Embarking on the journey of motherhood is truly a profound and life-changing adventure, filled with exciting milestones and incredible transformations. Pregnancy brings a range of physical changes both internally and externally. After welcoming your little one, the postpartum period becomes a time of physical, emotional recovery and time adjustments; establishing a breastfeeding routine and day to day habits with your new family member.
During this time, choosing the right bras is more than a matter of comfort—it’s a vital part of your motherhood experience. Supportive, versatile, and comfortable bras that adapt to your changing shape can make all the difference. Look for nursing bras that are consciously made, provide comfort and support with adjustable straps, grow with you and easy access for breastfeeding, ensuring maximum comfort throughout your journey.
Why Maternity & Nursing Bras Matter
Support & Comfort:
Investing in well-fitting bras not only alleviates discomfort and back pain but also helps prevent common issues like mastitis, making your motherhood story smoother and more joyful. To find bras with all-in-one functionality for pregnancy, pumping, and nursing, focus on features like hands-free pumping, easy nursing access, and comfortable, supportive fabrics. Consider bras with wide straps, double layers, 6 hooks and eyes and breathable fabrics for maximum comfort and support during this special time.
Versatility:
Bras that adapt from pregnancy to nursing reduce the need to buy multiple styles. A versatile maternity and nursing bra should accommodate the changing needs of pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding, providing comfort and support throughout. It should allow easy access for breastfeeding and pumping, and adapt to fluctuations and the expansion of your ribcage during pregnancy and contraction after your baby is born.
Convenience:
Motherhood is busy, and your bra should make life easier. Features like hands-free pumping, one-handed nursing clips, and stretchy, flexible fabrics simplify your routine, giving you more comfort and freedom in your day-to-day life.
Key Features for Versatility
Seamless Construction:
Minimizes irritation and chafing, offering all-day comfort, especially during pregnancy and postpartum when your skin is sensitive.
Removable Pads:
Provide flexibility for different needs. They can be removed for a lighter feel or for more modesty when needed.
Convertible Clips:
Allow you to adjust straps for different necklines and support needs. Convertible straps can also be crossed in the back for added support or for use with racerback tops.
Breathable Fabrics:
Materials like cotton, microfiber, or bamboo wick away moisture, keeping you cool and comfortable.
Adjustable Straps and Band with Multiple Hooks and Eyes:
Crucial for a custom fit as your body changes throughout pregnancy and postpartum.
Wire-Free Design:
Provides comfort and prevents compression of milk ducts, reducing the risk of mastitis.
Comfort and support in bras are crucial, especially as breasts change in size and sensitivity. Soft, stretchy, and breathable fabrics, like bamboo or modal, are ideal for comfort, while wireless designs offer support without digging in. These features are particularly important during pregnancy, postpartum, and times of fluctuating breast size and sensitivity.
Fabric Choice
Soft and Stretchy:
Look for fabrics like cotton, bamboo, modal blended with at least 10% of elastane. These materials offer a gentle feel against the skin and allow for comfortable movement. These will also cause less irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin or are experiencing changes in skin or nipple sensitivity
Breathable:
Materials like bamboo and modal are naturally breathable, helping to regulate temperature and prevent overheating, which is essential during periods of increased sensitivity or hormonal changes.
Moisture-wicking:
Choose fabrics that wick away moisture to help manage potential leaks and keep you comfortable.
Multi-Sizing Advantage
Multi-sizing in bras involves offering a wider range of sizes and fits to suit different body shapes and sizes, accommodating fluctuations, growth, and recovery. These options will fit various cup sizes, whether you’re choosing a petite range from B to D, a busty range from DD to F, or an extra busty range from FF to GG. If you also select a bra with 6 hooks and eyes, this will provide a broader band range and reduce the need to buy multiple bras as sizes change.
Nursing bras combine practicality for breastfeeding with convenience features. Nursing clips, drop-down cups, and hands-free pumping functions are common options, each offering its own benefits. Dual-purpose bras allow a smooth transition between nursing and pumping, which means you can nurse at the same time while you’re pumping from the other side. All of our maternity bras are nursing bras to avoid the need to buy extra bras during pregnancy, with the added advantage that you can practice your one-handed nursing technique for when the time comes.
Stage-by-Stage Style Recommendations:
Maternity and nursing bras are designed to provide comfort and support during pregnancy and breastfeeding, with features that adapt to changing breast size and provide easy access for feeding. Different styles are recommended for each stage, from early pregnancy to postpartum and breastfeeding.
First Trimester:
Comfort is key. Choose soft, seamless bras that provide gentle support without underwires, which can become uncomfortable as breasts grow and may cause tenderness and nipple sensitivity.
- Cotton Candy
- Smooth, double-layered, moulded cups with racer back support, so can be worn as a sleep bra too
- Offers great stretch and support through all trimesters.
- Multi-fit support for the B-F cup.
- Popping Candy
- Smooth, double-layered, moulded cups with supportive slings
- Offers great stretch and support through all trimesters.
- Multi-fit support for the F cup and above
Second and Third Trimesters:
As your ribcage will continue to expand during these trimesters, consider bras with more support, potentially with flexible underwires that can also adapt to changes.
Adjustable straps and closures ensure a comfortable and secure fit as your body changes. If you choose a multi-fit bra, this will help you be supported for longer while your body experiences growth and changes.
- Tutti Frutti
- Lightly padded, seamless design with wire-free comfort.
- Ideal for everyday wear with delicate lace trim and triangular contour cups for and molded shaping.
- TimTams
- Flexible wired, full cup lacey bra with folded edge side sling
- Ideal for everyday wear and gives extra support, available to J cups.
Birth & Postpartum:
After you’ve had your baby, your milk will come in and your cup size could increase dramatically. A seamless bra is recommended for this initial period of 6-8 weeks until your milk supply stabilises and your bra size normalises; breathable fabrics and a supportive design are crucial.
Easy access for breastfeeding is essential. Whether it’s pull-aside or drop-down cups, pick a style you’re comfortable with and can easily manoeuvre.
Consider different sling styles. A-frame slings offer more support and modesty when nursing. All of our side slings have a folded edge so there’s no digging into your breast tissue when nursing and doubles as forward projection support.
Consider leakproof options. For heavy leakage, explore bras with built-in leakproof layers or consider using breast pads alongside your bra.
o Birthing bra designed for skin to skin contact that fully opens up at the centre front
o Leakproof layer for those first time spills
Pumping:
Depending on the type of pump you’re using, whether it’s a flange model or an in-cup version, choose a style that suits.
Designed for both hands-free pumping (portable or flange pumps) and nursing access.
- Pumpkin
- Comes in a multi cup and band fitting to suit most pumping mamas
- Zipper to adjust around many different flange sizes for hands free pumping
- Nursing friendly too
- Popping Candy
- Stylish, multi-cup bra with soft stretch to accommodate portable in-cup pumps
- Also doubles as a nursing bra.
- For the F cup and up
- Lotus
- Specifically designed for flange-style pumps (Spectra, Medela, etc.).
- Racerback, wireless, and provides secure hands-free pumping support.
- Pull aside for nursing
- Cotton Candy
- Smooth, double-layered, moulded cups with racer back support, so can be worn as a sleep bra too
- Has stretchable cups so is suitable for the in-cup pump
- Offers great stretch and support through all trimesters.
- Multi-fit support for the B-F cup.
Breastfeeding:
Easy access for breastfeeding is essential. Whether it’s pull-aside or drop-down cups, pick a style you’re comfortable with and can easily manoeuvre. Multi-cup bras with flexible fit to adjust to daily breast changes.
- Popping Candy
- Stretch fabric handles fullness and fluctuations.
- Easy drop-down cups for feeding.
- For the F cup and above
- Rock Candy
- Soft molded cups offer support and stretch for changing breast size.
- A great go-to for full-time nursing.
- For the B-F cup
- Cotton Candy
- Ultra-comfy wire-free support that adjusts as you go.
- Sleep- and day-wear friendly for nursing.
- For the b -F cup
- Tutti Frutti
- Padded shaping with soft stretch lace.
- Combines feminine style with functionality.
- For the B-FF cup
As a new mother, the breastfeeding journey can be both rewarding and tough. Ensuring comfort during those special feeding moments is important. Designed specifically to support and simplify breastfeeding, these bras are a must-have for nursing mothers. Featuring comfort, easy access, and support, nursing bras make feeding easier and help you feel confident and cared for during this special time. Whether you’re a first-time mom or welcoming another child, knowing the benefits of nursing bras can greatly improve your breastfeeding experience.
———–
Katie is the proud mum of two beautiful girls and has been responsible for all the designs, style and fit at Cake Maternity for over a decade now.
Katie is a nursing bra specialist and a fit, pattern and grading technician. She is passionate about breastfeeding and the many benefits it offers to both mum, baby and the environment.
She is determined to make the breastfeeding journey a comfortable, supportive and beautiful one for all mums, understanding that it doesn’t always come easy to everyone. That’s why she has made it her mission to empower women as they mindfully navigate the world of motherhood and help make breastfeeding easier, through experience-driven innovation.