Find Maternity Clothing at:

Maternity Clothing - Stunning, Quality Maternity Wear, Designer Styles, Feel Gorgeous.

Stylish Trendy Maternity - Check Out the Trendiest Maternity Clothes. Only on New Look Online.

Trendy Maternity Wear - High Street Fashion At Unbelievable Prices. Buy Now.

Maternity Clothing - A guide to make it easy

Maternity bras explained

Unless you fancy the possibility of having saggy, stretch-marked breasts for the rest of your life you've got to invest in some good quality maternity bras when pregnant. Your breasts don't contain any muscle and have no way of supporting themselves and as they enlarge during pregnancy the normal support from the chest wall just isn't strong enough to cope with the extra weight.

When will I need a new bra?

As soon as your normal bras begin to feel tight or don't seem to offer enough support you need to go shopping. For some women this may be as early as week eight, for others it may not be until week 24. Each pregnancy is different and you've got to listen to your body for cues.

In the first few weeks if you find that your chest size has increased but your cup size is still the same you could just get some bra extenders as a temporary measure. These extra fastenings that attach to the hooks and eyes create more space. When you need a new bra it's worth getting measured in the store to make sure you get the right bra size. You may have to do this several times over the course of your pregnancy as by the end of the third trimester your breasts may be up to two cup sizes bigger than before.

By week 36 your breasts are likely to be as large as they'll get and it may be worth investing in a nursing bra. A nursing bra is a specially designed maternity bra that allows access to one breast at a time for feeding. There are different types of nursing bra available and it's best to try on several designs to see which you find most comfortable. If your breasts are particularly large and heavy you may also need a sleep bra (a lightweight maternity bra to wear at night) which may make things more comfortable.

How do I know what maternity bra size to get?

During pregnancy both bra size and cup size increase, and if you're planning to order maternity bras from a mail order maternity catalog you'll need to take your own measurements. To do this measure the length around your rib cage directly below breasts, this is the bra size and will increase as your ribs expand to make room for the growing baby. The difference between this measurement and the length around the fullest part of the breasts is the cup size. A difference of one inch is a B cup, two inches a C cup going up to a difference of eight inches which is an H cup. Plus size maternity bras can be difficult to find and are limited in range so you may need to shop around.

What should I look for?

When buying maternity bras look out for designs with wide adjustable shoulder straps. These distribute the weight more evenly and prevent the straps digging in to your shoulders.
Look for a broad band of elastic under the cups; this supports the breasts as they become heavier.
Go for a design with an adjustable back. Extra hook and eye fastenings can be loosened as the ribcage expands.
Also look for natural bras with a high proportion of cotton. Natural fibres allow the skin to breathe.
Avoid all underwire bras as the wire can pinch and damage the breast tissue.
Although strapless bras do exist avoid them, they won't give you the support you need except in the very early stages of pregnancy.

Other topics found on Pink Fridge include: DNA paternity testing, breast pumps, engagement rings, diet pills and weddings.

Pink Fridge Online Magazine > dating online > marriage counselling > wedding planning guide > Breast Pump Hire > how to work at home > car insurance advice > overcome depression > hairloss in women > weight loss > diet pills > skin care > tanning > baby gifts > planning a funeral > shopping for perfume > shopping for earrings > shopping for engagement rings > shopping for sunglasses > shopping for shoes > shopping for wedding favours > shopping for wine

Contact | Disclaimer | Sitemap | Advertising |

Subscribe in a reader