Tit Bits : Maternity Bras Made Simple

Read our Bust Practice Guide to pregnancy, post / nursing & beyond for more insight into what to expect in terms of breast development through the various maternity stages. 

Following a Q&A session on Instagram with our community of Pant Pals, we received a flurry of  questions, which we directed to our founder, Elly - who has not only recently welcomed her fourth baby ( AKA Pant Patroller in-training ) but who’s also been fitting maternity bras for many moons ...

Below are the most frequently-asked questions, along with some others that we often encounter in our stores.

At the end of the Elly's answers, we've also rounded up some of our top-recommended bra styles to support you through bump and beyond.  Regardless of which stage you're in, you can also book in for a free & informal maternity fitting for help and advice that's tailored just to you.

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Which bras are better - underwired or wire-free? ( I heard that you’re not supposed to wear wires during pregnancy... )

The simple answer is that it’s totally up to you! If you’re used to wearing wires, you may well want to continue to wear them during pregnancy. 

We recommend specific underwired styles with more flexible, lighter-weight wires to be sympathetic to the changes in both your breast tissue density / firmness, as well as growth. We also suggest wires that are flatter at the bottom to avoid irritating a growing bump. If the ‘U’ shape of the wire is deeper at the bottom of the cup, they are more likely to rub the top of your bump. 

One of our most popular nursing bra styles ( with clips ) features flexible underwires that offer great shape, but also ensure that supply is not compromised, nor would the wearer be more prone to infection through blocking the ducts, for example. 

Will lace bras itch against my baby's face?

How do I measure for a nursing bra? Do I just buy my regular size or do I size up? 

Pregnancy can really differ from one person to the next, and that includes breast growth. It’s impossible to say exactly how size and shape will change, but it’s pretty much guaranteed that there will be change. It’s often an uncomfortable change, as breasts contain fat, tissue, ligaments, glands and more within the outer skin, all of which will be affected by significant growth over a short period of time. To ensure you are comfortable and supported during this time, it’s best to get re-measured for the first time around the 10-14 week stage. 

After this, a re-measure is most commonly required towards the end of the pregnancy, to allow for additional growth when the milk supply arrives ( even if you don't breastfeed, there is a hormonal surge after the baby is born ), and then again post-nursing, or when nursing is considerably reduced. Some breast change will occur whether you decide to - or are able to - feed, or not. 

We are very happy for you to book in for a 'Fit Check' whereby we can reassure you as to whether your bras still fit, or not - for example, if you've finished nursing and want to re-engage your pre-pregnancy bras. It is worth noting though, that elements of a bra, particularly bra elastic, will degrade over time ( whether being worn or not ) and so we would recommend you avoid wearing bras that are more than one year old, as they will likely not support as they should. Consider the cost per wear of a dependable bra, and also how crucial it is to be supported during this cycle - even though it may feel like such a temporary scenario! 

I'm worried about leaking - which bra should I choose? 

How do I wash my nursing bras?

It's generally recommended that you wash a nursing bra after two wears, or two days of wear. This is assuming it’s not milk-stained, sweated into, or soiled in any other way.

Tip: Two days of wear shouldn’t include nights. We recommend purchasing a sleep bra ( a fitter can advise on styles ) for nursing, which offers a softer support-level, whilst preventing leaking, and better preserves your daytime nursing bras. 

We recommend handwashing your nursing bras, like almost bras in our edit - check out our handy guide here for full instructions. This ensures they perform their best for you, for as long as possible.

Grab a bucket, fill it with cool water, and dissolve a small amount of biodegradable detergent. Avoid detergents that have bleach or powerful enzymes. These will damage your bras.

To pre-soak or not to pre-soak?

It is entirely up to you. If you soak it for a while before washing, the fibres will begin to expand, which gives the dirt a head start to escape.

Rinse in clean cool water, squeeze out any excess and hang or lay flat to air dry. 

We also advocate an even simpler and more convenient method of handwashing - wear your bra in the shower, rubbing the key contact points with your shower gel ( which contains gentle anti-bacterial properties ) and then rinse the soap off. 

Please note that washing instructions will be different if you are suffering from mastitis, thrush or a similar condition. You should seek advice from your health visitor if this is the case.

I have large breasts and am worried about finding a bra that fits! 

The maternity ( suited ) styles that we stock run from A-J cups, so we're able to support most bra wearers through the maternity stages. 

Our fit service is completely free, and there is no obligation to purchase if you don’t find options that you are comfortable with. We highly recommend booking in for a fitting, whether it be in our stores / ‘safe spaces’ or via our online fitting service from the comfort of your own home. In neither environment will we ask to see you without a bra, and our friendly fitters offer a coveted approachable service which will leave you feeling supported in more ways than one. 

What is a sleep bra and do I need one? 

A sleep bra is a softer and often less-supportive bra style to wear overnight, throughout the maternity stages. Due to experiencing a burst of growth during pregnancy, your breasts may feel uncomfortable during the night, and so a soft sleep bra can help to support these changes. The breasts can become tender, including ( but not limited to ) the nipple area, so a softer fabric can ease the sensitivity. 

Tip: Don’t get tempted to wear your sleep bra out and about, as it generally won’t offer an adequate level of bust support for a busy ma!

I am not able to nurse, what bras do you suggest for after I have the baby – without clips!

Many find that they are unable to nurse or that they do not want to, but will still experience hormonal changes during the maternity stages, including immediately after having the baby. 

Similar styles to those that work well for pregnancy would work well for someone who is experiencing change, but that doesn’t require styles specifically suited to nursing.

Should I be wearing padding during pregnancy? 

Why should I buy a nursing bra? Can’t I just use my current ones? 

Due to the maternity stages being deemed as 'for a limited time', many ma's try to ‘make do’ with what they already have, or by buying unsupportive multi-pack options in generic sizing (  i.e. small, medium & large ) rather than bra-sized or fitted options. 

These will often result in the wearer feeling unsupported and uncomfortable, and will likely have an adverse effect on breast recovery post-maternity, i.e. certain breast elements may have stretched more than if they were properly supported by wearing the right fit and style. 

In almost all cases, your size will change through the maternity cycle, so there will be a requirement for fit to be adjusted at some point during your pregnancy journey. 

What’s the difference between maternity bras and nursing bras?             

Good question – ‘maternity’ is typically a general term applied to any sort of bra you might buy in relation to expecting or having a baby. Whereas ‘nursing’ tends to indicate a bra specifically designed for nursing, AKA breast-feeding, often featuring clips.