Best Nursing Bras: Full Test Results

Emma Jane
Breastfeeding sports bra

Price: £12.99

What you get: Sports style bra with double
layer stretch cotton drop cup with hook and eye fastening. Available
in M (34B,C,D,DD), L (36B,C,D,DD), XL (38B,C,D,DD) or XXL (40B,C,D,DD).
95% cotton, 5% elastane. White or black.

Stockists: On line: www.emma-jane.com
Tel: 0208 599 3004 or through Blooming Marvellous On Line: www.bloomingmarvellous.co.uk
Tel: 0870 751 8944

Why you’d want it: Babyworld verdict: Well-priced
and comfy – a pretty compelling combination.

Testers’ comments:

Testers’ comments: A very comfortable and supportive bra for an
excellent price. This is not too obviously a nursing bra – I would
even wear it when I have finished breast feeding, it’s just like
a normal bra. I feed lying down a lot of the time and with most
feeding bras the breast pads fall out when you do this which is
really irritating. With this bra the pads stayed in place which
was excellent. I can honestly say this was the best bra I have tried
and I have tried a lot! The drop cup fastening was very easy to
use, even with one hand, and it washed well.

Score:

Bravado Maternity Bra

Price: £20.95

What you get: A pull on style bra with sports
back. Drop cup with snap fastenings. Available in S,M,L,XL with
three cup ranges – basic, plus and double plus. 92% cotton, 8% elastane.
White, Black, Flesh and Leopard Print.

Stockists: On line: or through www.bloomingmarvellous.co.uk
or through Blooming Marvellous 0870 751 8944

Why you’d want it: Babyworld verdict: A good
quality, well constructed bra which is both supportive and easy
to use.

Testers’ comments:

My bust size is 40G and finding a good supportive bra is not easy.
I usually keep away from the sports style as they just don’t work
well on a big bust but this one did and is certainly the best sports
style I have tried. Although a sports style, the cross-over front
gives good support and shape. The press stud drop cups are very
easy to use and I think this is good value for a well designed bra
with a good quality finish.

The fabric is quite thick which means it takes a while to dry after
washing and is pretty warm in hot weather but it also makes it feel
secure, robust and good quality.

Score:

National Childbirth Trust Mava 8

Price: £21.50

What you get: Drop cup bra with cotton lining
and silky finish. Available in 34-40 B,C,D,DD,E,F. 56% cotton, 41%
polyamide, 3% elastane. Black only.

Stockists: 0141 636 0600 On line: www.nctms.co.uk

Why you’d want it: – Babyworld verdict: Ideal
for when looking and feeling good is a greater priority than easy
feeding. Excellent shape but not the most practical for discreet
feeding.

Testers’ comments:

This gave me a great shape – probably the best I have had while
feeding. The black looked good and the silky outer fabric on the
bra means this is discreet under most clothes because tops hang
well over it. The cotton inner layer is more hygienic and comfortable
on the breast. The drop cup fastenings are easy to use and the broad
back/below breast band adds comfort and prevents the bra from riding
up.

When feeding the drop cup does not drop down far enough so you have
to lift your breast out of the cup completely which isn’t very discreet.

Royce
Mesh trim breast feeding bra

Price: £16.99

What you get: Cotton rich nursing bra with
wide straps and clipped drop cup. Available in 34-40 B,C,D, DD,
E. 94% cotton, 4% polyamide, 2% elastane. White only.

Stockists: 01295 265557 or mail order through Blooming Marvellous
0870 751 8944
On line: www.royce-lingerie.co.uk
or through www.bloomingmarvellous.co.uk

Why you’d want it: Babyworld verdict: A straight
talking, fuss free feeding bra which is practical and fairly priced.

Testers’ comments:

Very comfortable to wear and well fitting. The drop cup fastens
with a snap hook which is really well positioned for easily accessible,
quick, one-hand securing. Good quality fabric which washes well
and retains its support unlike others I have tried which have become
very floppy after a few washes. Fairly priced.

The only negative I could find for this bra is that it looks and
feels a little mumsy but I guess breast-feeding is not really the
most sexiest of times!!

National Childbirth Trust
Mava 3 drop cup bra

Price: £21.50

What you get: Drop cup bra with hook fastenings,
embroidered top half of the cup, cotton bottom half. Available in
32 C,D,DD, 34-38 A,B,C,D,DD,E and 40 B,C,D,DD. 84% cotton, 13% polyamide
and 3% elastane.

Stockists: 0141 636 0600 On line: www.nctms.co.uk

Why you’d want it: - Babyworld verdict: Supportive
and feed friendly but not the best for discretion under fitted clothing.

Testers’ comments:

This is a well-constructed bra which feels supportive without being
heavy or making you feel too trussed up! It is very, very comfortable
to wear. The drop cup fastenings are easy to use and the straps
stay in place so it is easy to resecure after feeding.

Seems quite expensive, certainly more than I’d pay, but does work
well so probably good value.

The seam between the embroidered and non-embroidered parts of the
cup is very definite and quite noticeable through light summer clothing
especially if you wear a breast pad as well.

Active Birth Centre
Active birth bra

Price: £29.95

What you get: Crop-top design nursing bra with
adjustable sports-style back. Available in 34-44 B,C,D,DD,E,F on
a 30 day free trial. 95% cotton, 5% elastane

Stockists: 0207 2816760 On line: www.activebirthcentre.com

Why you’d want it: Babyworld verdict: If you
like the sporty look but have difficulty getting a good fit – this
is good as it’s crop-top design includes an adjust to fit feature.

Testers’ comments:

Very comfortable and supportive. Sports style so you pull it on
over your head but it is adjustable around the ribs to get the best
fit. The drop cup is easy to undo and fasten and the breast pad
stays in place even when you are feeding.

Supportive stretch fabric grows and shrinks well with the fullness
of your breast but this is not a heavily constructed bra so might
not be so great for really busty women. I wouldn’t want to go jogging
in it! The bra also gives you quite a pert shape – my husband thought
it was all a bit pointy – rather the Madonna look! Felt OK to me
but might not be everyone’s taste.

Elle MacPherson
Maternelle Nursing Bra

Price: £29.99

What you get: Drop cup bra with lined moulded
cups. Available in 34-38, cups C,D and DD. 90% Tactel, 10% elastane.
Black, lilac or pink sizes.

Stockists: Mail order through Blooming Marvellous 0870 751
8944 or JoJo Maman Bebe 0870 241 0560
On line: Through www.bloomingmarvellous.co.uk
or www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk.

Why you’d want it: Babyworld verdict: Good
if you are looking for something a bit different – lilac, pink and
black make a refreshing change to white – but pricey and not the
most practical.

Testers’ comments:

A good fitting, comfortable bra. The drop cup design works well
and holds breast pads in place even when dropped. The style and
fabric used are good for disguising the breast pad – no awkward
lumps or wrinkles showing through. It feels supportive and comes
in lovely colours – nice to see something different.

Both cups are combined into one piece of fabric, so you don’t have
any cleavage – just a wide shelf of boob – which felt a bit odd
and wasn’t particularly flattering if you’re not used to that kind
of style.

Hand wash only – which is ridiculous for a feeding bra. I did wash
it and it did survive, but presumably this would reduce the life
of a bra which is really pretty expensive. I think you a paying
for the Elle MacPherson name but it didn’t really make me feel like
a super model!

National Childbirth Trust
Mava 12

Price: £21.50

What you get: Drop cup bra with zip-up cups.
Available in 34-40 B,C,D,DD,E,F. 61% cotton, 28% polyamide, 8% viscose,
3% elastane. White only.

Stockists: 0141 636 0600 On line: www.nctms.co.uk

Why you’d want it: Babyworld verdict: So long
as you are careful with the zips this is a bra built for comfort
and support.

Testers’ comments:

This was probably the most comfortable feeding bra I have ever worn.
The supportive cotton under the cup gave me a good shape and made
it feel rather like an underwired bra which is the type I normally
prefer when not feeding. It felt well constructed and the fabric
was soft and comfy.

The label says hand wash only – but I machine washed it and it washed
beautifully. If you had to hand wash every time it would be a disaster.
The zip under the cups seemed a good idea and worked OK most of
the time but I did catch my skin in the zip a number of time and
that was agony! Also once the zip was undone the cup does not drop
away very far so you really have to scoop yourself out of the bra
to feed – otherwise the zip is in the baby’s face. Not very discreet.

Mothercare
Nursing bra 2 pack

Price: £25 for 2

What you get: Drop cup nursing bra with light
lace trim. Available in 34-44 B,C,D,DD,E,F,G (except 44B) 73% cotton.
19% nylon , 8% Lycra. Comes in packs of two white bras or one white,
one black.

Stockists: Tel 08453 30 40 30
On-line: www.mothercare.com

Why you’d want it: Babyworld verdict: Functional
and a fair price but not the most supportive.

Testers’ comments:

A well fitting bra which is comfortable to wear and easy to use.
Very well priced. I really liked the black one – makes you feel
far less of a feeding machine!
This bra washed really well over time and stayed in good condition
- the black one didn’t fade which was good.

The stretchy cotton makes this easy to wear but the support it gives
seems to reduce as the day goes on – feels good at first but gradually
the weight of my boobs seemed to overwhelm it! The drop cup is easily
released with one hand but harder to resecure as the catch rides
up quite high when unfastened and can be tricky to get a hold of
again.
The only problem I have with these is that they don’t offer brilliant
support and so your boobs can look a bit saggy in them.