Maternity Nursing Bras

New Zealand Maternity Nursing Bras

Hooking up with the best maternity and nursing bras needn't be a chore - and it's essential for your own comfort and for easy breastfeeding with your bub. We offer advice on what to look for when buying a maternity or nursing bra in New Zealand.

• Maternity Wear

When you become pregnant, your breasts start to change almost from day one. One of the first indications of pregnancy may be that your nipples are darker and more tender than usual. By week 12, your breast size will have already increased and you may find that you already need to invest in a good-quality bra and have a professional bra fitting.

Some women may revel in their increased bust size, but others may dread it. It’s quite normal to feel either way - after all, many women are usually very sensitive to how their breasts look and feel, and experiencing such a fundamental change to your body and appearance can take quite an adjustment.

A good fitting, supportive and comfortable maternity bra is really important whilst you are pregnant and can help to minimise backache. Your breasts will continue to change during pregnancy so it is a good idea to be measured by a professional and start by buying just two new bras, and then more again as your breasts grow. Making sure your maternity bra is a good fit will mean greater comfort during and after your pregnancy - this should be no problem, with a wide choice of bras on offer, including full figure maternity bras, large and small cup sizes, nursing sleepwear and more.

What to look for in maternity bra:

• Deep band under the cups (not under wired)
• Broad shoulder straps
• Adjustable straps (so you can get maximum wear out of it)

Some of the best maternity bras are cotton - these can be the most comfortable ones to wear during pregnancy. As your pregnancy progresses, you may also find it easier to sleep with a lightweight bra on at night for additional support.

Nursing bras
Nursing bras are slightly distinct from maternity bras as they are designed to enable easy, front access to your breasts for breastfeeding purposes. They are normally available in a variety of styles:

Front opening nursing bras

This type of nursing bra looks a little like a sports bra and fastens between the cups at the front, by way of stud type fasteners. These bras tend to be easy to open, but are a little indiscreet for most mothers as both breasts can be exposed at once.

Zipped nursing bras

As the name suggest, this type of nursing bra includes zips, which are built into the cups sitting on the underside of each breast. These bras are quite discreet and easy to open and close. However, if you are wearing a tight fitting top, there may be VZL (visible zip line) on show.

Strap fastening nursing bras

This type of bra is widely available in New Zealand stores and consists of a hook, fastening or small button on the shoulder strap of the bra above the cup. This can be easily unfastened to allow the cup down and enable breastfeeding access. Practise unfastening your bra with one hand and ensure that your bra exposes your whole breast and not just your nipple. Again, this style of nursing bra is generally very easy to use.

Stretch fabric nursing bras

These bras are best suited to smaller breasted women. These bras are made from a stretch fabric material, which can simply be pulled up over the breast.

Nighttime nursing bras

These bras are relatively lightweight and can be designed with a crossover front design, so you can just slip your breast out. However, other styles can be equally comfortable at night.

Tips on buying a nursing bra

• Nursing bras tend to be about double the price of ordinary bras, so it is a good idea to wait until your 35th or 36th week of pregnancy before you are fitted for one.
• When you are going for a fitting, take a pair of breast pads with you to wear – after all, when you start nursing, you will probably be wearing them and they will slightly affect the cup size you need.
• Make sure you end up with a bra that allows your breasts to increase in size for when ‘the milk comes in’. Don’t end up with a nursing bra that only fits you on its last hook and on the loosest strap settings. Allow yourself room for adjustment.
• Buy at least a couple of nursing bras so if you leak on one you have another to hand.
• If you buy nursing bras in several sizes to see which one is going to fit you best, make sure you have checked the returns policy carefully. Having a stockpile of nursing bras in the wrong sizes could prove costly.
• If you can find a pretty nursing bra in your size, buy it! Even nursing bras can look nice and help you feel good about yourself.
• Follow the washing instructions carefully – don’t shrink your nursing bra or wear it out, before its time is up!

Looking for more information? Find New Zealand maternity nursing bras in the NZS.com directory.

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Family images from Flickr: Baby Boots, Kids Classroom and Hands.