Were you ready to rush out and buy a nursing bra the moment that plus sign showed up on your HPT? Not so fast, mama. There are plenty of reasons to wait, for the sake of practicality and your sanity.

The myriad clasps and straps and flaps and pads, combined with cavernous cups able to accommodate an actual set of human twins, can be enough to push even the most determined breastfeeding newbies over the edge.

The best advice right off the bat? Instead of freaking out about bras for nine long months, just buy something serviceable right before you deliver, thenreward yourself with a few hours off forsome serious bra-shopping after the kid's born.

By then, you'll have a much better idea of what you need and want when it comes to nursing bras... and you will also be too tired to care how unattractive or large many of these bras actually are. You will just be happy to be out of the house, and therefore you will be far more likely to actually abide by the seven tips below and therefore find a fabulous, functional nursing bra. This, in turn, will make the entire breastfeeding experience that much more enjoyable!

When you're finally ready to take the plunge, there are thankfully many wonderful nursing bras out there to choose from. Just respect the following bra-buying laws and you'll be nursing like a champ in no time...

1. Place your breasts in the hands of a professional: Go to either a maternity store or a specialty bra shop (no department stores) and make a beeline for the most serious-looking dame in the joint.

A good rule of thumb is if your salesgirl she has acne, braces or a flat chest, try again.

2. Wait until the time is right: If you're in your first or second trimester, steer clear of breast-feeding bras altogether. Do not even look at them. The commonly held wisdom in this matter is that buying later in your pregnancy, when your breasts and band width have grown, will ensure a better fit. However, the real reason is that the first time you see a nursing bra up close, you may be in danger of having a panic attack, which is not advised for pregnant women at this stage.

3. Pitch a fit: Above all else, go for a good fit. Overly tight bras, especially those with underwire, can cause a variety of breastfeeding problems, including discomfort, plugged ducts, or even mastitis; buy too loose, on the other hand, and you'll have a saggy silhouette and wayward breast pads to contend with.

4. Be open-minded: Ask to try on lots of different styles. Practicality overrides looks in this department every time, and chances are the ugly ones will come out on top.

5. Stay offline: These days, there are very few items that you are unilaterally better off buying in person rather than online... and nursing bras are at the very top of the list. The only exception would be if you already have a favorite style and size, and are buying from a trusted online retailer. Craigslist and eBay are not trusted retailers, in case you weren't sure, and don't for a moment entertain the thought of buying used. That's just gross.

6. Go for black: It's a respectful nod to sexier times, and the stains won't show as much. Fortunately, epidurals aren't the only reason to be grateful you're pregnant in the 21^st century - some bra-makers have tried to give the breastfeeding mother a better-looking product in addition to the many improvements in comfort and functionality we've come to expect in these crucial undergarments.

7. Shop slowly and carefully: Take your time with the shopping process, since many stores have a no-return policy on bras. While it might be frustrating - taking a brassiere out for a test run might seem like the only way to know if it's really the right one for you - there's good reason for retailers' stubbornness when it comes to this policy: Nobody likes buying a bra only to realize it's been worn (and stained) by someone else's bodily fluids.