The Best Breastfeeding Bras That Come Recommended (And What To Look For)

If you choose to breastfeed, finding the right bra can be a bit of a nightmare. Rather than panicking and rushing into a decision that could leave you with an uncomfortable, unattractive nursing bra, however, you might want some help to know where to start. Luckily, Tanya Robertson, founder of Womanhood, has some ideas.

Here's your guide to finding the perfect nursing bra, which will hopefully help make breastfeeding that bit easier.

What To Look For In The Best Breastfeeding Bras

Look For Easy Access

Perhaps an obvious place to start, but it is essential. Your breastfeeding bras need to work for you – not the other way around. There is nothing worse than wrestling with your bra, whilst you have a crying hungry baby. Maternity bras are a good investment, but only if they make your life easier and not harder.

Our recommendation for easy access is either a nursing clip for a drop-down cup, such as the Gilda maternity bra by Underprotection, or pull to the side cup such as the Florence nursing bra by SIX.

Customer feedback at womanhood has indicated that bras with nursing clips are more discreet and easier to operate with one hand; whereas pull-to-the-side bras are brilliant for night feeds and easy immediate access.

Choose The Material Carefully

With sensitive nipples and sore breasts, the last thing you need is an itchy, uncomfortable bra that makes things worse!

Try looking for natural materials such as organic cotton, soft jersey, or bamboo. These materials will not only feel delicate and kind to your skin, but they also have properties that help to keep the most sensitive of areas soothed. Juem offer a wide variety of comfortable bras made from organic cotton.

If you want to try something that feels a bit more ‘lingerie’ and less ‘Bridget Jones,’ opt for pieces that have discreet lace additions. It can be delicate detailing, but the little things are sometimes the best.

Look For Flexible Sizing

The average woman changes breast size six to nine times in their life - and we would bet that a majority of those changes happen before, during, and after pregnancy. With the influx of milk and the growth of your breasts whilst breastfeeding, it’s important to choose a bra that can fluctuate in size with you. Seraphine offers a variety of different maternity bras in flexible sizing, incorporating pretty details.

We recommend choosing bras that operate on a small, medium, large, etc. size range to give you maximum use of your bras. Typically, these bra sizes will carry 1 – 2 back sizes and 2 -3 cup sizes in a design. Not only will this serve you best whilst you’re breastfeeding, but it will also transition smoothly with you through pregnancy to postpartum.

Equally important is choosing a bra that has a range of hooks on the back, this way you can adapt your fit to your change in shape. At the beginning of your pregnancy, it's typical to start on the tightest hook, moving towards the loosest setting as you reach the due date. Upon birth, the process goes the opposite way to accommodate changes in rib cage and breast weight.

Go For A Thick Underband

The thickness of your underband is incredibly important, trust us on this one. At Womanhood, we recommend choosing a maternity bra with the thickest underband to ensure an even weight distribution between the two breasts. We prefer to stay away from underwires and instead choose brands that design their bras to offer maximum support through underband, material and straps.

Thicker underbands not only offer support from underneath the breast, but they also relieve pressure from the shoulders.

Don't Be Afraid Of Colour

We are big advocates of colourful lingerie to lift spirits, to inject some personality back into our underwear drawers and to put some thought into the little things. For us, it is no different with maternity bras. Of course, neutral colours are easier and perhaps feel less of a risk. But instead of the black bra, how about a navy? Or a dark green? Try something that perhaps is more reflective of your usual style rather than being a purely functional piece. You and this bra are going to get very close over the next couple of months – you might as well enjoy wearing it.

For more parenting stories, (non-judgmental) advice, tips and memes, check out Grazia's new parenting community on Instagram, @TheJuggleUK

READ MORE: 30 Of The Best Parenting Books For Every Child, From Tiny Babies And Toddlers To Teens In 2022

READ MORE: The Best Pram Organisers For Parents On The Go

READ MORE: Baby Milestone Books For Capturing Those Treasured Memories