Maternity and Nursing Bra Buying Guide
From the first month of pregnancy, right the way through to the first few weeks of motherhood, a standard, wired bra is unable to sufficiently provide coverage, comfort and practicality.
During this time, a selection of dedicated maternity and nursing bras is highly recommended to ensure that you maintain a comfortable fit throughout your pregnancy. Finding the right bra, during this period of change in your life, should not be stressful so, at Brastop, we’re here to guide you through all of your bra needs for each stage of the pregnancy process.
1st Trimester
As soon as you find out that you’re expecting you should consider switching from a standard, wired bra, to an unwired alternative. During the first month or two, this does not need to be a dedicated maternity bra, but your breast tissue will already start to become more sensitive so wires, which could start to dig into your boobs, should be avoided.
A supportive, full cup, non-wired bra will help your boobs to retain their shape during pregnancy and in the months following childbirth. Contrary to popular opinion, non-wired bras do not have to be frumpy and colourless, quite the opposite in fact! Take a look at our selection of non-wired lingerie and see for yourself!
2nd Trimester
Just before you enter the second three months of pregnancy, you might begin to notice that the wire-free bras from your first trimester are starting to feel a bit too tight. This is due to your ribcage expanding to accommodate the growth of your baby. At this point, you should definitely consider making the transition from a regular,non-wired bra to a dedicated maternity bra, and you might also find that increasing your back size and cup size will help to make things more comfortable for you.
Maternity bras should feature under-band adjustment over and above that of traditional bras so that it can accommodate the accelerated growth of your under-bust during this trimester. In addition to this, make sure to look out for a maternity bra with wide straps, firm support and a deep centre gore as this will give you the best shape.
3rd Trimester
At the third stage of your pregnancy, your ribcage expands even more while the breast tissue development slows down. This means that you might need to buy a bra with a larger back size, but not necessarily a larger cup size.
During the third trimester, your boobs will likely be tender and uncomfortable so bras that feature seams which don’t run across the nipple are a must. Further to this, your body temperature actually rises during this period of your pregnancy and cotton lined bras can help to regulate this. Make sure to read the below section on nursing bras, as you should be starting to consider purchasing this during the final stages of your pregnancy.
Nursing Bras
A big mistake that expectant mothers make with regard to purchasing their first nursing bra is to do so too early in the pregnancy process. While it’s great to be prepared for the arrival of your little one, your set of nursing bras should be purchased during the final month of pregnancy. Buying during this time means that your body shape is most comparable to the nursing period, during which (believe it or not!) your boobs are set to get even bigger.
With regard to features, a nursing bra should showcase comfort and practicality at its heart. Cups that you can open and close easily, with one hand, are an absolute must for breastfeeding so look out for a nursing bra that incorporates drop down clips.
