Where to buy pregnancy bras

This bra sizes up to only a 38F. For larger sizes, look at our also great underwire pick , the Paramour Lorraine Bra, which goes up to a 42G.

The Hotmilk Show Off performs better than all the other wireless models we looked at—and better than some underwire ones as well. Using shaping, seams, and a combination of synthetic and cotton fabrics, the Show Off is the best at providing both substantial support and a comfortable fit across one of the widest ranges of sizes available in a structured nursing bra.

Like our other picks, this bra is also simple to clasp and unclasp for nursing. For support, the Show Off relies on cups shaped through seams as well as by a wide band that provides a solid foundation, especially for larger busts. Stretchy nylon-spandex fabric contributes to the taut, supportive fit, while a soft cotton lining provides comfort and breathability the lace is layered over the nylon-spandex. This bra comes in a wide size range of 32B to 42H.

We also found the clasps easy to unlatch and latch with one hand. No other bra we tested was as simple and comfortable for nighttime use as the clasp- and hook-free Kindred Bravely French Terry Racerback. It never committed the largest sleep-bra offense: being noticeable. The French terry sits perfectly like second skin, is baby-blanket soft, and stays supportive all night while also moving aside easily for feeding. The rayon fabric from bamboo combined with spandex makes the bra ultra-breathable, and it effectively absorbed moisture when we leaked.

Most of the small percentage of negative reviews on Amazon say it is difficult to find the right size when ordering this bra online, but many also note that customer service is responsive and helpful in getting problems sorted out. Some reviewers do complain about this bra stretching out too quickly, though a few say it regains its shape after being washed.

It fits true to size. However, testers reported that the U shape of the straps along the back help with lift. This bra is not as soft as many of the other seamless bras we tested, including some less supportive options like the popular Motherhood Maternity seamless bras. Some of our testers noted the nursing clips on the Bravado required more effort to undo than those on other bras, and especially compared with our main seamless pick, but online reviewers generally found them painless to use.

Overall, we feel that our main underwire pick offers better support and higher quality fabrics and fits more of our testers better than the Lorraine, but for sizes out of the Forever Yours range 32A to 38F , the Lorraine is the best option. The exterior fabric on the Lorraine is surprisingly soft and silky, but compromises a little bit of the support that a heartier fabric like that used on the Forever Yours provides. It can sometimes feel like the bra is relying mostly on its underwire for support.

Our testers liked the shape this bra gave them almost as much as they did with our main underwire pick. The lace used in the racerback actually helps this underwire bra feel more supportive than most other underwire bras in our test. The back closure allows for a closer fit than front-clasp-only bras, while the additional front closure adds convenience and another option when putting on and taking off this bra.

A silky A-frame layer under the cup adds a little extra coverage when nursing, and the cups are thick enough to hide nipples.

The clips are easy to latch and unlatch. Though the Paramour Lorraine offers excellent value, it does have some limitations. It starts at 36D, so women with smaller band sizes miss out.

But it goes up to 42G. The Cake Lingerie Rock Candy S to XL accommodates 32B to 42F offers double-knit yarn for strength and support, nonslip straps, and body-mapped strength panels combined with soft cup areas. But our seamless pick has features—like a higher neckline for larger busts and an extra-supportive racerback—that give it the edge over this bra.

Not quite a traditional seamless bra, not quite a wireless bra either, the Royce Lingerie Candy Blossom 32C to 40H falls somewhere in between. But the bra delivers a uniboob shape, and testers were annoyed by the little string down the center of the bra that can be pulled to add ruching.

The Boob Fast Food S to XL accommodating 32A to 42G comes in leopard print, polka dot, and striped patterns and offers a wide-band version for light exercise like yoga and walking. But it lacks support and coverage compared with our seamless pick. We love the look of the Leading Lady Stylish Cotton Seamless Athleisure S to 5X, accommodating 32A to 48C and found it very supportive, but the fabric is too stiff and rough to be comfortable.

The Bella Materna Pretty Sexy 32C to 38H is incredibly lightweight, very breathable, and thick enough to conceal nipples, but multiple testers noted that the fabric is irritatingly scratchy.

Like some Amazon reviewers, we had issues with the fit of the Freya Pure Underwire 30D to 40I , and also found complaints about the poor quality and lack of durability. Its main flaw is that the lace along the bottom rolls up under the band and chafes your abdomen. Some felt the cups were too small and wide, others found them pointy, though some testers loved the way their breasts were supported whether full of milk or pancake flat after nursing.

Also, the cups run small, making breasts bulge under the netting. The fabric—polyester with some nylon and spandex—is itchy and, worst of all, the clasps are impossible to undo with one hand. We tried the 34D bra on a 34D tester, but there was too much fabric in the cups.

We sent it to our 34E tester who also felt it was too bunchy. So, we ordered a 34C for the 34D tester and we still got bunchy cups. As a last resort, our 36DD tester wore the 34C bra, noting it was too small but she still liked the stretchy, comfortable fabric and found it absorbed small leaks well.

Beyond the trouble with fit, several customers write that the wire eventually wore through the fabric. The Anita Fleur has a reputation among online reviewers: torpedo ta-tas. We concur.

The simple Rosie Pope Wireless Lightly Lined 34B to 40DD offers support somewhere between that of seamless and underwire bras, which made it very comfortable. But its lukewarm reviews on Amazon especially regarding durability meant we decided not to panel test this bra.

The Kindred Bravely Marvella 32B to 38E; discontinued pulls over your head like a sleep bra but has molded cups like a regular bra—and many women find it ultra-comfortable. Our main complaint is that, although the band is stretchy enough to accommodate size fluctuations, it has no adjustability hooks at all.

Plus, its dangling rhinestones, silky fabric and bow were not universally liked. The Royce Lingerie Charlotte 28DD to 40L is available in a wider size range than any other wireless bra we considered, but consensus among our testers and Amazon reviewers is that it runs small. The fabric is a scratchy polyester along the band and the cups are a bit narrow. We had the same qualms with it as we did with the underwire one—no adjustability in the band size with only one hook attachment in the front and unsupportive fabric.

Though the Cake Lingerie Milk Bamboo S to XL accommodating 32B to 40B is impressive in its softness and its ability to wick leaked milk away from breasts, its band, which is a separate piece of fabric, has the annoying tendency of riding up in the middle of the night. But those same closures are uncomfortable to sleep on. We found that the cups run a little small, and because the material is slippery, some larger busted reviewers noted their breasts slipped out at night.

Quality issues are a common refrain in online reviews, and the sizing runs a little small. You will likely want to wash your nursing bras more frequently than your regular bras, given the probability that milk will end up on them. Use cold water. Heat can stretch out elastic, making your bras wear out much sooner than necessary. Jenn Sullivan, certified lactation consultant and owner of the Beacon, New York, and Poughkeepsie , phone interview, September 15, Lisa Ebbing, director at Hotmilk Lingerie, email interview, September 8, Katie Brooker, head designer at Cake Maternity, email interview, September 5, Our pick.

Cake Lingerie Cotton Candy The best seamless nursing bra No other seamless bra we tested accommodates breast size fluctuation with the support and comfort of the Cotton Candy, making it ideal as a first postpartum nursing bra.

Hotmilk Forever Yours The best underwire nursing bra The Hotmilk Forever Yours has flexible underwire that does a better job of keeping moms free of clogged ducts and mastitis than typical underwire bras. Our reviews are a reflection of how comfortable the best maternity bras were to wear, how much support they offered and whether they came up true to size.

If you have a bigger bust, you may find it trickier than most to find a well-fitting maternity bra. Quick-release cups offer easy access for breastfeeding. If you have a smaller bust, this non-wired, unpadded bra is a great choice. It can be worn by those with bigger boobs too, but only for sleeping or pottering around at home. The double-layer design makes it perfect for fuss-free feeding once the baby arrives too. Ann Summers have recently expanded into maternity bras, promising confidence-boosting lingerie for all stages of your pregnancy.

Our tester was particularly impressed by the back clasps and nursing cup clips. Those looking to make more ethical fashion choices will like that this bra is crafted from bamboo. The material has other benefits too, such as being hypoallergenic and helping to regulate body temperature.

As for the comfort factor, this bra scores top marks. This bra has celebrity fans too, with Millie Mackintosh wearing it while nursing her daughter.

You'll most likely need a few maternity bras. Like the rest of your body during pregnancy, your breasts are changing, becoming bigger and more sensitive to the touch. You can chalk up this metamorphosis to hormonal shifts, weight gain, an expanding rib cage, and, later in pregnancy, mammary glands that are preparing to make milk for your baby. While it may be tempting to make do with the bras you have you've already got other maternity clothes to buy!

Your breasts are getting heavier — the developing glandular tissues can add on a few ounces per breast, at least — and they deserve some comfy support. Buy maternity bras as soon as your regular bras feel tight or uncomfortable. For many women, this starts happening when you're around six weeks pregnant. If you take off the bra and see indentations where the band and straps were, your breasts are spilling out of your bra cups, or your bra feels too snug, it's time to purchase a new one.

Every woman is different, every pregnancy is different, and your breasts will change in a way that's unique to you. You may find that your cup size continues to increase throughout your pregnancy, or your breasts might grow during your first trimester and then not increase in size again until the last few months as milk production starts to ramp up. Depending on how you grow, you're probably going to need to go bra shopping more than once during your pregnancy.

The main difference between a maternity bra and a nursing bra is that nursing bras have clasps or panels that allow easy access to the nipples for breastfeeding, while maternity bras don't. And from there, there are all kinds of nursing bras — nursing sports bras, seamless nursing bras, and nursing sleep bras, to name a few.

Many women prefer a combination of both, buying maternity bras or larger sizes of their favorite pre-pregnancy bras in the beginning of their pregnancies, then switching to nursing bras somewhere in the middle of the third trimester.

Many nursing bras offer soft, wire-free support, so they're ideal for late pregnancy when you may be feeling uncomfortable and exhausted. Plus, you'll need them postpartum if you breastfeed your baby. It's a good idea to go shopping for nursing bras to wear postpartum around 36 weeks. If you do buy nursing bras to wear during pregnancy, make sure they give you room to grow. Your rib cage can expand until then, and your breasts may go up another cup size or two after your baby arrives and your milk comes in.

Choose a bra that fits when the clasp is on the tightest setting, so you'll be able to let it out. You'll likely need at least three maternity bras during pregnancy and three nursing bras for after you give birth so you have enough to wash and wear.

If you want to try to hold off on buying maternity bras in early pregnancy, you may be able to use your sports bras or more unstructured, soft-sided bras. Another budget-friendly idea: Buy a bra extender, which is a great way to make your bras last longer.

It attaches to the back of your bra to add extra length and hooks to the band. Find the best nursing and maternity bras by asking your mom friends for their recommendations, trying on multiple kinds until you find your favorite, and looking online for inspiration — see our picks for the best nursing bras and best maternity sports bras.

If you're shopping in person, try on a few styles and sizes to find the best and most comfortable fit.