The Importance Of Self-care As A Mum

Self-care can be hard to fit into a busy life, but there is perhaps no more important time to invest in your comfort than when you are pregnant or a new mum. Mums often put their own needs last (somewhere after remembering to feed the dog and water the plants), but there is a lot to be gained from practising putting your needs first every now and then.

Mums Need Support

When you first become pregnant, the idea of your body changing may be daunting. Sometimes the changes can make you feel self-conscious, but we encourage you to have a maternity bra fitting as soon as you start to feel uncomfortable in your existing bra, for your comfort and for your self-esteem.

Being in the correct fitting bra will make a world of difference at a stage where your body is feeling sensitive and changing constantly. At Brava, we endeavour to offer as much information as possible during your maternity and nursing fitting.

Along with weight gain, your rib cage will expand, and your mammary glands will start to prepare for milk. The changes vary from woman to woman and no pregnancy is ever exactly the same.  We recommend that you visit a professional bra fitter with a good range of maternity brands and styles to try; at Brava we cater our fittings to the individual mum-to-be. If you have reached a point where your regular bras are no longer comfortable, once you accept you need a different size, you’ll be in maternity bra heaven. Nine months is a long time to ‘put up’ with bras!

Nursing and Maternity Bra Fitting

In Australia there is no difference between a nursing and a maternity bra. Maternity bras are often worn in Europe during pregnancy, which are the same as a nursing bra but without the clips. The right time for you to be fitted into a maternity bra is when your breasts begin to noticeably swell to the point that your existing bras no longer fit or become uncomfortable. This is usually towards the end of the first trimester and about the same time you are busting out of your jeans.

Many women prefer underwire fashion bras, however they are not recommended during pregnancy or lactation. When breastfeeding, the breasts can fluctuate as milk is produced and removed. Retained fluid in late pregnancy can also cause the breast to swell. A rigid underwire may put pressure on the breast when it is fuller which can lead to blocked milk ducts or mastitis and it is for this reason inflexible underwire bras are not recommended. However, there are now nursing bras available that have a flexible plastic support, similar to an underwire, designed to flex and change position with your changing shape and these are less likely to cause problems.

You can read our Bra Fitting Tips For Pregnancy & Beyond here. Here are some of the most popular nursing bras for designed for the fuller bust.

Don’t put your comfort on the end of the to-do list. The better you feel, the more relaxed you can be when going about your day-to-day life.