10 things you need to know about... buying nursing bras

Protect your growing assets and make sure you get the best support, both before and after the birth

Sore, painful boobs are often the first sign of pregnancy, then, of course, they get huge! Your pre-pregnancy bras won’t offer adequate support, so it’s time to invest in bras designed especially for the job. P&b’s consumer editor, Sarah Kingsford, explains what to look for and picks her top four

1 What’s the difference?

Basically, maternity bras are for support when you’re pregnant, nursing bras for when you’re breastfeeding.

2 An essential buy?

Your breasts will get bigger throughout your pregnancy, (and even bigger once your milk comes in after the birth) so you’ll need well-fitting bras to stop the ligaments stretching, and help to prevent you sagging. And nursing bras are a must-have when you’re breastfeeding.

3 No more underwires

They’re not good news for your developing milk ducts. But look on the bright side – you probably won’t be needing any help with boosting your cleavage for a while anyway.

4 The right timing

Your breasts could start to feel tender from as early as eight to ten weeks so it’s worth getting yourself measured up as soon as you notice them growing. For nursing bras, you’ll need to get measured towards the end of your pregnancy, from around 36 weeks.

5 Where to buy

You’ll find a good selection at specialist shops such as Mothercare or Babies R Us, as well as department stores, and mail order catalogues such as Blooming Marvellous.

6 Size matters

The right size is essential. You can measure yourself, but it’s better to go to a trained fitter. And it’s worth getting measured every six to eight weeks to make sure you’re wearing the right size as your boobs grow.

7 Special features

Natural fibres will help to keep you cool. For support bras, also look for broad straps, and soft elastic. When you’re buying nursing bras look for drop cups that you can open and close easily, preferably with one hand, and which feel comfortable while you’re feeding. You’ll also need good back support and wide, non-slip shoulder straps.

8 How many?

I’d say you’ll need two to three maternity bras throughout your pregnancy, and four nursing bras.

9 Sleep well

As your boobs grow, you might find you’re more comfortable with some support at night. If that’s the case, it’s worth buying a couple of lighter support bras too.

10 Granny undergarments?

Don’t panic – you’re not going to be wearing some scary granny support garments, (although you might be surprised initially at just how, well, humungous the bras look when you taker them out of the pack).

These days you can go for glamour – and thanks to her Maternelle range (4 of the best), you can even look like Elle Macpherson!