Hotmilk

Hotmilk was founded by mothers, and the brand's starting point was a genuine frustration with maternity lingerie: the assumption that practical and attractive are mutually exclusive during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Hotmilk's range challenges this, with lace finishes, contemporary colourways, and construction that's genuinely functional for nursing without looking institutional.

Flexi-wire vs wirefree for maternity

Hotmilk offers both flexi-wire and wirefree styles, and the choice is worth thinking through. Flexi-wire bras use a soft, flexible wire (rather than a rigid underwire) that provides more structure and lift than a purely wirefree option, while flexing with the breast as it changes in size and fullness during pregnancy and nursing. Wirefree styles are more forgiving during the early stages of pregnancy when breast tenderness peaks. The Australian Breastfeeding Association says rigid underwires aren't recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and that flexible, low-gauge wires like Hotmilk's flexiwire are less likely to cause problems.

The Obsession Full Cup Nursing Bra has seamless lightweight spacer cups, flexible wires and drop-down cups for nursing. The construction manages to feel like a real bra rather than a functional garment, which is the point.

Related collections

For another maternity-focused brand at Brava, see Cake Lingerie. Browse the full maternity bra range across brands, or see wirefree bras for non-maternity wirefree options.

Fit note: several Hotmilk nursing bras fit generously in the cup, so check each style's fit notes; our fitters often suggest going down a cup.