When you’re pregnant your body undergoes a multitude of changes. Aside from your growing bump, the area that changes the most is your breasts. These changes start as early as conception, and continue throughout pregnancy, breastfeeding and pumping.
To ensure optimal breast health it’s important to adequately support your changing breasts, but this involves more than just shopping your new bra size. Each trimester, stage of breastfeeding and kind of pump have different bra requirements. Let’s dive into which bra is best for which stage.
First Trimester
Many women experience breast changes, like growth and tenderness, even before a pregnancy test confirms the good news. This happens because milk ducts begin developing, and breast tissue becomes denser. Finding a comfortable, non-restrictive bra that adapts to your changing size is crucial during these first 12 weeks. Growth can vary greatly between different women and even different pregnancies. For this reason, underwire bras are generally not recommended during the first trimester. They can dig into sensitive tissue or restrict developing milk ducts.
A great first trimester bra should be seamless for comfortable stretch and growth. It should also provide support and comfort, offering gentle lift and cushioning for your heavier, growing breasts.
While seamless bras offer comfort, ensure they’re molded correctly for your breast size. Poor molding can lead to a flattening effect, and lack of double lining can compromise support.
Suggested Styles:
Finding a comfortable and supportive seamless bra used to be a challenge, especially for women with G cup and up breasts. But that’s a thing of the past! The Popping Candy Nursing Bra boasts innovative U-sling technology that tackles all your needs. These U-slings gently lift and support your breasts from the sides, keeping them separated for a natural look. Additionally, a platform sling underneath provides extra lift and support.
For those between B and G cups, the Cotton Candy Nursing Bra is your everyday hero. This popular seamless bra offers the comfort and support you crave, along with a variety of colors to suit your style.
Second & Third Trimesters
After the first trimester your cup size shouldn’t grow too much more until the last few weeks of pregnancy. What will be changing throughout your second and third trimesters is your band size, as your ribcage expands to accommodate your growing baby.
Suggested Styles:
Since your breast size is usually stable during these months, you can choose a bra with more structure, like a flexible underwire bra. Look for one with six hooks and eyes in the back. If you fasten it on the innermost hook in the third month, it should adjust comfortably as your ribcage expands.
There are a couple of options for this stage. The Lamington Nursing Bra is a spacer bra with flexible underwire, offering good support and shaping. If you’re looking for something a little more special, the Truffles Nursing Bra is a lacy plunge bra with flexible underwire, perfect for those days you want to feel extra confident.
If you’re unsure of your exact size but anticipate some growth, a multi-sized bra might be a good choice. These bras, like Tutti Frutti Nursing Bra and the Popcorn Nursing Sports Bra, are designed specifically for pregnancy with built-in support and adjustability.
Fourth Trimester
The third trimester brings the most dramatic changes. Your cup size can jump up to five whole sizes, and even the size and weight of each breast can be uneven. While your ribcage might stay expanded for a few weeks or months after delivery, your belly will likely still be swollen too. This means you’ll probably be using the outer hooks on your bra for most of the trimester. When your milk first comes in, it can be a painful experience for some women. This engorgement, along with milk let-down (when your milk flows in preparation for feeding), can cause discomfort.
Suggested Styles:
Due to these fluctuations and the need for frequent nursing (up to 12 times a day), a seamless, multi-sized bra, similar to those worn in the first trimester, is recommended. This style offers comfort and flexibility while accommodating breast growth and ensuring no wires dig into sensitive tissue.
Pumping
You can start pumping whenever you feel it’s the right time. If you are pumping in the first 6-8 weeks, bear in mind your size will be larger than it will be once your milk flow has regulated.
Style Suggestions for Flange Pump:
The type of bra you use for pumping will be determined by the kind of pump you have. If you have a pump with a flange (either electric or manual), opt for a bra that will hold your pumps hands-free. The Lotus Hands-Free Pumping Bra and Pumpkin T-Shirt Pumping Bra provide pumping and breastfeeding access.
Style Suggestions for Wearable Pump:
If you’re using a wearable pump, you’ll need a bra that is stretchy and has the ability to expand to accommodate your pump without putting any pressure on your breast tissue. The styles that are recommended for the first trimester and the first 6-8 weeks postpartum are perfect as they fit multiple cup sizes in one. 23
6 – 8 Weeks Postpartum and Beyond
After 6-8 weeks, your milk supply stabilizes, and cup size fluctuations ease. However, your breasts won’t return to their pre-pregnancy size entirely due to ongoing milk production. Our bras address this by offering targeted support and built-in stretch to accommodate these changes. This reduces the need for “double boobing” (wearing two bras) and ensures you feel supported even when your breasts are less full.
Suggested Styles:
Beyond the initial milk regulation period (6-8 weeks), you have more flexibility in bra choice. Continue with your favorite seamless styles or explore options with more structure like flexible underwire bras, molded spacer t-shirt bras, or lacy bralettes. This wide range allows you to find styles that suit your preferences and resemble your pre-pregnancy favorites, so you don’t feel limited during this stage.
Nursing bras are designed for your comfort, support, and easy access when feeding your baby. Whether you choose a wire-free or flexible underwire option depends on your stage of nursing and desired support level. You’re the one wearing it, so prioritize real customer reviews over marketing hype to find a bra you love to wear, feel supported in, and feel comfortable using to feed your baby. The key is to choose something that empowers you to provide effortless nourishment for your little one.
Katie is the proud mum of two beautiful girls and has been responsible for all the designs, style and fit at Cake Maternity for over a decade now.
Katie is a nursing bra specialist and a fit, pattern and grading technician. She is passionate about breastfeeding and the many benefits it offers to both mum, baby, and the environment.
She is determined to make the breastfeeding journey a comfortable, supportive, and beautiful one for all mums, understanding that it doesn’t always come easy to everyone. That’s why she has made it her mission to empower women as they mindfully navigate the world of motherhood and help make breastfeeding easier, through experience-driven innovation.
Leave a Reply