How A Good Bra Can Help You In More Ways Than One!

During pregnancy, as hormone levels increase, so does blood flow and fluid retention causing your breasts to feel swollen, sore, and sensitive to touch. However, every pregnant woman’s situation is different. Some may feel their breasts getting bigger after three months of pregnancy, while others may not experience a noticeable change until after five months. A badly fitted bra can cause poor posture, back pain, and neck pain. That means wearing one that feels comfortable, supports your breasts and back, and stretches to accommodate your growing breasts is very important at this time.

Why do pregnant mothers choose to wear pregnancy/nursing bras?

• Prevent saggy breasts
  During pregnancy, the breasts increase in size due to the stimulation of estrogen and progesterone, which is all preparing for breastfeeding. The muscles on both sides of the breasts may become relaxed due to the inability to support the growth of the breasts, resulting in sagging breasts. However, wearing a well-supportive nursing bra can prevent breast sagging. Professional maternity and nursing bras can help to lift and gather the breasts, avoiding compression of the breasts.
• I do not feel any tightness
  With a growing baby bump, wearing a regular bra can cause discomfort and tightness. Therefore, during pregnancy, the mother should start wearing maternity & nursing bras. It is important to choose a nursing bra that is gentle on the skin and stretchy.
• Avoid a decrease in breast milk supply
  Good nursing bras have large cup elasticity to prevent compression, thereby avoiding milk regression or clogged milk ducts. During pregnancy, breasts constantly enlarge, so wearing regular bras at this time could compress the mammary glands and reduce future milk production.
• Lessen shoulder and back pressure
  Breastfeeding bras have widened shoulder straps, side wings, underbands, and back hooks to reduce the pressure of breast enlargement and minimize the pressure on the shoulders and back caused by bras. 

What Happens If You Are Not Wearing A Right Nursing Bra?

Harm 1: Causing breast pain 

If a dedicated maternity bra is not worn during pregnancy, the breasts may experience compression and stretching, causing discomfort for expectant mothers.

Harm 2: After delivery, there is a risk of insufficient or low milk supply

The skin around the breasts becomes particularly sensitive during pregnancy, you must take care not to put pressure on the growth and development of the mammary glands. Please take note that the uncomfortable fabric of the bra may cause friction against the skin, which may affect milk production.

Harm 3: Causes breast deformity

Regular bras are not able to effectively protect and support the breasts of pregnant mothers and may even cause deformity. During pregnancy, the continuous enlargement of the breasts may increase the risk of sagging. 

Harm 4: To avoid pressing on the mammary glands and causing mastitis and clogged milk ducts.

Regular bras with inflexible fabric and underwire may compress the mammary glands, causing mastitis and clogged milk ducts. Replace the regular bras, which are not only inconvenient when breastfeeding and embarrassing, but also can cause compression and pain with a new nursing bra.

Tips for choosing a good maternity and nursing bra

• The material is absorbent and breathable
  Due to hormonal changes, the body temperature of pregnant mothers will increase, making them more prone to sweating. Therefore, expectant women should choose breathable and sweat-wicking nursing bras that do not compress the breasts and cause discomfort. 
• The bra is supportive
  Widening the side panels can help shape the breasts and prevent the axillary breast tissue. The design of detachable built-in breast pads allows mothers to easily place nursing pads to avoid milk leakage. When weaning and stopping breastfeeding, you can consider purchasing a soft underwire bra for shaping.
• High elasticity does not constrict the breast
  Fabric with high elasticity ensures perfect coverage for a mother’s breasts during the period of engorgement and emptying after breastfeeding, helping to maintain breast shape. It is important to choose nursing bras based on breast changes and to change sizes as needed.
• Antibacterial fabric
  During the lactation period, new mothers are prone to experiencing milk overflow. It is important to select nursing bras that have antibacterial and odor-resistant properties to ensure breast hygiene.

Let Mamaway help you find the perfect one for you

If you’re not sure how to choose a maternity/ nursing bra, we can help. Mamaway offers a variety of nursing bra styles to suit any of your needs – from the early days of nursing to when you’ve gone pro. Select a bra that meets all your concerns and style needs. 

Give us a call or find everything you need at your nearest stockist. Thanks for choosing Mamaway as your go-to source for all things pregnancy and postpartum-related!

Source: americanpregnancy.org,nct.org