Minimizing a Large Bust
Not every new mom celebrates the fullness of her new figure. If you're very large breasted, you may have a harder time finding flattering styles. You may find that the slits in nursing clothes aren't big enough or placed right to accommodate your breasts. You may also have a hard time finding nursing bras in your size. Here are some tips for dressing when you have very large breasts:
V-neck and wrap-style shirts are flattering on larger bustlines. Try wearing dark colors on top, or choosing tops with a dark area in the chest to draw less attention to that part of your body.
Look for tops or jackets with embellishments or gathers at the hips to draw attention away from your chest.
Layers, like a wrap top over a tank, or a hoodie over a T-shirt, can help keep the emphasis off your bust.
Check specialty lingerie shops, Web sites, and catalogs for nursing bras in your size. If you can't find nursing bras you like in your size, you can create your own by cutting around the top of a cup in a regular bra and stitching on clasps by machine or hand. You can buy special nursing-bra clasps on the Internet, but regular metal (plastic may break) swimsuit hooks, available in craft and sewing stores, work as well. If you aren't sure where to place the hooks, look at a nursing bra at a department store and copy the style. Or search online for instructions for making your own nursing bra.
Moms with large breasts often complain that regular nursing shirts don't work for them. You can try cutting holes or slits in a regular tank top, then layer it underneath a regular T-shirt. Or, if you're handy with a sewing machine, try making your own nursing tops. Buy two tank tops of a similar shape, fabric, and color. Cut the bottom third or so off of one, and the bottom three quarters or so off of the other. Keep the larger upper half with straps and the larger bottom half without straps. Hem the edges, slide the bottom piece into the top piece so that they overlap by a few inches, and sew them together, one seam horizontally across the back and two seams vertically on the sides. Now you'll have what looks like a single top with a large opening in the middle. To nurse, simply lift the upper portion — your breast will remain partially covered by the material of the tank top, and the bottom half of the outfit will cover your stomach. You can do this without a sewing machine if the top is made of a material that doesn't fray when it's cut.
