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It took Angelina Jolie to transform the maternity bra from the Alcatraz of feminine underwear, a garment full of straps and the fabric equivalent of locks and keys, to the must-have accessory which had even non-pregnant women queuing up to buy one.
The truth is that lingerie houses used to pay as much attention to maternity bras as you would pay to the flight patterns of swallows during the hot summer months. After all this was the one item of lingerie that women had little choice but buy and looking sexy was the last thing on a long list of criteria that governed their purchase.
No more!
The glossy picture of Angelina wearing an improbably white maternity bra with all the flaps, straps and supports and yet looking great has changed the perception of maternity bras forever.
So, if you’re down the path that even the female greats of Hollywood have to go the questions that need answering are when should you consider buying a maternity bra and what type should you go for.
When it comes to choosing the time for buying one, try to wait until about the 8th month to buy a nursing bra. Then, buy one cup size larger than your measurement at 8 months. In general, this is how much a woman's breasts will increase once milk comes in after the birth.
With everyone now from Agent Provocateur to M & S catering for the pregnant woman who is not content to look anything less than her best you really are spoiled for choice on what type you should go for.
As a rule of thumb a comfortable maternity bra should have wide side bands and shoulder straps to support growing breast tissue. Shoulder straps should have some cushioning and not stretch.
Look for a bra with three or more back closures to offer the most flexibility in fit. The bra's band should lie under the breasts and on the rib cage -- not creeping up on the breast tissue. If the breast tissue is receiving pressure, this could lead to a plugged duct and ultimately mastitis or breast infection. Also, if you're pregnant during hot summer months, or you find yourself getting hot easily, look into bras made from 100% cotton. And remember, you will be wearing these bras for several months after your baby is born, so it is wise to buy a good bra that will adjust with your changing sizes and give you the support you need.
Just because you’re wearing a maternity bra does not mean that you cannot look sexy. While cotton is still the fabric of choice due to the comfort factor and breathability maternity bras now come in many different colours. Choose from regular white to sexy black, pink and even purple. Lace trims, even on wide-strap bras create a very sexy look that’s complemented by an exciting collection of briefs and maternity thongs which give good control and still let you feel like a goddess.
© Designer Lingerie.org.uk 2008
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Daisy maternity bra From Figleaves , adorns, anglaise, beautifully, bow, bra, broderie, categories, cups, daisy, detailing, edges, embroidery, emily, figleaves, inspired, lined, maternity, pretty, shaped, soft, stylish... £5.00 | Soft back hook and eye extender From Bhs , bhs, bra, comfort, ease, extenders, eye, hook, inches, lingerie, maternity, pregnancy, soft, temporary, underband, wear, weight... £5.00 | Bravado Exquisite Boy Short From Mums The Word , accented, bellies, boy, bra, compliment, european, exquisite, fit, flattering, front, l/xl, lace, light, lingerie, maternity, mums, nursing, postpartum, rich, set, short, support, word... £7.50 |
Maternity Bra From Figleaves , bow, bra, categories, central, comfortable, cotton, cups, decorated, detachable, figleaves, maternity, naturana, opened, piece, pretty, pure, reliable... £8.00 | Halterneck Bra From Crave Maternity , adjustable, band, bra, comfort, cotton, crave, gentle, gorgeously, maternity, pregnant, pull, ribbed, seamfree, sensitive, skin, soft, strap, stretch, super, support, you'd... £8.00 | Anielina Shorty by Anielina Maternity From Be Cheeky , "beyond, anielina, bra, bump", care, central, cheeky, dainty, decoration, edges, feminine, floral, france, fresh, handwash, leg, lingerie, maternity, pattern, pretty, ribbon, scalloped, set, shorty, ties, truly, wear, wearer, white, whole... £8.50 |
Carriwell Comfort Feeding Sleep Bra From Mums The Word , 'lift, 'lifting', band, bra, bras, breast, breastfeed, breastsno, bunching, buttons, buttonsit, chafing, clips, comfort, comfortable, delicate, ensure, fabrics, featureseasy, feed', feeding, hooks, increased, light, maternity, mums, night, numerous, nur... £8.95 | White Carriwell Comfort Bra - Large From ToysRus , 4th, band, beyond, bra, breast, buttons, clips, comfort, comfortable, content, cotton, cupsideal, deep, delicate, existing, feeding, fits, high, maternity, onwards, pregnancy, sleeping, soft, supportyou, tissue, toysrus, underwire, wear, wearing, white... £8.99 | White Carriwell Comfort Bra - Medium From ToysRus , 4th, band, beyond, bra, breast, buttons, clips, comfort, comfortable, content, cotton, cupsideal, deep, delicate, existing, feeding, fits, high, maternity, onwards, pregnancy, sleeping, soft, supportyou, tissue, toysrus, underwire, wear, wearing, white... £8.99 |
Beautiful Mum nursing bra From Figleaves , adjustable, adorned, anita, bow, bra, categories, clasp, conceals, cup, decorative, drop, edge, fastening, figleaves, floral, fresh, lace, maternity, neckline, nursing, position, print, scalloped, straps, stretch, styled... £10.00 | Multiway Bandeau From Crave Maternity , band, bandeau, bra, comfort, cotton, crave, gentle, gorgeously, maternity, multiway, pregnant, ribbed, sensitive, skin, soft, stretch, super, support, you'd... £10.00 | Daisy Brief by Emily B From Be Cheeky , bra, brief, bump, cheeky, chic, comfortable, cut, designer, emily, fabrics, feminine, generously, growing, lingerie, maternity, mums, nursing, perfectly, pregnancy, sit, specialist, stretch, stylish, suit, uk, wear... £10.50 |
Pink striped maternity bra From Debenhams , &, accommodate, backed, bra, bras, breasts, changing, comfort, cups, debenhams, lingerie, maternity, miriam, modern, nightwear, nursing, panelled, pink, pregnancy, shape, soft, stoppard, stretch, striped, support, wing... £11.20 | White padded non wired maternity bra From Debenhams , &, boasting, bows, bra, brushed, comfort, coverage, cups, debenhams, dr, fabric, fashioned, feminine, firmly, functional, lace, lightly, lingerie, maternity, mind, miriam, mumstobe, nightwear, nursing, nurture, padded, pretty, ribbon, stoppard, style... £11.20 | Black and turquoise cotton and lace maternity bra From Debenhams , &, allimportant, allover, black, boasts, bra, brushed, cotton, cups, debenhams, dot, dr, feminine, firmly, lace, lift, lingerie, maternity, mind, miriam, mumstobe, nightwear, nursing, nurture, panelled, polka, pregnancy, pretty, soft, support, treats... £11.20 |
Black padded cotton non wired nursing bra From Debenhams , &, black, boasting, bows, bra, brushed, comfort, cup, cups, debenhams, dr, drop, ease, fabric, fashioned, feeding, feminine, firmly, functional, lace, lightly, lingerie, maternity, mind, miriam, mums, nightwear, nursing, nurture, padded, pretty, ribb... £11.20 | White padded cotton non wired nursing bra From Debenhams , &, bra, comfort, cotton, cup, cups, debenhams, dr, drop, feeds, generous, join, lift, lightly, lingerie, maternity, miriam, mothers, nightwear, nursing, nurture, optimum, padded, shoulder, stoppard, straps, support, white, wide, wired... £11.20 | Carriwell Seamless Maternity Bra From Mums The Word , 'lifting', 't', band, bra, breasts, breastsno, bunching, clasps, clips, designits, developtight, due, early, fabriclarge, fit, fittwo, growth, helping, hooks, innovative, invisible, knit, lingerie, maternity, middle, milk, mums, panels, pregnancy, prese... £11.95 |
Smooth maternity bra From Figleaves , bra, breathable, categories, closure, comfort, cups, duallayered, emmajane, figleaves, foam, hook, inner, maternity, microfibre, nonwired, panel, rear, restricted, seamless, smooth, straps, stretch, styled, support... £12.00 | Emma Jane Sleep/Nursing Bra From Babyworld , >, adjusters, babyworld, bra, bras, comfiest, cotton, cup, doesn't, emma, fabrics, feeds, hook, it's, jane, level, maternity, night, nursing, regular, review, shoulder, strap, supercomfy, supersoft, supima, support, wear, won't... £12.50 | Sweet Seductress French Knicker by HOTmilk From Be Cheeky , black, bra, care, cheeky, combining, comfort, compliment, coverage, created, curves, curvy, design, edge, floral, french, gorgeous, handwash, hotmilk, hug, knicker, lace, lined, lingerie, managing, maternity, mumtobe's, overlaid, perfectly, rejoicing... £15.00 |
Sweet Seductress Brief by HOTmilk From Be Cheeky , black, bra, brief, care, cheeky, combining, comfort, compliment, created, curves, curvy, design, flattering, floral, gorgeous, handwash, hotmilk, hug, lace, lined, lingerie, maternity, mumtobe's, overlaid, perfectly, rejoicing, rouched, sensual, shap... £15.00 | Cherry Bomb Chic Brief by HOTmilk From Be Cheeky , band, bow, bra, brief, care, cheeky, cherry, combining, comfort, compliment, created, cute, deep, fabric, flirty, fun, gorgeous, handwash, hip, hotmilk, lace, lingerie, maternity, patterned, perfectly, red, scalloped, sensual, styling, stylish, touches,... £15.00 | Cherry Bomb Chic French Knicker by HOTmilk From Be Cheeky , band, bow, bra, care, cheeky, cherry, combining, comfort, compliment, coverage, created, cute, deep, edge, fabric, flirty, french, fun, gorgeous, handwash, hip, hotmilk, knicker, lace, lingerie, managing, maternity, patterned, perfectly, red, scalloped,... £15.00 |
Freya Rosalie Nursing Bra From Uplifted Lingerie , accessorised, beautiful, boring, bra, bras, buttons, colourful, comfort, cups, cute, definitely, delicate, dull, fed, feminine, floral, invest, lace, lingerie, maternity, pattern, ribbons, rosalie, sexy, support, trimming, undwerwire, uplifted, waiting... £15.59 | Maternity bra From Figleaves , band, bra, breathable, categories, cotton, cups, cutwork, decorated, elastane, emmajane, figleaves, fit, lace, maternity, neck, slight, soft, straps, stretch, styled, support, underwiring, wide... £16.00 | Decadence French Knicker by HOTmilk From Be Cheeky , australia, blossoming, blue, bottom, bows, bra, care, cheeky, comfortable, cute, decorated, ensure, fit, french, gentle, hotmilk, knicker, lingerie, machine, maternity, rouching, ruffles, shades, side, splits, style, twotone, warm, wash, wear... £17.00 |
Abbi Nursing Bra by Emily B From Be Cheeky , 100%, adjustable, black, bra, care, central, cheeky, cottonlined, cups, curves, cutout, dainty, design, dropdown, ease, edging, emilyb, encapsulated, ensure, eyes, feels, gorgeous, growing, handwash, hooks, indications, lace, lingerie, maternity, nursin... £17.50 | Agatia Nursing Bra by Anielina Maternity From Be Cheeky , adds, anielina, biscuit, blooming, care, central, cheeky, comfortable, decorated, decoration, deserves, ease, fabric, feminine, final, france, handwash, lingerie, lovely, luscious, maternity, nursing, openings, pampered, ribbon, shorty, shoulder, soft,... £17.50 | Aniela Maternity Bra by Anielina Maternity From Be Cheeky , adds, anielina, bow, bra, care, cheeky, comfort, cotton, dainty, delicate, ease, feels, feminine, floral, france, fresh, handwash, lingerie, lining, maternity, nursing, openings, shorty, shoulder, support, wear, wearer, white, wonderfully... £17.50 |
Seamless Comfort Bra From Figleaves , anita, bra, bust, categories, comfort, comfortable, figleaves, front, maternity, pregnancy, seamless, soft, style, supportive, wrap... £17.60 | Pack of two black & white maternity bras From Debenhams , &, antirub, backing, black, bra, bra's, bras, comfort, cup, cups, debenhams, edges, essentials, expand, expectant, feminine, floral, lace, ladies, lingerie, maternity, nightwear, nursing, pack, panelled, pretty, soft, stretch, support, supportive,... £17.60 | Maternity Floral Lace Underwired Nursing Bra From Marks And Spencer , 34, 36, 38, black, bra, bras, comfortable, cups, dd, drop, gentle, gg, marks, maternity, mix, nursing, shaping, soft, spencer, support, white... £18.00 |
Maternity Lace Non-Padded Bra From Marks And Spencer , 34, 36, 38, black, bra, comfortable, cups, dd, drop, gentle, gg, marks, maternity, nursing, shaping, soft, spencer, support... £18.00 | Maternity Spot Print Underwired Maternity Bra From Marks And Spencer , 34, 36, 38, black, bra, comfortable, cotton, cups, dd, drop, gentle, gg, marks, maternity, mix, nursing, shaping, soft, spencer, stretch, support... £18.00 | Maternity Floral Lace Satin Nursing Bra From Marks And Spencer , 34, 36, 38, black, bra, bras, comfortable, cups, dd, drop, gentle, gg, marks, maternity, mix, nursing, shaping, soft, spencer, support... £18.00 |
Maternity Spot Print Non-Wired Bra From Marks And Spencer , 34, 36, 38, bra, changing, comfortable, dd, fit, flatter, gg, marks, maternity, mix, multi, shape, soft, spencer, straps, support, white, wide, wired... £18.00 | Maternity Animal Print Non-Padded Nursing Bra From Marks And Spencer , 34, 36, 38, bra, comfortable, cotton, cups, dd, drop, gentle, gg, marks, maternity, mix, nursing, pink, shaping, soft, spencer, stretch, support... £18.00 | Emma Jane Maternity Nursing Bra From Figleaves , bra, breathable, categories, comfortable, cups, drop, fabric, fashioned, fastens, figleaves, hooks, inner, microfibre, moulded, nursing, opening, sling, smooth, soft, supalite, supportive, titanium, underwire... £19.20 |
Anna Cecilia Nursing Bras From Babyworld , >, anna, babyworld, bra, bras, breasts, cecilia, close, developed, difficult, discreet, europe, feeding, maternity, midwife, mother, necessary, nursing, open, public, publisher, recent, sharon, shouldn't, supportive, tender, test, tested, they've, tri... £19.39 | 2 Pack - Cotton Rich Non-Wired Maternity Bras From Marks And Spencer , 32, 34, 36, 38, accommodate, adjustable, black, black/white, bra, bras, changing, cream, dd, gentle, gg, marks, mix, moments, nonwired, pack, pink, shape, shaping, spencer, straps, support, whi, wide... £20.00 | 2 Maternity Cotton Rich Self Spot Maternity Bra From Marks And Spencer , 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, bra, comfortable, cotton, dd, gentle, gg, marks, maternity, shaping, soft, spencer, stretch, support, white/black... £20.00 |
Pack of two floral print nursing bras From Debenhams , &, bra, bras, comfort, cups, debenhams, floral, lingerie, maternity, nightwear, nursing, pack, panelled, plain, printed, stretch, support, supportive, white, wings... £20.00 | Pack of two black & white lace trim nursing bras From Debenhams , &, bra, bras, bust, combines, cotton, cup, debenhams, dr, drop, ease, ensuring, fabric, feminine, function, lace, lingerie, maternity, miriam, musthave, nightwear, nursing, nurture, pack, pretty, rich, soft, stoppard, timesá, topped, trim, well... £20.00 | Carriwell Seamless Maternity Light Support Top From Mums The Word , abdominal, area, backache, band, bear, bra, breasts, brough, bump, cami, carriwell's, clever, clothes, combines, comfort, consequently, considerable, correct, design, downward, due, firm, garment, gentle, groin, growing, half, helps, instantly, lifts, l... £24.95 |
2 Maternity Cotton Rich Self Spot Nursing Bra From Marks And Spencer , 34, 36, 38, black/white, bra, comfortable, cotton, cups, dd, drop, gentle, marks, maternity, nursing, shaping, soft, spencer, stretch, support... £25.00 | 2 Maternity Cotton Rich Spot Nursing Bra From Marks And Spencer , 34, 36, 38, 40, bras, comfortable, cotton, cups, dd, drop, gentle, gg, marks, maternity, nursing, rich, shaping, soft, spencer, support, white/black... £25.00 | Royce Radiance Maternity Bra 576 From Less Bounce , 3242, 42%, 56%, black, bounce, bra, bras, cotton, cup, dd, elastance, gh, maternity, polyamide2%, sports, strong, support, white, wire... £26.00 |
Microfibre jacquard underwired nursing bra From Figleaves , anita, bra, categories, cups, decorated, developed, figleaves, increases, jaquard, kwikklip, maternity, microfibre, nursing, opening, pattern, preformed, pretty, seamless, system, that's, underwired... £28.00 | 2 Pack - Maternity Floral Jacquard Nursing Bras From Marks And Spencer , 34, 36, 38, black/white, bra, comfortable, cups, dd, drop, gentle, gg, marks, maternity, nursing, shaping, soft, spencer, support... £28.00 | Beautiful Mum nursing support bra From Figleaves , adjustable, anita, bra, breathable, categories, comfort, cups, drop, fastening, figleaves, firm, innovative, klip, kwik, maternity, microfibre, nursing, padded, rich, straps, styled, support, underbust, yband... £28.80 |
ANITA Maternity Bra From La Redoute , 20%, 80%, breathe, cotton, double, elastane, fastening, la, lined, lingerie, microfibre, mumtobe, polyamide, position, redoute, skin, straps, supersoft, wide... £29.00 | Cotton Lace nursing bra From Figleaves , anita, bra, categories, clip, cord, cotton, cups, decorated, detailing, figleaves, lace, maternity, nursing, open, pretty, ribbon, romanced, soft, straps, stretch, styled... £29.60 | Microfibre nursing bra From Figleaves , anita, bra, breathable, busts, categories, comfort, cups, drop, fasten, figleaves, firm, gentle, heavier, maternity, microfibre, nursing, position, seamless, straps, stretch, support, wide... £29.60 |
Nougatine maternity bra From Figleaves , adjustable, adjustment, amoralia, balconette, band, boning, bra, categories, changes, closure, column, cups, figleaves, four, lace, layer, light, lined, maternity, outer, rear, row, satin, soft, straps, stretch... £32.00 | Cherry Bomb Chic Bra by HOTmilk From Be Cheeky , adds, bow, bra, bustline, care, centre, cheeky, cherry, comfort, contrasting, cup, dainty, deep, dig, edging, flirty, fresh, fun, handwash, hotmilk, lace, lingerie, maternity, pattern, pretty, printed, red, ribbon, scalloped, sense, shoulder, soft, stra... £33.00 | Silhouette of a Secret Maternity Nursing Bra by HOTmilk From Be Cheeky , ballet, black, bow, bra, bras, care, cheeky, chic, cotton, cups, diamante, drop, effect, epitomises, feminine, french, front, handwash, hotmilk, intricate, knicker, lace, lingerie, lining, maternity, mothers, nursing, overlaid, perfectly, pink, satin, s... £33.00 |
Decadent Bra by HOTmilk From Be Cheeky , band, black, bow, bra, care, central, cheeky, clip, comfort, comfy, contrasting, cotton, cream, deep, discrete, feminine, french, handwash, hot, knicker, lace, lingerie, lining, luscious, maternity, milk, needed, nursing, opulent, outlines, practical, r... £33.00 | Sweet Seductress Bra by HOTmilk From Be Cheeky , black, bow, bra, care, centre, cheeky, clips, combining, comfort, cotton, dainty, design, edged, embroidery, event, fabric, feminine, floral, gorgeous, handwash, hotmilk, incorporated, joined, lace, lined, lingerie, maternity, mumtobe's, onehanded, o... £33.00 | The Age of Allure Maternity Nursing Bra by HOTmilk From Be Cheeky , adds, aframe, allure, antique, bikini, bow, bra, bras, breathable, care, cheeky, comfort, cotton, cream, cup, cups, cute, feminine, finishing, french, front, handwash, hotmilk, knicker, lace, lined, lingerie, luxury, material, microfibre, nursing, ribbo... £35.00 |
Decadence Maternity Bra by HOTmilk From Be Cheeky , appreciate, attention, australia, big, blue, bows, bra, bust, care, cheeky, comfy, contrasting, created, dainty, designs, feminine, fit, french, gathers, gentle, hit, hotmilk, hotmilk's, knickers, lingerie, lining, machine, maternity, mumstobe, nursi... £35.00 | Dangerous Maternity Nursing Bra by HOTmilk From Be Cheeky , black, bra, bustline, care, cheeky, comfort, covering, dangerous, edging, effect, elegant, fabric, feminine, handwash, hotmilk, lace, lingerie, little, maternity, nursing, opulent, rouge, sequins, set, shapely, sheer, straps, support, tone, wear, wide,... £35.00 | Moments Maternity Nursing Bra by HOTmilk From Be Cheeky , baby, blue, bows, bra, bras, care, centre, cheeky, comfort, completed, contrasting, design, edged, exception, feminine, flattering, fresh, gorgeous, handwash, high, hotmilk, ivory, keeping, knack, lace, lingerie, nursing, pretty, satin, straps, underwea... £36.00 |
Black Forest Bra From Crave Maternity , accented, black, bow, bra, center, crave, cups, demi, detailing, fine, front, maternity, mesh, pink, ribbon, ruched, satin, strap, style, trim... £40.00 | Cookies and Cream Bra From Crave Maternity , air, bra, crave, delicate, divine, embellished, fashion, gorgeous, lace, maternity, microfibre, plaid, printed, refined, wanted, wearer... £40.00 | Seduction Camisole by HOTmilk From Be Cheeky , adjustable, beautifully, black, bra, camisole, care, central, cheeky, clip, comfort, decorated, deep, design, detailing, diamante, dots, ensure, fabric, feels, feminine, handwash, hem, host, hotmilk, lace, lacecovered, lingerie, luscious, maternity, nee... £41.00 |
Frosted Almond Bra From Crave Maternity , bra, crave, divine, frosted, gold, lace, layered, maternity, mothers, pregnant, rich, satin, silk, vanilla, wardrobe... £42.00 |