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The best maternity bras 2025: supportive, comfy and stylish maternity and nursing bras, tried and tested
Finding the right maternity or nursing bra can be a tricky business. We put the best maternity bras through their paces with both pregnant and breastfeeding mothers to find the best maternity bras of 2025.
By Jenny Wonnacott | Last updated Dec 9, 2025
While your bump might be the first thing that springs to mind when you consider how much your body changes during pregnancy, your breasts may well start changing long before you need to swap out your pre-pregnancy jeans. Fluctuating hormone levels, early pregnancy breast tenderness and growing milk ducts can all result in you needing to go up a cup size before you're even out of the first trimester.
That's where one of the best maternity bras can become the most essential item in your maternity wardrobe. Designed with the changing pregnant body in mind, they're often made with flexible, comfortable material such as cotton or bamboo which can stretch as your breasts grow.
Best maternity bras and nursing bras: our shortlist
Best maternity bra overall: Emma-Jane Padded Seamless Maternity & Nursing Bra | £20 (1-pack)
Best maternity bras multipack: H&M MAMA 2-Pack Padded Cotton Nursing Bras | £23 (2-pack)
Best non-wired maternity bra: Calvin Klein Full Cup Maternity Bra |
£38£19 (-50%) (1-pack)Best maternity bras budget buy: ZUMIY Maternity Nursing Bras | £23 (3-pack)
Best nursing bra: Bravado! Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra | £25 (1-pack)
Best maternity bras for size range: M&S Jasmine Lace Trim Maternity Nursing Bras | £25 (2-pack)
Best underwired maternity bra: HOTmilk Forever Yours Wired Maternity Nursing Bra | £35 (1-pack)
Best maternity bra for sleep : Medela Keep Cool Sleep Seamless Maternity Nursing Bra |
£14£12 (-16%) (1-pack)Best maternity bra for big boobs: HOTmilk Womens Show Off Non Wired Nursing Maternity Bra | £24 (1-pack)
A decent maternity bra will feature a supportive underside for better lift and should also have more adjustable fastenings than a regular bra to accommodate your changing shape. Many also double as great nursing bras too by featuring clips on the straps so you can open or pull down the cups - though it's worth bearing in mind that your breasts could change size and shape again once your baby arrives and your milk comes in.
How we tested the best maternity bras
As with all our comprehensive Pregnancy Care guides such as those ranking the best pregnancy pillows, tests and prenatal vitamins, we began our research into the best maternity bra by taking a deep dive into the Mumsnet forums. As home to the UK's largest network of parents - around two million of which were either pregnant, trying to conceive or had a baby under the age of one in a recent census - Mumsnet users are a second-to-none-resource when it comes to recommending the items which really do make the lives of parents (and parents-to-be) easier.
We asked a panel of verified Mumsnet testers - made up of pregnant women and/or mothers of babies under two - which maternity and/or nursing bras they loved during pregnancy, breastfeeding and the first year of motherhood. We took this shortlist and cross-referenced it with historic testing carried out in 2019 by mum-to-be Esmari Pylactou, who tried a selection of maternity bras during her third trimester, and Rachel Wood, a breastfeeding mum-of-three, to see if any of the more recent bra recommendations had stood the test of time and were still coming out on top.
We also questioned top maternity experts including Rae Vacher Lowe from breastfeeding charity La Leche League and bra-fitting guru BraLady, a.k.a. Tracey-Jane Hughes for tips on finding the perfect fit to help narrow down our list of the best maternity bras.
Best maternity bra which grows with you
Emma-Jane Padded Seamless Maternity & Nursing Bra
Six back adjusters for maximum adjustability
Removable padding
Dual-layer fabric cups for extra support
Also available in pack of two
Quite pricey
Key specs
Price on writing: £20 | Sizes: S - XL (32 - 38 in B - DD cup) | Colours: Black, pink, white | Materials: 88% nylon, 12% elastane | Features: 6 x 3 hook-and-eye fastenings, clip down cups, removable pads | Wired or non-wired: Non-wired
What Mumsnet users say
If your breasts are already taking on a life of their own just weeks into pregnancy and maximum adjustability is top of your priority list for a maternity bra, look no further. The Emma-Jane Padded Seamless Maternity Bra from Mumsnet-favourite maternity wear brand JoJo Maman Bebé features six back adjusters with three clips each and the material of the bra itself is super stretchy, allowing for maximum expansion as your shape changes during and beyond pregnancy.
Scoring highly with Mumsnet users on our boards as well as our recent parent testers, the Emma-Jane bra is a clean, simple design with removable pads and a seam-free finish for maximum comfort. It comes with lace trim for a slightly fancier look and is available in three simple colourways.
"The clips were a lifesaver," says Mumsnet parent-tester Laura, who wore the Emma-Jane from her second trimester of pregnancy through two years of breastfeeding. "They stayed in place so much better than other nursing bras which kept unclipping. I loved this bra so much I bought a few - I think in terms of value for money it's one of the best on the market."
On that note, you can currently save £5 when buying two items from the JoJo bras range.
Best maternity bras multipack
Inexpensive
Soft, cotton jersey
Super comfortable
Good choice of colourways
Sizing doesn't go beyond 38DD so might not be suitable for larger bust sizes
Quite basic design which may not appeal to all
Key specs
Price on writing: £23 for two | Sizes: 32-38 in A - DD cups | Colours: Black/beige, White/grey marl | Materials: 95% cotton, 5% elastane | Features: Adjustable shoulder straps, clip and drop down cups, space for nursing pads, hook-and-eye fastenings at back for adjustability | Wired or non-wired: Non-wired
What Mumsnet users say
If you're looking for a simple, affordable multi-pack of maternity bras which are comfortable, adjustable and excellent for use as both a pregnancy and nursing bra, H&M have you covered. Not only did this super affordable twin pack of cotton nursing bras from H&M's well-regarded maternity range MAMA come up several times as recommended on the Mumsnet boards, it was also by far the most recommended maternity bras among our recent/new mum testers.
When asked what makes these bras stand out among the crowd, Mumsnet parent-tester Sarah said, "comfort and style - so many of the maternity bras I looked at just looked so frumpy but these retained a modern, contemporary aesthetic." Mum-of-two Beccy praised the bras' comfortable fit too, pointing out that they were "easy to adjust and so simple to clip/unclip for breastfeeding." Parent-tester Lizzie, meanwhile, added: "I like that they're non-wire, come in nice, simple colours and are reasonably priced."
Sure, the simplicity of these bras may not appeal to all, but with so many votes for comfort and price, who needs lace?
Best non-wired maternity bra
Calvin Klein Full Cup Maternity Bra
Made from soft, breathable cotton
Very comfortable
Triangle cups mean it doesn't show up under clothing as much as fuller cups might
Our tester said it didn't lose its stretch even after years of use
Quite pricey
Can run small
Key specs
Price on writing: From £19 | Sizes: XS - XL | Colours: Black, grey, white | Materials: 53% cotton, 35% modal, 12% elastane | Features: Drop-down nursing clips, hook fastening, adjustable shoulder straps, Calvin Klein signature elastic underband | Wired or non-wired: Non-wired
What Mumsnet users say
Featuring the trademark Calvin Klein underband, this maternity bra is as stylish as it is comfortable. Recommended both on the Mumsnet boards and by Mumsnet parent-tester Becky, this cotton and jersey bra offers wearers great support without the discomfort of an underwire, and thanks to the triangle-shaped cups, you can wear it under any cut of top without it showing.
Sure, it's a little pricey if you go for the £36 black or grey one (though the Plein Air is currently just £19) but the quality means it will last for years, with Becky pointing out "I think it's really great value for money as it lasted years without stretching too much or losing its shape, despite my boobs changing shape during and after pregnancy. I used it for years even after I stopped breastfeeding because it was so comfy!"
Best maternity bras budget buy
Cheap
Comfortable
Wire-free
Can be used for sleeping and nursing in bed
Not very supportive
Sizing doesn't include smaller A cup
Key specs
Price on writing: £20 for 3 | Sizes: M, L, XL, XXL (from 34B - 40D) | Colours: Black, grey, burgundy, beige, tan, white | Materials: 95% Cotton, 5% Spandex | Wired or non-wired: Non-wired
While it can be tempting to splash out on all things maternity wear related (it's an exciting time, after all!) it's also wise to go budget when it comes to maternity bras given how much your bust size can change during and after pregnancy.
This soft, budget pack of maternity bras might not be winning any prizes in the style stakes, but reviewers rave about their comfortableness (which is always a priority during pregnancy, particularly if you suffer from breast or nipple tenderness).
Featuring pull-down cups (which I for one always found preferable to clips when feeding at night) they're a great choice for sleeping in, there's an insert you can use for breast pads and there are no clasps, hooks or underwires to poke you.
Best maternity bras for sizing
Great range of sizing
Machine-washable
Affordable
Reliable brand
Not much ‘wow factor’ but these bras do what they say on the tin
Key specs
Price on writing: £25 for 2 | Sizes: 32-42 in B-G cups | Colours: Grey and blue, Black mix | Materials: 44% polyester, 31% cotton, 19% polyamide and 6% elastane | Wired or non-wired: Non-wired
What Mumsnet users say
If there's a brand of maternity bra - or any type of bra for that matter - which stands the test of time and reliability, it's good old Marks & Spencer, who come up time and time again as a go-to retailer for bras on Mumsnet, both maternity and regular.
This two-pack of lace trim bras might not look particularly fancy, but the smooth design doesn't show under tops, it comes in a good range of sizes and it's a great price point at just £25 for two.
The design is simple but solid – it’s essentially a good T-shirt bra with moulded cups (with a similar feel to the Bravado Body Silk, though not quite as lush and soft) and a lace trim. The nursing clips worked well, it was easy to breastfeed in and the cotton lining inside the cups means it feels really comfy on the breast, with no irritation.
As you’d expect from M&S, you can sling these in the machine at 40 degrees and any milk stains are easily washed out. For less than £15 a piece, we aren't complaining.
Best nursing bra
Very comfy
Stretchy fabric moulds to your body
Easy to wash and dry
Difficult to adjust when on
Foam inserts aren't very useful
Key specs
Price on writing: From £25| Sizes: Six, from XS to 2XL – larger sizes have a fuller cup option | Colours: Black, white, latte, apricot, dusty pink and indigo wash | Materials: 92% nylon and 8% spandex | Features: Seamless; removable foam inserts; comes with a B-clip converter so you can turn it into an ordinary bra later | Wired or non-wired: Non-wired
Made using a four-way-stretch fabric with knit-in (slightly ruched) zones at the cup, the Body Silk Seamless moulds to your chest without being restrictive.
It also has a generous band under the cups that doesn’t dig into the skin as well as a wide back strap, which helps it to stay put. Our testers said the bra was so comfy that they could happily wear it all day and pair it with their favourite maternity pyjamas to sleep in, too.
The Bravado Body Silk also has a traditional two-cup structure that gives a good shape under clothes. While the size range is small, our testers reported that the design and softness of the fabric meant that the sizing was quite forgiving so it would “grow with you a bit” during pregnancy. For feeding, the cups fold right down, so there’s no unseemly rummaging to free your boob.
Its seamlessness gives a lovely, smooth silhouette with good separation (no monoboobs here), making it a favourite with our pregnant tester under her maternity work wear. It does come up quite high on the breast and the straps taper from the shoulder down to the cup so it’s not one for a spaghetti strap dress, but the joy of this bra is in how good it looks under clothes. We’d ditch the foam inserts though – our testers said it gave them the look of having their headlights on, as they were a bit small and the bra is much more seamless without them.
Overall, the Body Silk washed really well and still looked as good as new after multiple washes. It also dried fast – a big plus if you don’t own that many maternity bras and want it whisked through the laundry in double-quick time.
Read next: The best manual breast pumps for quick expressing
Best underwired maternity bra
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HOTmilk Forever Yours Wired Maternity Nursing Bra
Plenty of hooks to grow with you
Looks great under a T-shirt or strappy top
Attractive design
Pricey
Key specs
Price on writing: £35 | Sizes: 32 - 38 , B - F cups | Colours: Black, beige| Materials: 100% cotton | Features: Spacer foam cups for smooth appearance, stretch top cups, flexi-wire, adjustable straps, drop down clips | Wired or non-wired: Wired
What Mumsnet users say
Like Bravado, HOTmilk is a veteran maternity bra brand which has withstood the test of time, scoring highly with current Mumsnet users as well as our testers from 2019.
Though many prefer a non-wired bra for pregnancy and breastfeeding, our testers found the flexi-wire on the HOTmilk bras far more comfortable than they had expected. It feels like a push-up bra, not only giving cleavage and a very rounded shape, but with thick padding that banishes any chance of a protruding nipple.
Our pregnant tester wore it out for an elegant dinner and said it looked lovely under her outfit. For our breastfeeding tester, the bra was easy to feed in, adjusting quickly and simply, and the straps stayed put well on the shoulder during feeds.
The underwire didn’t feel as flexible as our testers had anticipated, but it didn’t dig in at all and there were no issues with it while breastfeeding.
Read next: Discover the best hypnobirthing book for relaxing, natural ways to decrease labour pain according to Mumsnet users.
Best maternity bra for sleeping in
Medela Keep Cool Sleep Seamless Maternity and Nursing Bra
Features four-way Adaptive Stretch™ technology which promises to grow with you through pregnancy and breastfeeding
Racerback design features a breathable zone to help cool you down
Quick dry technology also helps cool you down
Inexpensive
Not very supportive
Some reviewers reported sizing was off
Key specs
Price on writing: £12 | Sizes: S - XXL | Colours: White, black, chai | Materials: 95% polyamide, 5% elastane | Features: Back breathing zone with keeping cool technology, soft material and no hooks or clips | Wired or non-wired: Non-wired
What Mumsnet users say
The subject of wearing a bra at night during pregnancy and breastfeeding can be a bit of a contentious one, some women find them essential for comfort and support, especially during breastfeeding, while others can't get on with them at all. If you're in the former camp, fear not, there are a huge range of maternity sleep bras available, with most featuring soft, stretchy material and simple crossover cups which can be pulled down for easy access at night.
From popular breast pump brand Medela, the Keep Cool Sleep bra offers wearers a comfortable, stretchy bra with special cooling technology to ward off the dreaded night sweats. The support is minimal, which is fairly standard for a sleep bra, and there's plenty of give in the cups to accommodate breast pads.
Best maternity bra for big boobs
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HOTmilk Show Off Lace Non Wired Nursing Bra
Great range of sizes (up to 42H)
Attractive design
Smooth under clothing
A-frame support
Cotton-lined cups
Pricey
Key specs
Price on writing: £24 | Sizes: 32 - 42, C - H cup | Colours: Black, ivory | Materials: 92% nylon semi, 8% elastane | Features: Hook and eye fastenings with six settings, cotton lined cups, wire-free stretchy underband | Wired or non-wired: Non-wired
What Mumsnet users say
Another entry for popular maternity bra brand HOTmilk, this maternity/nursing bra is ideal for those with larger bust sizes as it is one of the few which goes up to an H cup and 42 band.
Our testers really liked how well the HOTmilk bras looked under clothing and found it very easy to feed in with the strap staying put very well. There are six hook-and-eye fastenings for maximum adjustability during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and the underband is soft and stretchy for optimal non-wired support.
While it's a little pricey for a limited-use item of clothing, HOTmilk has proven itself to be a high quality brand of maternity bra which Mumsnetters have rated highly for fit, comfort and support as well as longevity over the years.
Best maternity sports bra
Good size range
High impact with non-wired support
Breathable fabric
Moisture-wicking
Expensive if you won’t wear it a lot
Key specs
Price on writing: £37 | Sizes: 30-40, B-H cups | Colours: Brick | Materials: 60% nylon , 28% elastane, 12% cotton | Features: Moisture-wicking fabric, moulded cups, cooling spacer fabric, Oeko-Tex Standard 100 materials | Wired or non-wired: Non-wired
What Mumsnet users say
While the stylish Cake Nursing Sports Bra is pricey, for keen gym-goers it may be worth splashing the cash. It's a high-impact sports bra with a lot of engineering designed to meld fitness and breastfeeding as comfortably and intuitively as possible. Designed for high-impact sports, if you’re a runner or want to be doing more high-impact classes after pregnancy, then this could be a great choice for you.
The fabric is soft and the bra seam-free so there’s nothing to rub or irritate, and the smooth spacer material reduces friction as well as wicking moisture away from the body for maximum comfort while you work out.
The straps are extra wide and padded to help spread the load and the bra is constructed to minimise bounce. With six hooks on the band, the bra can be easily adjusted to adapt to changing breast sizes. The racerback design features an easy clasp and the rose gold hardware is a nice touch too.
Most stylish maternity bra
Beautiful and comfortable
Firm support
Looks great under tight clothes
Wide range of sizes
Handwash only
Key specs
Price on writing: £23 | Sizes: 28DD to 40J | Colours: Linen or black/nude | Materials: 40% polyester, 34% polyamide, 10% cotton, 12% modal and 7% elastane | Features: Inner feeding sling; six fastening positions | Wired or non-wired: Non-wired
What Mumsnet users say
There aren’t many maternity bras that are as beautiful as they are practical, but the Sophie bra by Panache is another which scored highly in our original testing and is still recommended by Mumsnetters.
The Sophie is non-wired but with the solid support of a wired bra. Our testers were especially pleased with the shape and impressive lift the bra gave, especially as its straps were easy to adjust while wearing – surprisingly, this wasn’t the case with all of the bras we tested.
What also puts this bra way ahead of the rest of the pack is its combination of comfort and classic good looks. The cups have a cotton lining beneath a lace exterior so they feel really soft against your breasts while still looking very pretty from the outside – a combination none of the other bras we tested did quite as well on. Our pregnant tester said the lace didn’t itch at all and it was so soft she hardly knew she was wearing it. The bra looks great under clothes, and the lace sits nice and flat so you get a smooth silhouette, even under a tight T-shirt.
We would have quite liked to see some more exciting colourways, like the shades Hot Milk have on offer. That said, the pretty bow and lace detailing made this bra one you’d be happy to flash a bit of during feeds, and the double layer cups mean any milk leaks don’t immediately show through. The pocket to hold a breast pad is a decent size, too, which is helpful when cramming pads in.
After extensive washing and stress testing, the Sophie looked as good as new and milk stains came out with no problem at all. This is a beautiful bra that would last and last with nary a sag or fade, making the £23 price tag very reasonable indeed.
Read next: The best nursing chairs to buy, as recommended by mums.
How we chose the best maternity bras to test
Our original shortlist of maternity bras was whittled down by experienced parenting journalist Iona Bower, who spoke to bra and maternity experts at La Leche League and the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) to get their recommendations on what to look for. She also interviewed bra-fitting guru BraLady, aka Tracey-Jane Hughes, for tips on how to find the perfect fit and to get some insight into new products on the market.
Armed with that information, Iona asked Mumsnet users for their maternity and nursing bra recommendations and trawled the Mumsnet forums for comments that would back those up.
She then cast her net out to the wider internet and collated a list of all the maternity and nursing bras that had received accolades from the likes of Which?, national newspapers and magazines as well as other parenting websites in the last two years. She cross-referenced all those bras that received repeated mentions, recommendations and awards with online reviews from real mums to see how they fared over time.
All the bras were marketed for both pregnancy and breastfeeding so we recruited two testers: Esmari Phylactou who was in her third trimester of pregnancy with her fourth baby and about to stop work for maternity leave, and Rachel Wood, a mum of three who was at home and breastfeeding her youngest who was three months old at the start of testing.
Both women led busy and active lives so we knew that they would put every bra through its paces. They each tested the 16 bras over a period of 10 weeks, wearing them both out and about and at home (as well as for sport or for sleep if that’s what they were for).
We then asked them to score each bra out of eight against these six criteria:
Comfort and support – looking at the materials used, how long you could comfortably wear the bra for? Would it be soft and supportive enough for sensitive pregnant boobs and sore nipples in the early days of breastfeeding? The testers also performed a bounce test to ensure all breasts stayed put when running up stairs and jumping on the spot.
Ease of use – determining whether the bra was easy to put on and adjust, how simple ordering and returns were, whether there were any extra parts included and whether the bra would grow with a changing pregnant shape. Our testers also looked at how easy the clasps were to use and how the design of the bra made breastfeeding easier, with features like one-handed clips.
Product life – checking it washed well (the testers performed a spill stain test to see how liquids like coffee and milk came out), testing the strength of the seams and whether the bra still looked as new after multiple washes.
Safety – was the sizing right and did the bra fit comfortably without being restrictive?
Aesthetics – Was it attractive, available in other colours, and would you be happy to have it on show when feeding? How did it look under clothes and what sort of shape did it give generally? Are there any clothes you couldn’t wear the bra with? We also asked our testers to check for dreaded ‘monoboob’ (that the bra didn’t squish boobs together into one amorphous mass).
Value for money – would it last the distance? Could it be used beyond breastfeeding? How much wear would you get from it overall? And were there design ideas or particularly lovely materials that would make it worth its price tag?
We interviewed the testers at length about their findings and analysed their scores together to assess how well each bra performed during both pregnancy and breastfeeding. After weeks of research, approximately 2000 bra-wearing hours, 500 breastfeeds and many adjustments, we were able to sit down and confidently pick our original top 10.
How we updated our best maternity bras listings
We took our original shortlist of the 10 best maternity bras as tried, tested and researched by Iona, Esmari and Rachel and cross-referenced them with current recommendations from the Mumsnet forums. We also questioned our 2025 panel of verified Mumsnet testers made up of carefully vetted pregnant women as well as mothers who've given birth in the last few years. We asked each of them for their top maternity bra recommendations based on fit, comfort, support and overall value for money.
What you need to know about maternity bras
The following advice on maternity bras includes expert advice from the NCT, breastfeeding support organisation La Leche League, and Tracey-Jane Hughes, founder of BraLady.
What is a maternity bra?
Maternity bras are designed to be worn while you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. They have drop cups to make feeding easier and usually have lots of hooks at the back that offer room to grow while pregnant.
Some have other features to make life easier at the pregnancy or breastfeeding stage, such as soft-lined cups for sore breasts, special clips to remind you which side you fed from last and even pockets for breast pads.
What are the different types of pregnancy and nursing bra?
Non-wired
Underwired
Pull-on bra
Racerback
Sleep bra
Sports bra
Camisole or vest bra
What's the difference between maternity and nursing bras?
Maternity bras tend to be used during pregnancy while nursing bras are specifically for feeding, but most maternity bras are designed to be worn for pregnancy and breastfeeding.
As such, they will usually have drop cups that you can undo with a clasp and lower to feed your baby, but can just as easily be worn during pregnancy.
While that gives them flexibility and means you can use them for longer, you should still have bra fittings at several stages of the pregnancy and breastfeeding journey to ensure you’re wearing the correct size.
Do I really need a maternity bra?
Maternity bras are designed with pregnancy in mind, so are often made using materials that offer more movement and add additional support in the right places.
However, if you aren’t intending to breastfeed or definitely won’t need your pregnancy bra for breastfeeding, an ordinary bra will work just fine.
How soon should you wear a maternity bra?
Rae Vacher Lowe of La Leche League says, “There is no universal right time to buy a maternity bra. When you notice your breasts starting to grow, it’s time to get fitted”.
Your breasts can go up one or two cup sizes in the first trimester so at around 10 and 14 weeks you’ll usually notice a big change.
What bras are best for pregnancy?
It's really down to personal preference - we feel that the M&S Maternity Lace Trim Nursing Bras are the best maternity bras overall. Taking into account their price, easy availability and the sheer number of recommednations on the Mumsnet boards as well as scoring extremely highly in our previous testing procedures, the high street veteran takes the prize for best bras overall. On the other hand, H&M too scored very highly for simplicity, comfort and affordability, while the pricier maternity bras from the likes of HOTmilk and Seraphine are packed with intuitive features and qualities which help them stand out from the crowd. Really it depends on the wearer, which is why we'd recommend trying out a few to find the best for you.
How many maternity bras do you need?
Four should do it. Don’t buy too many at the start of pregnancy because you’ll want to get re-measured and may later need them for breastfeeding. If you breastfeed for longer than a few months, you may well need to be measured again.
You should be able to get by on the ‘one to wear, one to wash and one to dry’ policy, but only if you’re on top of your laundry.
How much does your bra size go up during pregnancy?
Your cup size will likely go up by one or two cups in the first trimester, and sometimes more later on. Your rib cage expands later in pregnancy and will often increase by two to four sizes.
Are underwired bras safe to wear during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Yes, but with care. According to the NCT, an underwired bra must fit properly and not dig into the skin. There are lots of underwired bras designed specifically for pregnancy and breastfeeding, and many have flexible wire that is softer and more comfortable to wear than traditional underwires.
La Leche League say that non-wired bras have more give so will accommodate fluctuating breast size better. However the most important thing is to ensure a good, comfortable fit.
As such, non-wired bras are recommended during the first 12 weeks of breastfeeding (and preferably for the first six months), but this ultimately depends on personal preference.
Should I wear a bra to bed while pregnant and breastfeeding?
You don’t need to wear a maternity sleep bra at night, but you may find wearing one benefits you. Sleep bras tend to be even softer than daytime maternity bras to allow plenty of movement and they're also handy once your milk starts to arrive.
Once you’re feeding, a sleep bra can give a bit of extra support, particularly during the early days of breastfeeding when your breasts become full between feeds.
Why you should trust us
At Mumsnet, our number one priority is to make parents’ lives easier. When we review a product, we do all the legwork for you, testing only the best on the market and ensuring that it live up to its promises.
We research thoroughly so we only test the best
Before drawing up a shortlist, we consult experts and record the opinions of hundreds of real mums online. By the time we are putting products to the test, we already know we are only looking at the best brands out there. Anything less than brilliant doesn’t get through the door.
We use real-life comparative testing
We asked a panel of verified Mumsnet testers - made up of pregnant women and/or mothers of babies under two - which maternity and/or nursing bras they loved during pregnancy, breastfeeding and the first year of motherhood. We took this shortlist and cross-referenced it with historic testing carried out in 2019 by mum-to-be Esmari Pylactou, who tried a selection of maternity bras during her third trimester, and Rachel Wood, a breastfeeding mum-of-three, to see if any of the more recent bra recommendations had stood the test of time and were still coming out on top
We also questioned top maternity experts including Rae Vacher Lowe from breastfeeding charity La Leche League and bra-fitting guru BraLady, a.k.a. Tracey-Jane Hughes for tips on finding the perfect fit to help narrow down our list of the best maternity bras.
We use experienced testers
Our bra testers were picked for their years of experience using maternity and nursing bras. They have six children between them (and one on the way), including one set of twins, and know exactly what they are looking for in maternity lingerie.
We put in the hours for you
The bras we chose to test were all worn, washed, and thoroughly put through their paces. We figure any consumer can look at a bra and decide whether or not she likes it, but what mums don’t have time to do is road test a bra first.
Every seam was stress-tested, every clasp snapped and unsnapped and every strap extended, tightened and pinged. They were worn for work, out on the town, in bed, at mum and baby groups, and for running.
In every scenario they needed to stand up to the rigours of everyday life while pregnant and breastfeeding. Plus, they needed to be comfortable and look good too.
About the author
Jenny Wonnacott has been working as a Content Editor for Mumsnet since 2022 with a particular focus on pregnancy, child and baby care product guides, articles and reviews. As a mum of three, Jenny has extensive hands-on experience in all of the Mumsnet content she writes about. She is passionate about sourcing, testing and thoroughly researching the products which make every stage of parenting easier, from the best pregnancy pillow to the most reassuring baby monitor as well as top kids' toys, games and tech.
Jenny has more than 16 years of experience working as a professional writer and journalist including stints as a local newspaper reporter, radio news reader, TV researcher and editor of a trades magazine and website. Becoming a mum in 2013 ignited a passion for writing about parenting, a theme which started as a light-hearted blog and has made its way into three published novels and several guest articles for national publications.
All prices on this page correct at time of writing.