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Bra fitting advice: Pregnancy / Nursing

What happens during pregnancy and childbirth to my breasts?
As soon as you conceive your body starts to change and get ready for baby’s arrival. Some women find their breasts are the first things that change when they become pregnant, others take longer to notice any differences.

As you progress through pregnancy, your rib-cage will expand to make room for the baby to grow. Your breasts will also start to increase in size as they alter to start getting ready to produce milk for the baby.
Most women during pregnancy increase one band size, e.g. from 34 to 36, and one cup size, e.g. C-D.

After the birth, your band size is likely to decrease one size in the first month or so, but your cup size is likely to increase again, to allow for the milk that you are producing.

After about 12 weeks of breastfeeding, your cup size is likely to decrease again to your pregnancy cup size.

Once you finish breast feeding you are likely to return to your pre-pregnancy size, or you may find you are still one cup size bigger than you were originally.

How do I work out what I need?
1. Pre-pregnancy – what size were you before you got pregnant?

2. What do you measure now? Get a friend or partner to measure you whilst you are wearing your current bra. You need a fully flexible tape measure. The first measurement should be taken in a straight line around your under-bust, around the line of your bra.
The second measurement is around the fullest part of your bust. Again, this should be in a straight line around your body. The difference between the band and bust size is your cup size.

3. What stage of pregnancy or after birth are you? Using the guidance notes above, with your pre-pregnancy and current measurements, you should be able to work out what size you currently need. Allow room for growth, or shrinking back - this is usually done with the band hooks.

4. Choosing a style. Choose one with room for movement – either up or down, depending on what stage you’re at. Most good styles, and all that we offer, offer a number of flexible features in the bra to allow for growth, or diminishing of you and your breasts. These include 3 or 4 hook places, adjustable straps and the fabric that is used. The product information goes into more detail about each supplier/product.