Breast changes are inevitable during pregnancy and beyond, at times you may not recognise your own chest, and perhaps at the end of your baby journey you may find they are completely different to what you started with!
It is important to protect and support your breasts as well as you can. Choosing bras that fit well will help support their changing shape and size, and help prevent blockages that can cause painful breast infections.
You may find that you will need to wear maternity bras (softer, non-underwire styles) early in your pregnancy, or you may be able to make the change a bit later. It is preferable that you are not wearing underwire in your last trimester, and after week 33 you should start thinking about your maternity bras.
Maternity bras are designed to support your breasts, while allowing for the changes that will occur while feeding (engorgement, milk coming in and then emptying). They have little clips that allow you to remove the cup to expose the nipple to feed without having to remove your bra (hitching a non-maternity bra up or down may cause blockages).
The bigger the shoulder straps, the wider the back strap, the more support. Also look for adjustable straps and back clips.
Your nipples will be very tender after birth (if they aren’t already) and so we recommend that you choose a bra that is not made of hard lace, or have seams running across the nipples.
It pays to get professionally fitted for your maternity bras, because those in the lingerie department know how much room you need to leave to allow your breasts to expand (when your milk comes in).
Remember that noone knows exactly how your breasts will respond after birth, so we strongly recommend keeping your receipts so that you can change the size if you need to!
When you are trying on bras, test how easy the clip is to open and close. Some clips that are too high up the strap are harder to clip on. Velcro may lose its ‘stick’ after a few washes. Cheaper clips may more difficult to do up with one hand.
You will need at least 2, if not 3 bras, for the first few weeks. This leaves you one to wear, one in the wash, and preferably a clean one ready to wear. You may prefer to try a couple of different brands to find which one you like better.
Some women prefer to wear their bras at night, for extra support, particularly in the first few weeks. There are some great maternity singlets/tops that you may find more comfortable for night feeding – they have the same clips and some support, but are not as tight as a bra.
After a couple of months, you will need to be re-fitted. By this stage, if you are still feeding, your breasts will have settled into a size that may be different to those first few weeks. If you have stopped breastfeeding, your breasts may be a different size than pre-pregnancy and you will probably need new bras to provide support.
Ensuring you have a good maternity bra will make things more comfortable for you.
Some fabulous maternity bra tips:
*Wide back and shoulder straps provide the most support
*Be professionally fitted to ensure good support and enough room for when your milk comes in
*Avoid underwire in later pregnancy and while breastfeeding to avoid blockages
*Avoid hard lace and seams across the nipples
*Ensure the clip is easy to open and close with one hand
MUMMYTIPS
“I packed my maternity bras with the shop receipt, into my hospital bag. After having baby, my bras didn’t fit, but it was easy for my partner to change them because the tags were still on them”
“I prefer the bras that when you unclip the cup, there is still a band of fabric around my breast. This keeps the shoulder strap from slipping down my arm!”
“Take advantage of sales! You can get your maternity bras 20-30% off if you wait for a sale weekend!”
“Some brands have loyalty clubs for their bras, and you can get free items if you purchase so many – ask instore! I got a free bra when I bought 3 of my favourite ones!”
unfortunately) and cooling me down during labour.
