You will need to switch to a maternity bra from the 4th month of pregnancy but if you feel uncomfortable beforehand don’t wait! Its important to get fitted regularly throughout your pregnancy as your size is likely to change several times. Most lingerie stores and some maternity shops will offer a free fitting service with a trained bra fitter or if you are unable to do this some online retailers have a size calculator on their website so you can measure yourself.

When buying a maternity bra and if you are less than 30 weeks pregnant, you should be able to make your bra bigger on the band by at least one hook. Most maternity bras come with 4 or 6 back adjusters to accommodate your changing size. The cups should feel comfortable and you should not be spilling over the top of the bra- the fabric should enclose the breast fully to enable comfort and good support. Its very important you don’t continue to wear your regular wired bra as the hard rigid wires can create pressure on the development of your milk supply.

From about 36 weeks you can get measured for your nursing bra. You need to have enough space to fit a breast pad and to accommodate you milk filling up your cup inbetween feeds. When your milk first starts to come in your may find your cup size will jump around for the first couple of weeks until you settle into more of a routine with your feeds. It is essential you wear a good fitting supportive bra as your breasts will grow inbetween feeds and could cause the skin to stretch if you weren’t properly supported. All nursing bras should have a natural breathable lining, easy to open and close clips on the drop down cup, 4-6 hook and eyes to accommodate your changing shape and supportive comfortable straps. You will need 4-5 bras, one to wear, one spare, one to sleep in and on or two will always be in the wash!

And finally breastfeeding can be very difficult to begin – don’t give up! If you ask there is lots of help. Most hospitals have a dedicated person to help with breastfeeding and your community midwife or health visitor should be able to recommend a support group once you’re home.