeed in, allowing for one-handed clasping and un-clasping. And, despite some minor fraying around the cup connector clasps, they've help up very well in the dreaded laundromat washer and drier.

On the downside, the bra is full-coverage, which is great for support but not great for remaining hidden under low necklines, and only goes up to DD. Also, the stretchy fabric under the cup (which allows you to pull the molded cup down and still keep your bra on) gets pulled out of shape and tends to play peek-a-boo as well. I also have to re-clasp the cup very slowly so it doesn't make a loud SNAP! and wake my little light sleeper!

And, while the cups are indeed molded, I personally need to wear breast pads for nipple coverage--but I think most nursing mothers are wearing pads for leakage anyway, so this really isn't a negative in my opinion.

Overall, despite some negatives, this is the only type of bra that I wear out of the house. I feel really comfortable in it and I think most nursing mothers would too--just be sure to measure yourself before ordering as I ordered a size too small and need to use a bra-back extender (available cheap at any craft/fabric store.)

Now I just need to find a bra which is more low cut for my sexier outfits and I'll be set... wait, do I even have sexy outfits anymore?? :P

EDIT: I neglected to mention one of my favorite features of this bra: the bra straps are tightened and loosened from the front, rather than the back. Genius! I wish all bras were made this way!

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Product Review: Medela Softcup Nursing Bra

I picked up a Medela Seamless Softcup Nursing Bra in-store at Babies R Us this past weekend because the wires in my bras are starting to dig painfully into my stomach and I must say that I never imagined a wireless bra could be so supportive--and I'm currently a 38 DD! The bra is comfy, cute, looks great under clothing, and I imagine the single handed cup release will make it a joy to wear while nursing.

The two negatives I do see with this bra are the price (around $40 in most stores) and the fact that the bra is unlined. I'm pretty modest about wearing unlined bras, so I will be wearing this bra only under heavier fabrics and in my own home.

For out of house/thinner clothing wear, I will be buying a lined, Leading Lady Nursing Bra from JC Penney. They come highly recommended from a friend of mine--who looks amazing in them--and they're currently on sale from $18. (Visit JC Penney at the Queens Center in Elmhurst or order online.) I'll post more about Leading Lady when I get mine in.

FYI: The Medela Softcup bra runs pretty true to size, so I would recommend purchasing a cup size larger than your current size for wear after your milk comes in.

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