Maternity Bras

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


Floral Garden - Maternity Bikini Brief
Floral Garden - Maternity Bikini Brief
£5.00


Fashion Forms Bra Extenders
Fashion Forms Bra Extenders
£6.00


Rose Illusion Brief
Rose Illusion Brief
£7.00


Maternity Bra
Maternity Bra
£7.00


Ivory Sophie maternity shorts
Ivory Sophie maternity shorts
£7.25


Light pink Lorna maternity shorts
Light pink Lorna maternity shorts
£7.25


White Carriwell Comfort Bra - Medium
White Carriwell Comfort Bra - Medium
£9.99


White Carriwell Comfort Bra - Large
White Carriwell Comfort Bra - Large
£9.99


Cherry Blush Brief
Cherry Blush Brief
£10.00


Satin And Lace - Maternity Bikini Brief
Satin And Lace - Maternity Bikini Brief
£10.00


Maternity bra
Maternity bra
£10.00


Ivory striped maternity bra
Ivory striped maternity bra
£11.20


Black Cami with Built-in Bra
Black Cami with Built-in Bra
£11.50


White Cami with Built-in Bra
White Cami with Built-in Bra
£11.50


White spot maternity bra
White spot maternity bra
£12.00


Non wired cotton & lace bra
Non wired cotton & lace bra
£12.00


Bodybliss new lurex embroidered bra
Bodybliss new lurex embroidered bra
£12.00


Carriwell Seamless Maternity Bra
Carriwell Seamless Maternity Bra
£12.45


Rainbow Rain Bikini
Rainbow Rain Bikini
£12.50


Rose Petals Maternity Brief
Rose Petals Maternity Brief
£12.60


Apple Blossom Maternity Brief
Apple Blossom Maternity Brief
£12.60


Wild Rose Maternity Brief
Wild Rose Maternity Brief
£12.60


Rose Petals Maternity Short
Rose Petals Maternity Short
£12.60


Poppy Polka Maternity Short
Poppy Polka Maternity Short
£12.60


White Carriwell Maternity Bra - Large
White Carriwell Maternity Bra - Large
£12.99


White Carriwell Maternity Bra - Medium
White Carriwell Maternity Bra - Medium
£12.99


Black Carriwell Maternity Bra ? Large
Black Carriwell Maternity Bra ? Large
£12.99


Black Carriwell Maternity Bra ? Medium
Black Carriwell Maternity Bra ? Medium
£12.99


White Carriwell Maternity Bra - Extra Large
White Carriwell Maternity Bra - Extra Large
£12.99


Black Carriwell Maternity Bra ? Extra Large
Black Carriwell Maternity Bra ?  Extra Large
£12.99


Purple spotted maternity bra
Purple spotted maternity bra
£13.20


Black and pink ribbon trim maternity bra
Black and pink ribbon trim maternity bra
£13.20


Floral Garden - Maternity Nursing Bra
Floral Garden - Maternity Nursing Bra
£14.00


Black comfort maternity bra
Black comfort maternity bra
£14.40


White comfort maternity bra
White comfort maternity bra
£14.40


Natural comfort maternity bra
Natural comfort maternity bra
£14.40


Fern Flock Maternity Short
Fern Flock Maternity Short
£14.40


Black Sophie maternity bra
Black Sophie maternity bra
£14.50


Ivory Sophie maternity support bra
Ivory Sophie maternity support bra
£14.50


Light pink Lorna maternity support bra
Light pink Lorna maternity support bra
£14.50


Cotton Lace nursing bra
Cotton Lace nursing bra
£14.80


Fertile Mind SuperBra
Fertile Mind SuperBra
£14.95


Pack of 2 Maternity Bra Tops
Pack of 2 Maternity Bra Tops
£15.00


Smooth maternity bra
Smooth maternity bra
£15.00


Belly Bra
Belly Bra
£16.97


White Carriwell Lace Feeding Bra - Large
White Carriwell Lace Feeding Bra - Large
£16.99


White Carriwell Lace Feeding Bra - Medium
White Carriwell Lace Feeding Bra - Medium
£16.99


Carriwell Large Black Lace Feeding Bra
Carriwell Large Black Lace Feeding Bra
£16.99


Carriwell Medium Black Lace Feeding Bra
Carriwell Medium Black Lace Feeding Bra
£16.99


Tie Back Top with Built-in Bra
Tie Back Top with Built-in Bra
£17.00


Black Chiffon Layer Top
Black Chiffon Layer Top
£17.50


Rose Illusion Nursing Bra
Rose Illusion Nursing Bra
£17.50


La Mere maternity bra
La Mere maternity bra
£17.50


Pack of two black & white maternity bras
Pack of two black & white maternity bras
£17.60


Maternity Sleep Bra (2 pack)
Maternity Sleep Bra (2 pack)
£18.00


Maternity Sleep Bra (2 pack)
Maternity Sleep Bra (2 pack)
£18.00


Beautiful Mum nursing support bra
Beautiful Mum nursing support bra
£18.00


Anna Cecilia Nursing Bras
Anna Cecilia Nursing Bras
£19.39


Rainbow Rain Nursing Bra
Rainbow Rain Nursing Bra
£19.50


Ballet Celebration Nursing White
Ballet Celebration Nursing  White
£20.00


Royce Rhianna Maternity Bra 577
Royce Rhianna Maternity Bra 577
£20.00


Royce Radiance Maternity Bra 576
Royce Radiance Maternity Bra 576
£20.00


Ivory Animal maternity bra
Ivory Animal maternity bra
£20.00


Nougatine Maternity Bra
Nougatine Maternity Bra
£20.00


Carriwell Large Black Drop Cup Bra
Carriwell Large Black Drop Cup Bra
£21.99


Carriwell Medium Black Drop Cup Bra
Carriwell Medium Black Drop Cup Bra
£21.99


White Carriwell Drop Cup Bra - Medium
White Carriwell Drop Cup Bra - Medium
£21.99


White Carriwell Drop Cup Bra - Large
White Carriwell Drop Cup Bra - Large
£21.99


Carriwell Extra Large Black Drop Cup Bra
Carriwell Extra Large Black Drop Cup Bra
£21.99


White Carriwell Drop Cup Bra - Extra Large
White Carriwell Drop Cup Bra - Extra Large
£21.99


PANACHE SUPPORT BRA BLUE
PANACHE SUPPORT BRA BLUE
£22.00


Satin And Lace - Maternity Nursing Bra
Satin And Lace - Maternity Nursing Bra
£22.80


Maternity Bra
Maternity Bra
£23.40


White Florence Spot maternity bra
White Florence Spot maternity bra
£24.00


Black English Garden maternity bra
Black English Garden maternity bra
£24.00


White Lillies & Butterflies maternity bra
White Lillies & Butterflies maternity bra
£24.00


Lucy Maternity Bra
Lucy Maternity Bra
£24.00


White Pollyanna soft cup maternity bra
White Pollyanna soft cup maternity bra
£24.30


Celestial Secret Support Camisole
Celestial Secret Support Camisole
£25.00


FREYA ROSALIE NURSING BRA BLACK
FREYA ROSALIE NURSING BRA BLACK
£26.00


Berlei Pure Maternity Bra White
Berlei Pure Maternity Bra White
£26.00


White Pollyanna nursing bra
White Pollyanna nursing bra
£26.10


Ivory Daisy soft cup nursing bra
Ivory Daisy soft cup nursing bra
£26.39


Black Eclipse non-wired nursing bra
Black Eclipse non-wired nursing bra
£26.40


Cream Luminous non-wired nursing bra
Cream Luminous non-wired nursing bra
£26.40


Cherry Blush Nursing Bra
Cherry Blush Nursing Bra
£27.30


Isabella Support And Maternity Bra
Isabella Support And Maternity Bra
£28.00


Panache Sophie Support Bra Ivory/Pink
Panache Sophie Support Bra Ivory/Pink
£29.00


Panache Lorna Support Bra Floral Print
Panache Lorna Support Bra Floral Print
£29.00


Panache Lorna Nursing Bra Floral Print
Panache Lorna Nursing Bra Floral Print
£29.00


Ruby Nursing Bra
Ruby Nursing Bra
£32.00


Hot Milk Sensuality Bra Black/Purple
Hot Milk Sensuality Bra Black/Purple
£35.00


Hot Milk Radiant Bra Cream/Pink
Hot Milk Radiant Bra Cream/Pink
£35.00


HOT MILK LITTLE DECADENCE BRA NAVY/BLUE
HOT MILK LITTLE DECADENCE BRA NAVY/BLUE
£35.00


HOT MILK AGE OF ALLURE N BRA CREAM/BLUE
HOT MILK AGE OF ALLURE N BRA CREAM/BLUE
£35.00


Smooth Underwired Nursing Bra
Smooth Underwired Nursing Bra
£35.00


Microfibre jacquard underwired nursing bra
Microfibre jacquard underwired nursing bra
£35.00


Microfibre nursing bra
Microfibre nursing bra
£37.00


Cookies & Cream Maternity Bra
Cookies & Cream Maternity Bra
£40.48