Breastfeeding Bras

Our NCT bra fiiters can supply and fit maternity and nursing bras from the NCT's award-winning range.  Our bra fitters usually attend the weekly Babies, Toddlers and Mums-to-Be group in Sudbury on Wednesdays where we have a dedicated room for doing bra fittings.  If you would like to make an appointment for a fitting, please contact us on 0844 243 6148 or email bras@halsteadnct.co.uk

When should I get fitted for my breastfeeding bras?

If it is your first baby then you should aim to have your bras fitted at around 36 weeks pregnant. If it is your second or subsequent baby you can get your fitting from 32 weeks.

How do I know that it will fit me once I have had my baby?

Well we don’t know for sure but what we do know is that your breasts will get bigger once your milk comes in and that once your baby is born your rib cage will get smaller over a few days and weeks. So when your bra is fitted we allow for that which means that we need to see enough room in the cup for expansion and enough spare hooks on the back of your bra so that you can tighten it as your ribs get smaller.

My current bra is beginning to feel to tight but I only have a few weeks to go and I don’t want to buy a new bra, is there anything I can do?

Yes, you could buy an extension piece for your current bra. Essentially this is four extra rows of eyes and an extra row of hooks to go in the back of your bra and provide you with extra breathing space. They come in black and white, 2 and 3 rows high.

Do I have to be a member of NCT for you to fit my bra?

No, we can fit bras for any pregnant or breastfeeding woman.

I bought some bras when I had my last baby and I’m not sure if they still fit, what should I do?

Bring them with you when you come for your fitting and we’ll have a look.

What happens if my bra doesn’t fit after my baby is born?

In this situation, which very rarely happens, so long as a bra is not worn or washed, I can exchange it for you for the correct size.

How many bras should I buy?

I would recommend 2 or 3 daytime bras and 1 or 2 nighttime bras.

Do I really need nighttime bras?

Well no, but you are probably going to need something to wear at night, if for no other reason than to hold your breast pads in place. A nighttime bra will give you light support but its main purpose is to hold your breast pads in place.

I was planning to sleep on a towel, won’t that be good enough?

That will be fine so long as you can control the direction that your milk is going to leak in. For example if you are lying on your back and the towel is underneath you how will you avoid the duvet?

I was going to wear a crop top at night, will that be ok?

It will probably be ok so long as when you feed your baby you ensure that the part of the top that you have either lifted up or pulled down is not pressing on your breast tissue causing the potential for blocked ducts or mastitis. The nighttime bras are designed so that you can get to your breast in a way that avoids this risk.

Why can’t I wear an under-wired bra?

Again there is the potential risk of causing blocked ducts. This is not really an issue during pregnancy but once you are breastfeeding there is the risk that the wires could press into your breast tissue and cause a blockage.

Surely I can just wear a normal bra and pull it down or lift it up to feed my baby?

Once again this comes back to the possibility of causing blocked ducts by the bra pressing on your breast tissue when it is pulled down or lifted up.

How much money do you make from selling these bras?

Absolutely none, we do this on a voluntary basis as do all NCT bra fitters.