Questions about baby shower, bras, breastfeeding

Hi I need ideas, my MIL and SIL are throwing me a baby shower in the middle of Feb, I assume that I need to buy them a thank-you gift, if that's not the tradition then let me know.  but that was what I had heard anyways.  What do you get them, like a candle or something or should it be more personal.  Also who usually buys the gifts for the guests, I have no problem buying them, but just wondered if I would be stepping on their toes if I offered to buy the party favors.  And prizes for the guests.

One more question, I was a DD before getting pregnant, but now my breasts are growing, I currently can still wear my DD sports bras but am guessing that in the next month or two that will all change, anyways I don't want to go out and spend a ton of money for bras, so were can I buy a size bigger then a DD, I don't think that walmart carries them any bigger then a DD.  Also does anyone wear a sports bra when breastfeeding, I was just wondering if that would be really difficult, I only plan on breastfeeding for the first 6 wks after that will be touch and go and up to what the baby wants.  I'll be going back to work so I thought about pumping some and breastfeeding when home, but don't know yet, baby might object.  Thanks

[jd1419]

Wearing a sports bra will be tough to breatfeed--it will take more work to get your boob out for the baby--and it may squeze it down and just may not be comfortable for you at all--a nursing bra at least gives you more freedom and has adjustments for the bra cup.

i did not buy my party favors--my mom and MIL did--they paid for everything--all I did was show up. I did send them a special thank you note seperate from all my other ones.

[lauraandbill2001]

I never did but thank you gifts but that is probable a very good idea.  I have heard opinions go both ways.  As far as the favors go, a shower is usually a surprise, unless you are really involved with the details I would assume the person hosting the shower would have that taken care of right away.  I recently purchased some decently priced bras online at http://www.destinationmaternity.com/collection.asp?category_Name=Nursing+Bras&Category_Id=2008&MasterCategory_Id=&website_Id=2&Pageison=1.  They were priced decently but The largest size I noticed was an F.  Is an F bigger or smaller than a DD?  I don't know.  The also have some advice on purchasing nursing bras that may be helpful.

[IaoAbri]

Not sure about the baby shower gifts cuz I never bought any myself(now you're making me feel babd lol), but as far as the bars Sears, JC Penney's, Ashley Stewart,and Lane Bryant should be able to help. Motherhood use to carry DDD nursing bras, but that was 7yrs ago I'm not sure about it now.

[myproblem]

I am also a DD when not pg or bf. My band size is 32 which is near to impossible to find. Since about 8 weeks pg I've been wearing a 32DDD (F). For nursing, based on my own past experience, I bought 32G, and 32H. I will return whichever doesn't work. Try these sites:

This one is my favorite because shipping is cheap, and their return policy is good.
http://www.birthandbabyorders.com

http://www.motherwear.com

http://breakoutbras.stores.yahoo.net

[catgrl1972]

I can't give you much advice on the bra situation. But, in my own experience and from the part of the US I come from (northeast) baby showers are usually a surprise. Sometimes the guest of honor is involved to a certian degree such as providing a list of people they would like to invite, but usually nothing more than that. The person(s) who are throwing the party are the ones that take care of everything. When my best friend had my baby shower I knew about it, it wasn't a surprise per say, but when I offered to bring some food or help she thought I was crazy. The day of the shower is about YOU and the baby to be!!

[5preg2B]

I am larger chested as well.  You can get larger sizes at either Lane bryant or JcPenney( they have up to H)  in nursing bras too if you are planning on nursing.  you can order my catalog or in store...

[low22]

I am definitely going to get thank you gifts when I have my shower in May.  I was so poor in college that I never properly gave thank you gifts out for my wedding showers.  I still feel bad about that!  I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet though.  I may have 5 people helping with my shower so I was thinking $20 a piece per gift.

[Wooly25]

Thanks everyone, that info is alot of help.  I know when and where the party is, but didn't know if I should help, sounds like they should be covering it all.  If not, I guess most women there will know how they work, so I won't feel guilty if they don't buy the guests a little something.  Anyways, I was thinking about getting the in-laws a Yankee Candle each that would end up being about $20 a piece.  I'll also check out all the bra sites, I didn't know there was so many places, My SIL said Victoria secrets, but with a fitting and larger bra they run about $80 bucks each, that is way to much for a bra.  Thanks again.

[apple_blossom]

You must have a nice Penny's near you- the one I checked didn't even have nursing bras. I met with a lactation consulatant at a hospital (for free) and bought a couple Medela nursing bras - they have cup sizes I think to H.

[girlybuff]

Motherhood.com has great larger bras.  I myself became a 38E and found them to be quite nicely priced.
As far as the shower goes, well, my family threw me one.  I didn't help at all.  The mom to be shouldn't help at all.  
I never heard of getting the shower throwers thank you gifts.  I didn't.  I thanked them but didn't buy them a gift.  
I did have shower favors though.  My family gave out pink wash cloths with a ribbon around it that said "Tara's Baby Shower" with the date on it.  I've seen book marks, small votive candles and hershey kisses in colored chinese fortune cookie boxes as favors too.  This way everyone can take a little piece of the shower with them as a keepsake.