There is probably no reason to tell you this, because you already know it: Pregnant and nursing breasts are sore. Really sore.
Therefore, it is important to have the right support so you can relieve the breasts as much as possible. Besides reducing pain in the breasts, the right support can also help with pain in the back and hips, because the bra helps distribute the weight, so you distribute the weight over the entire back.
Most maternity and nursing bras are designed so you should choose a bra based on the size you wore before you became pregnant. Therefore, many of the 'regular' bra tips still apply when you choose a nursing bra.
You should pay attention to the following when you choose nursing bras:
- Band and cup size
- Can it have underwire?
- How the bra opens for nursing
- The width and design of the straps
Band and cup size
Your bra should fit snugly around the chest without pinching, so it feels uncomfortable. Just like with regular bras, you should be able to stick two fingers under the band – preferably on the side and preferably not much more than two fingers. The band on nursing bras is often much softer and more elastic than on a regular bra. It is so because it needs to adapt to the body as you expand, retain water, and when the breasts grow. Therefore, it is important that you ensure to buy the right size from the start.
Also remember that your bra will expand a little as you wear it – that’s why it’s extremely important that you do not buy a bra that is too big, because then it will stop supporting you as soon as it has expanded a little.
If your bra comes with the option to adjust the closure itself, you should start by being able to close it on the outermost closure. That way, you can constantly adjust the bra as the elastic gives way.
Note: Some manufacturers – such as Abecita have an extra long closure – so you might need to use one of the middle settings. Other brands, such as Carriwell, always include an extender for their bras. Use these if your body expands, for example if you are retaining water.
The cup adapts to your body throughout the day
The cup of a nursing bra is different from that of a regular bra because it is designed to expand and contract as your breasts do. Throughout the day, your breasts will be filled and emptied of milk, and it is therefore important that the bra can keep up. Therefore, the cups on most nursing bras will be woven or designed in such a way that the cup can both expand and contract.
For bras with cups that can open, or bras with padded cups, there will often be an "inner layer" that supports and adapts to the breast, while the "outer layer" is primarily there to help shape the breast nicely.
Just like with the band, you should also choose a bra based on the cup size you had before you became pregnant. Therefore, the changes in your breasts have been taken into account in nursing and maternity bras.
Can it have underwire?
The short answer is yes – unless the underwire is metal! A metal underwire will block milk flow and that will create a lot of trouble. Still, many pregnant and nursing women miss the underwire because it provides extra support and creates a nice bust.
Fortunately, several bra manufacturers have discovered this, and it is now possible to get several different nursing bras with something resembling an underwire.
Look for bras with plastic or gel underwire
By using materials that are flexible, one can maintain some of the support while allowing the body to do its job by not blocking the milk flow.
In Abecita’s ‘MAMA’ and Cache Coeur’s ‘Aquarelle’ are really good examples of bras with underwire that are both comfortable, beautiful, and provide fantastic support.
Aquarelle from the brand Cache Coeur has a comfortable underwire that provides good support without blocking the milk flow. Carriwell has developed a new concept that we here at Mammashop are quite fond of. In some of their bras, they use a gel underwire instead of the regular underwire. The gel underwire is firm, but when you press on it, it gives way. This allows it to shape itself to your body and lets the milk flow freely.
For both the gel underwire and the soft plastic, you will experience more support than you would normally get from a nursing bra, while the comfort is so high that you can wear the bra for a long time.
How the bra opens for nursing
There are two main types of nursing bras. One, where you can 'open' the outer cup to give access to the breast and one where you pull the breast out of the cup.
The former is clearly the most common, but among others, Carriwell has started to develop soft bras that mostly resemble a crop top and that use the latter system.
Whether you prefer one or the other is a matter of taste. However, it is important that the bra still provides some support while you are nursing. This makes nursing easier and more comfortable for both you and the baby. You can usually feel the support as soon as you try the bra on for the first time.
Also read: Nursing – how to find the best position for you.
Width and design of the straps
The straps on a bra are surprisingly important because they help carry and distribute the weight to the rest of the bra. Therefore, you will not see a nursing or maternity bra with very narrow straps, as they would simply dig into your shoulder and end up causing strain instead of relief.
On nursing bras designed to look like a 'classic' bra, you will often find straps with a width of 1-2 cm. On nursing bras designed like tops, the straps are often wider and sometimes have a racerback. This is to compensate for the support that an underwire would normally provide, as well as to ensure that the weight is distributed in the best possible way.
No matter which type of bra you choose, make sure the straps sit snugly on your shoulders without pinching. For some types of bras, you need to adjust the straps regularly. If the straps fall down your shoulder, it is a sign that they are no longer providing the support they should. In some cases, this can be solved by adjusting the straps or fastening the bra on a hook further in.
