Maternity Essentials
Figleaves Bras | La Senza Bras
At a time when your body is going through the most amazing changes it will ever experience, you'll be looking for underwear that offers good support, but also allows you to choose from pretty and feminine styles.
View the BraWorld Maternity and Nursing Bra range
Maternity Bras
During pregnancy, breast tissue will grow and change and can become tender and sensitive, so it is important that bras are soft and supportive. Seam free bras can be a comfortable choice and it is often a good idea to avoid underwires, as they can be unforgiving as your body changes shape.
Specialist maternity bra fitters advise women to buy their maternity bra in the fourth month of their pregnancy and make sure that when purchasing, the bra fits them on the tightest hook, so that it can be fastened on a looser hook in the last trimester. As the baby grows, your ribs will move to accommodate it, so your bra band measurement will increase as your bump progresses.
Pregnancy is a joyous time for many women, but it can also bring with it insecurities and uncertainties, as you have to face the changing shape of your body and the expansion of your waist line. Finding sexy underwear during pregnancy can therefore be very important and fortunately there are now several very pretty maternity bras on the market, for instance the Elle Macpherson 'La Mere' maternity bra.
Nursing Bras
Nursing bras are a practical solution for breast feeding mothers, allowing them to feed the baby without getting undressed or baring all to the world. The bras usually incorporate a drop down front on the cups, held in place by a simple clip or hook, so that access is easy whilst holding the baby.
A nursing bra purchase should ideally be made during about month six of your pregnancy and unlike your maternity bra, when you buy it, it should fit you on the loosest hook, as your underband size will decrease as your body returns to its pre-pregnancy size after the birth.
Key things to look for are comfort and ease of opening, especially with one hand during the night, when you want the baby to feed with as little disturbance as possible to both of you. Even though you are breast feeding, you will still want to feel sexy and attractive in your undies, especially for evenings out (if you can fit any in during the early months!). Have a look at nursing bras like the 'Emily B Maternity Bra' to add a touch of glamour to your underwear whilst retaining the convenience of a nursing bra.
First time Mum's are sometimes aghast at the thought of breast feeding in public and a simple tip is to invest in a pretty wrap and then wear a t-shirt, which can easily be lifted up for the baby to snuggle under. The wrap helps to retain discretion and a t-shirt actually exposes far less flesh than a button down top, so you and your baby can share the intimacy of breast feeding in privacy, wherever you are.