Do you really have to avoid underwire bras/sports bras with thick bands if you are not planning to breastfeed?
—Looking for Support
First, let’s cover breastfeeding. The main concern with underwire or other very restrictive bras is clogged ducts. When you are breastfeeding, the milk ducts in your breasts fill with milk (and empty, and fill, and empty…). During this process, they can become clogged, which can lead to pain and possibly mastitis.
These clogged ducts are more likely with compression, as would happen with an underwire bra or a sports bra with a tight band. Wearing a looser bra can help avoid this. You’ll still want a sports bra for exercise, but day-to-day, especially early on, something with less structure is recommended.
To your question: what if you don’t plan to breastfeed? If this is the case, your milk will still come in, but will dry up fairly quickly. During this initial period — in the first day or week after birth — you’ll want to adhere to the same no-underwire rule. Once you are no longer lactating, you do not need to worry about this.
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If we are hoping to breastfeed, at what point during pregnancy should we start avoiding underwires and tighter bands? Is it okay to wear an underwire for a few hours (at work for example) as long as we are letting things breathe for the remaining hours of the day?
Seems like advice that’s been extrapolated out of context. Unless your milk’s come in early there’s no reason not to wear whatever you want to when you’re pregnant.