Nursing Bras: Do You Really Need Them?
Feeling confused about nursing bras? You're not alone. Research shows that 80% of women are wearing the incorrect bra size, and this is just including those who aren’t breastfeeding and have a relatively consistent size. When you add in all the breast changes that occur during pregnancy and breastfeeding, it’s no wonder finding your size is so difficult.
I’ve been designing bras for over 20 years, and I have two girls of my own, so I’m here to break down the changes your breasts will undergo, the benefits of nursing bras and to answer the age old question — do you really need a nursing bra?
Breast Changes During Pregnancy and Postpartum
To really explain why you need a nursing bra (oops, spoilers!), you first have to understand the changes your breasts undergo during this time.
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First Trimester: One of the earliest signs of pregnancy is often breast growth, heaviness and sensitivity. During this time it’s important to wear comfortable, seamless bras that allow for growth.
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Second & Third Trimesters: Your cup size will stabilise but growth will happen around your rib cage as your baby grows, resulting in an increase in band size. You can wear any kind of bra during this time as long as it’s correctly fitted and has room to grow in the band.
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Fourth Trimester: Once you’ve had your baby, your cup size will increase dramatically as your milk comes in. It’s not uncommon for you to go up 3-5 cup sizes! As a result, you might experience itchiness, tightness and heat as your body pumps more blood. It’s important you’re supported at your largest and smallest (just after a feed), so we recommend multi-cup fitting bras that fit multiple sizes in one.
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6-8 Weeks Postpartum: By this stage your supply will have regulated so your bra size will be more stable. It’s safe to wear any kind of bra again, but bear in mind that your rib cage will continue to shrink for the next 3-6 months. Be gentle with yourself! It took you 9 months to grow your baby, so it’ll take some time for your body to adjust.
The Benefits of Nursing Bras
There’s so many items you need to buy for your new baby, it’s easy to overlook the products that are designed to make your life easier. A happy and healthy mum means a thriving baby, though, so here’s the way nursing bras will improve your day to day life.
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Enhanced Comfort: The breathability of nursing bras can help regulate body temperature, which is often elevated in breastfeeding mothers due to increased blood flow.
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Increased Convenience and Accessibility: Features like pull-aside styles, zippers, or drop-down nursing cups with convenient clips make breastfeeding easier and more comfortable.
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Simplified Daily Life: Designed with mothers in mind, nursing bras allow mums to accomplish more throughout their day by providing support and comfort without causing harm. This allows them to focus on their baby rather than their bra.
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Physical Support and Posture Improvement: A well-designed nursing bra can alleviate the weight of lactating breasts and support posture, which is also important for milk flow.
Features of Good Nursing Bras
While nursing bras can provide all the above benefits, they’re not all created equal. To ensure you’re getting maximum benefit from your bras, look for the following:
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Double layered cups for durability, added support and comfort.
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At least 10% elastane content to allow it to stretch and snap back to its original shape after wear.
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Stretchy top cup edges to accommodate fluctuations without digging in.
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Moulded cups to allow your breasts to go outwards, rather than squishing them into a monoboob.
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Folded edge fabric slings, rather than just a piece of elastic which can dig in.
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6 hook and eye options to allow you to expand or contract your band.
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Wide straps with minimal stretch for support and longevity.
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If there’s wires, ensure they’re flexible and have a wide “smile” line to ensure they don’t compress your breast tissue.
Do You Really Need Nursing Bras?
Nursing bras offer significant convenience, comfort, and support for breastfeeding mums, though they aren't strictly necessary. Their importance depends on how much you value these factors, along with your breast health and ease of feeding, and how long you plan to breastfeed. Ultimately, prioritising comfort, support, and accessibility is a personal choice, but we’re pretty biased and consider them a necessity!
Must-Have Nursing Bra Styles
This soft and stretchy nursing bra with a secure racer back design is ideal for both lounging at home and light outings, offering comfort and support for expectant and new mums, making it a perfect addition to a hospital bag.
This super soft, flexi-wired balconette bra offers the feel of a regular bra and provides excellent everyday support, making it ideal for the later stages of pregnancy and after milk flow has regulated around six weeks postpartum.
This double-layered and seamless bra offers robust, comfortable support for fuller busts (E to H cup) with its innovative U-sling technology, providing wired-like shaping without discomfort and featuring a versatile 6-hook closure.
Designed specifically for nighttime, this bra features moisture-wicking pockets that keep your breast pads in place, reducing the likelihood of waking up to leakage. Additionally, it is made from bamboo modal, which is both luxuriously soft and better for the environment.
This versatile seamless yoga bra doubles as a hands-free pumping bra with a pull-aside nursing option and a stylish racerback design, making it perfect for light activities and pumping sessions.
Navigating the world of nursing bras can feel overwhelming, especially given the significant breast changes experienced during pregnancy and postpartum. However, understanding these changes and the specific design features of nursing bras reveals their undeniable value. While ultimately a personal choice, the enhanced comfort, convenience, support, and accessibility offered by well-designed nursing bras can significantly improve a new mum's daily life, allowing her to focus on what truly matters: her baby. Considering the long-term benefits for both mum and baby, investing in quality nursing bras is often a worthwhile decision. From one mum to another, you’ve got this!
Katie Brooker 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.