In pursuit of the perfect maternity bra…

Kathryn Blundell can say what she likes about breastfeeding; studies have shown that whether or not a mum chooses to breastfeed her baby makes no difference to the perkiness of her breasts.  In fact, it’s pregnancy that takes its toll on our ‘fun bags’, as she likes to call them – fluctuations in size and hormone levels cause changes that can reduce the elasticity of the skin and make our once pert puppies lose some of their, well…bite.

But another major factor in the post-baby state of our breasts is the support they receive.  Wearing well-fitting, supportive bras throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding is thought to reduce sagging later on – but if you’re blessed with anything bigger than a D-cup (and I’d say most pregnant women are!) then your lady lumps are going to need something a bit more robust than a glorified training bra to hold them up.  Nursing bras, thankfully, have come a long way with brands such as HotMilk, Elle MacPherson Intimates and Cake Maternity at the forefront of the campaign to make breastfeeding underwear practical and sexy.  But maternity bras?  Oh dear.  Two scraps of cotton held together with a bit of elastic and not a whiff of Lycra in sight?  Come on!

It’s hard enough feeling attractive when you’ve a face full of spots and you spend the first 20 minutes of each day talking to Huey on the big white telephone.  But when your boobs are squished together and resting on your bump thanks to some flimsy bra – or worse, strapped into a scaffold so huge you can’t wear any top lower cut than a poloneck – then you feel about as attractive as your granny in a liquorice thong.  Pregnant boobs need more than just something to stop your nipples showing through your top.  They need lift, they need separation, they need support.  And pregnant ladies need pretty fabrics, practical colours and good designs that work under clothing.

So retailers, take note.  You really don’t want to make all those beautiful, busty, pregnant (hormonal) ladies mad.  When you’re designing your maternity ranges, make sure you include at least up to a G cup.  Preferably with a neckline that doesn’t sit just below their chins.  And don’t give them any of these flimsy unlined cups – have you seen their nipples?  They’ll have your eye out.  Over a D-cup, they might even like a little (gasp!) underwire – one of those nice flexible titanium ones that won’t damage their growing breast tissue.  It’s not too much to ask, is it?  Think of all the money you could be taking out of the coffers of those pesky boob-job surgeons 5 years from now.

The perfect maternity bra may be an elusive find but for those of you blessed in the boob department I’ve found one solitary outpost where maternity underwear is clearly designed by people who know what it’s like to lug half a stone of mammary around on your chest: Emily B, we salute you.  Here you’ll find pretty fabrics in feminine designs along with some underwiring for extra support and additional back fastenings to accommodate your growing ribcage.  For every lovely maternity bra, there’s an equally lovely nursing version and with sizes available up to a J cup, your boobs will be eternally grateful!  One of my trusty testers is currently reviewing the fabulous ‘English Garden’ maternity bra so keep your eyes peeled for the results – plus an exclusive offer for MumUnplugged readers – very soon!