The guide every new mum wishes she'd had
Nursing Bra 101
Nobody hands you a manual. One day you're pregnant, the next you're standing in front of a wall of nursing bras trying to work out what "FlexFit" even means and whether you need one nursing bra or twelve.
Let us help guide you through it, step by step.
Jump to any step
How many bras do you need?
At least three, kept in rotation.
One on your body, one in the wash, one in the drawer. That's genuinely all it takes to start your journey — whether that's a leak in the middle of the night or a wash day that runs late — once you know which ones you reach for again and again, most mums build out from there.
On your body
The one you're wearing right now.
In the wash
Yesterday's, drying and coming back around.
In the drawer
Clean and waiting, so 3am is never a crisis.
What bra styles do you need?
To simplify, we say one breastfeeding bra for comfort, one for out and about, one that makes you feel fabulous — that's our go-to mix, though three of the same works just as well if comfort is genuinely all you need right now. Here's what each one does and which of ours fit the job.
The one for comfort
Sleep · Hospital bag · 3am feeds
This is the nursing bra you live in when you just want to feel comfortable. Hospital bag must-have, sleep bra, middle-of-the-night feeds, lazy days at home — this bra should ask nothing of you.
The one for out and about
Work · Smooth under clothes
This is your T-shirt bra. Smooth, no visible lines, flexible wires (not harsh metal wires) built for the days you're out of the house and want everything to look effortless under your clothes.
The one that makes you feel like yourself again
For you
Every new mum deserves at least one nursing bra that isn't just functional — one that makes her feel like herself again, not just "mum." This is that one. Sexy, feminine, beautiful.
Buying all three together? Bundle any three nursing bras and save 15% at checkout — it's the cheapest way to get your full rotation in one go.
What bra size am I going to need?
Bodies change fast in pregnancy and postpartum, and a nursing bra that fits today might not fit in six weeks. Take our innovative 2-minute Fit Quiz and we'll match you to your size and the right style for your stage. Our recommended size factors in the changes ahead of you, it doesn't simply give you your bra size for today.
Take the Fit Quiz →What makes a good nursing bra?
Three details do most of the work. Once you know what they are, you can tell a good nursing bra from an ordinary bra with clips on it.
Nursing clips
Magnetic or traditional
The clip drops the cup so you can feed without taking the bra off. Traditional clips undo easily one-handed. Magnetic clips re-fasten themselves — the magnet finds its way back with barely a touch, no fiddling, no looking down.
Six hook-and-eye at the back
Room to adjust
Your ribcage changes through pregnancy and again after birth. Six hooks give you room to move in one bra, so you can loosen off late in pregnancy and tighten up as things settle. No need for multiple bra sizes!
FlexFit
Grows with you
A stretch cup that expands with you — every one of our bras moves with your body's changes, and our FlexFit styles go further, adapting across 2-3 cup sizes in a single bra. It's what stops you re-buying every few weeks while your milk comes in and your size settles.
When should I buy?
Buy when you feel the shift.
There's no set week — buy whenever you notice your bust starting to change, not on a timeline someone else set for you, but it's very important that you don't have anything digging in or any discomfort. For some that is in the first weeks, for others it's near the end. Our Flexfit styles will grow with you through pregnancy so don't worry about getting the size right if you're uncertain! Also, make sure your hospital bag bra is sorted early, so you're not caught out.
A few things new mums ask us
Will my bra size change while breastfeeding?+
Yes — most mums' cup size shifts through pregnancy and again once milk comes in, sometimes by 2–3 sizes. That's exactly what our FlexFit styles (Warrior 2.0, My Necessity, Caress, Embrace, My Everyday Busty, My Comfort) are built for — they move with you across that same 2–3 cup size range, so you're not caught out or rebuying every few weeks.
What's the difference between a maternity bra and a nursing bra?+
A maternity bra is built just for pregnancy — extra room and stretch as your body changes, but no way to access it for feeding once baby arrives. A nursing bra adds a clip or drop-cup so you can feed without taking the bra off.
We mostly sell nursing bras rather than separate maternity ones — becoming a mum is expensive enough without needing two different bras for two different stages. Our clips are discreet enough to wear comfortably right through pregnancy and straight into nursing, so one bra covers you for both. If you'd rather skip clips altogether during pregnancy, My Comfort and our Evolve styles are wire-free options that work well for maternity too.
Can I wear these with a wearable/hands-free pump?+
If it's a FlexFit style, yes — the stretch fabric flexes comfortably around the pump. Structured, moulded T-shirt styles aren't built for this. If pumping is your main need, we'd point you to a FlexFit style or our dedicated Freedom Pump Bra instead which has openings to hold a traditional flange.
Is it safe to wear underwire while breastfeeding?+
In the early days — hospital bag, and while your milk is first coming in — we'd recommend skipping wires of any kind. Your bust can fluctuate a lot during this window, and a wire-free FlexFit style (like My Necessity or My Everyday Busty) gives you room to change without added pressure, which helps you avoid the risk of mastitis.
Once things settle, our Flexiwire is built differently to rigid underwire — it flexes with your body rather than holding a fixed shape, so there's no digging in. Traditional rigid underwire is the concern you'll usually hear about — it holds a fixed shape and can dig in, putting pressure where you don't want it so it's a no to them!
Do the clips open with one hand?+
Yes. Traditional clips undo easily one-handed — perfect with a baby in your arms. Magnetic clips vary mum to mum on opening — some pick it up fast, others find two hands easier. Where they really shine is re-fastening, with the magnet finding its way back into place with barely a touch.
Still deciding?
Three bras. One for comfort, one for out and about, one for you. Start with the Fit Quiz and we'll do the rest.
Take the Fit Quiz →