15 Best Nursing and Maternity Bras You Can Buy Online

Maternity bras should be comfortable – because swollen sore boobs need a soft place to rest during pregnancy.

Pregnancy is all kinds of uncomfortable. Your feet are sore, you are thirsty all the time, you leak some sort of ‘pregnancy goo’ that won’t come off your knickers… It can be downright gross. The positive is that your girls get all nice and round and perky (even though they can’t be touched!). A good maternity bra should be comfortable, supportive and adaptable for when your newborn comes along (ie easy to whip a boob out to feed).

And oh God – a maternity bra should never, ever be made of lace!! (I’m itchy just thinking about it). So we asked our community what brands of bras they recommend are the very best – and we have listed them for you below.

Be comfortable Mumma’s!

More reading:

Table of Contents:

1. When Should You Start Wearing a Maternity Bra During Pregnancy?

2. What You Should Look For

3. How Should a Maternity Bra Fit?

4. Do You ‘Size Up’ in Bra’s During Pregnancy?

5. Underwire or No Underwire?

6. Do I Need to Wear a Maternity Bra at Night?

7. List of the Best Maternity Bras in Australia

8. List of the Best Maternity Bras in the United States

1. When Should You Start Wearing a Maternity Bra During Pregnancy?

As soon as you know you are pregnant, you should stop wearing an underwire bra. For the first few months, a sporting crop top or similar will probably be comfortable. It all depends on when your breasts start growing and getting sore. For some women that is right at the start, others it can occur a few months into pregnancy. About four months into your pregnancy is the perfect time to get fitted for a maternity bra.

But if you are earlier in your pregnancy and you are uncomfortable, switch to a maternity bra sooner. Every woman and every pregnancy is different. Your body will tell you when.

2. What You Should Look For:

• Support
• Comfort
• Coverage
• Ease of Use for Breastfeeding

3. How Should a Maternity Bra Fit?

A good bra will give you support, without ‘squashing’ your breasts into flat pancakes (making them hurt even more!). Most bras have wider straps and although they aren’t particularly sexy the wider straps will be more comfortable for carrying around that extra weight in the breast tissue.

4. Do You ‘Size Up’ in Bras When You Are Pregnant?

During pregnancy, both your breasts will get larger, as will your rib cage. We recommend that you get fitted for a bra about four months into your pregnancy. Most women need to size up in both strap size and cup size.

5. Underwire or No Underwire in a Maternity Bra?

Underwires are great for additional support when you aren’t pregnant, but they certainly shouldn’t be used during pregnancy or when lactating. An underwire may put unnecessary pressure on your milk ducts which could cause a blocked duct or mastitis. Plus if you have ever had an underwire bra where the underwire has come loose, you know how painful that can be, and during pregnancy, your breasts are super tender – and the two don’t go together.

6. Do I Need to Wear a Maternity Bra to Bed at Night?

It’s all personal choice really. If your breasts flop around during the night and your breasts are sore from lack of support, try wearing a bra to bed. If they don’t bother you – don’t wear one at all. Comfort is the name of the game.

7. List of the Best Maternity Bras in Australia

Bae The Label ‘BodyHold™ Set In Motion Nursing Bra’

• Price: $49.99
• Sizes: XXS-XL
• Colours: White, Black, Pink

Made in a technical Nilit® Softex LYCRA for superior stretch and comfort, this nursing bra is the base layer that every maternity wardrobe needs. Specifically designed for nursing mums with a cross front for easy feeding access. It’s a bra that strikes the perfect balance between form and function.
STYLE HACK: Cross back straps over to convert to a racer back shape.

Berlei Life Maternity Active Crop

• Price: $69.95
• Sizes: 10-22, B – E Cups

Crafted with soft luxurious fabric that is kinder to the planet (either made from Tencel Modal or recycled fibres), each piece from the Berlei Life collection has been thoughtfully designed to live in now, and nurse in later! Think of functional details like one-handed nursing clips and bras & brief that grow with you. Berlei has also launched their first-ever much-anticipated maternity sports bra which has game-changing wire-free support and nursing-on-the-go features. The range is size-inclusive going from 10 – 22.

Berlei Barely There Cotton Rich Maternity Bra

• Price: $64.95
• Sizes: 10 – 18, C – F Cups
• Colours: Black and Nude

The Berlei Barely There Cotton Rich Bra is a best-seller, designed with nursing clips that be used with just one hand to make breastfeeding easier. The cotton-rich fabric is soft and comfortable, and the cloud-like cups are soft next to the skin. It comes with an expandable band that grows as you do.

Modibodi Breastfeeding Bra

• Price: $57.50
• Sizes: 10 – 18, C to G Cups
• Colours: Black and Nude

Modibodi is famous for their Period Undies, but they have just released their breastfeeding bra which protects your clothing from leaky boobs – holding up to 25ml of breastmilk per cup. Ditch the disposable breast pads, because this bra will absorb the milk keeping you cool, comfy and dry. It has flexi-fit and adjusts to up to three sizes – so it will grow with you.

Cake Maternity Sugar Candy Seamless Maternity Nursing Bralette

• Price: $69.90
• Sizes: XS – XXL
• Colours: Beige, Black, Cocoa, Mocha, Rosewood and Pink

A comfortable, seamless and supportive bra specially made for fuller busted Mums-to-be. The support panels have been engineered to lift and support, the heat moulded cups are soft and it has a wide elastic under-band for comfort.

B-Free Bamboo Nursing Bra

• Price: $64.99
• Sizes: XS – 3XL
• Colours: Burgundy, Nude, Black, White, Pacific Blue

Bamboo is so soft and comfortable, and now you can buy a maternity bra made from the luxurious bamboo fabric (perfect against sore or cracked nipples) that will still be supportive and has easy one-handed clips for nursing. Plus I love that this bra comes in pretty colours!

Hotmilk Maternity Defy Crop Bra

• Price: $59.95
• Sizes: 10-16, B – G Cups
• Colour: Black

Soft and stretchy and made in a silky moulded recycled nylon microfibre fabric (with removable foam pads), this bra looks as good as it feels! Soft enough to wear to bed at night!

Cake Maternity Tea Wireless Maternity & Nursing Bra

• Price: $69.90
• Sizes: 10 – 20, Cups DD – GG
• Colours: Blush and Navy

A full cup maternity bra made for women with a big bust. Has larger straps for additional support and comfort and has a cotton a-frame for discreet breastfeeding (or non-discrete – your choice!).

B Free Maternity & Nursing Mesh Racer Back Sports Bra

• Price: $74.95
• Sizes: M to XXL
• Colours: Blue Violet (pictured), Black and Blush

A wireless maternity sports bra that gives medium impact support whilst still having a comfy stretchy fit. Come with a detachable hook nursing clip and inside support sling to help your girls stay where they should be. Made from moisture-wicking maternity for improved breathability. Plus it comes in cute colours.

Berlei UnderState Maternity Bra

• Price: $69.95
• Sizes: 10-20, Cup sizes A – G
• Colour: Black and Artic Rose

A simple bra that has that ‘No-Bra’ feeling. The UnderState Maternity Bra is designed to go unnoticed under your clothing whilst giving your breasts the support they need during pregnancy. Features one-handed nursing clips to make breastfeeding easier, soft stretch cups that mould to your natural shape and crafted with recycled nylon.

8. List of the Best Maternity Bras in the United States

Sublime Nursing Sports Bra

• Price: US$44.99
• Stockist: Kindred Bravely
• Colours: Berry Fushion, Heather Grey, Black, Pink, Heathered Seaglass, Ombre Storm, Ombre Terracotta and Olive Ombre

We are adding to this article about the best maternity and nursing bras all the time – so let us know if you find one that will be a good fit!