FROM very early in your pregnancy you can expect your breasts to change, so it's important to get your hands on one of the best maternity bras.

From swelling and tenderness in the first trimester to growth in the second and third. Research shows breasts can gain between one and three pounds in weight during your pregnancy. 

It’s important to find a supportive bra to keep you comfortable throughout pregnancy as well as after your little one arrives and you begin nursing. 

You may find that your needs change throughout this time and you may benefit from a professional fitting, particularly if you’re feeling the pressure on your back and shoulders. 

Typically, maternity bras are made from soft, stretchy fabrics, with room for breast pads to be inserted. They tend to have wider straps too and bust bands to offer greater support as you grow and are often free of an underwire, for comfort.

Most maternity bras also adapt for nursing, with clips to allow for easy access on-the-go. 

We've searched far and wide to help you find the perfect bra to support you through pregnancy and beyond. 

Best maternity bras at a glance:

• Best for night-time: Lemef
• Best with underwire: LEADING LADY
• Best for comfort: Bravado!
• Best for sensitive skin: Cake Maternity
• Best for style: Pour Moi

Best for night-time: Lemef nursing sleep bras

• Lemef nursing sleep bras, £20.99 for three – buy here

Made from an ultra-smooth super-stretchy fabric, Lemuf nursing sleep bras will flex with you as you try to get that most sought-after thing: a good night’s sleep. 

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This bra has no hooks or fastenings that could irritate and the simple crossover design provides easy access for night-time feeds, while adapting easily to fluctuating breast sizes. 

Best with underwire: LEADING LADY women's dreamy comfort underwire maternity to nursing bra

• LEADING LADY women's dreamy comfort underwire maternity to nursing bra – buy here

Some people may advise against an underwire bra while pregnant or nursing, but if you’re used to the extra support, the NCT says that as long as they are well-fitted and you have the size checked regularly, there’s no need to abandon your favoured style. 

This bra from Leading Lady has smooth, stretchy, naturally rounded cups that will expand with your breasts. Reinforced side wings will provide further support as will a full inner sling for nursing. 

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Best for comfort: Bravado! Designs sustainable maternity & nursing bra

• Bravado! Designs sustainable maternity & nursing bra, £28 – buy here

Bravado! Designs maternity and nursing bra is made from a sustainable blend of organic cotton and TENCAL Modal for an ultra-soft skin feel.

The racer style is comfortable, with a wide under-breast band for added support. This bra is simple and practical, delivering comfort and ease through pregnancy and beyond. 

Best for sensitive skin: Cake Maternity cotton candy wire-free nursing bra

• Cake Maternity cotton candy wire-free nursing bra, £29.99 – buy here

This maternity and nursing bra from Cake Maternity is knitted from a dense, yet super-soft yarn for a comfortable and cooling skin-feel, perfect for those with sensitive skin or who are just feeling a little sore. 

Available in a range of colours and sizes, the racerback design also incorporates hooks and eyelets to allow for further adjustment. One-handed nursing clips allow for easy access on-the-go.  

Best for skin-to-skin: Cake Maternity biscotti skin-to-skin nursing bra

• Cake Maternity biscotti skin-to-skin nursing bra, £42.90 – buy here

Cake Maternity’s biscotti skin-to-skin nursing bra has a complete snap front opening to allow for maximum skin-to-skin contact with your little one during those precious early weeks. 

The bra is made from recycled yarn with a soft skin-feel and also comes complete with absorbent cups, which will keep you dry throughout the day without the need for nursing pads. 

Best for style: Love to Lounge cotton nursing bra

• Best for style: Love to Lounge cotton nursing bra, £26 – buy here

Who says you can’t have comfort, practicality and style? This animal print bra with black lace detailing from Pour Moi combines great style with functionality. 

Made from cotton for a soft finish, it has an inner sling for extra support while nursing, a wide underband and hook and eye fastening to adapt to fluctuating size. 

Best for smaller breasts: MAMA 2-pack padded nursing bras

• MAMA 2-pack padded nursing bras, £24.99 – buy here

H&M’s jersey bras are super-soft with a stylish lace trim and the minimum number of seams possible to ensure your comfort. 

Lined opening cuts have removable inserts and space for nursing pads to help avoid leakages while out and about. While they may not be the most supportive bra featured in this list, they deliver a great level of comfort. 

Best for larger breasts: Bravado! Designs body silk seamless maternity & nursing bra, £34 from JoJo Maman Bébé

• Bravado! Designs body silk seamless maternity & nursing bra, £34 – buy here

If you’re looking for a bit of extra support, look no further than the Bravado body silk seamless maternity and nursing bra. 

The four-way stretch fabric moulds to your changing shape and a wide underband offers superior support, while soft fabric and the seamless design ensure you’re not compromising on comfort. 

This bra is available in five colours so you’ll have plenty of options to suit your style. It also incorporates drop down cups for easy nursing and has removable foam inserts.

Best for pumping: Bravado! Designs original pumping and nursing bra

• Bravado! Designs original pumping and nursing bra, £15 – buy here

This two-in-one nursing and pumping bra is great for convenience. The drop-down outer layer gives quick access for pumping, while an additional inner layer can be unclipped to allow for full breast access for nursing. 

Made from Bravado’s breathable cotton-model fabric blend and in its signature racerback, it also offers superior comfort and support. 

Best for sport: Nike Swoosh women's medium-support padded sports bra

• Nike Swoosh women's medium-support padded sports bra, £44.95 – buy here

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Nike’s first maternity sports bra has been designed in a special moisture-managing fabric for nursing, with discreet layers to allow you to pump or nurse on a break from exercise. 

The overlapping layers and slider allow you to adjust the fit for changing breast size and provide easy access for nursing, while Nike’s standard Dri-FIT technology will help keep you dry and comfortable. 

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