Help & Advice

We’re experts when it comes to maternity and nursing underwear and you’ll find plenty of advice below on our range as well as related pregnancy and nursing topics.

Maternity Bras

It is important that you take care of your breasts during pregnancy. They will get larger and heavier and as your breasts have only ligaments and no muscles, they could be stretched if they are not properly supported. A well designed maternity bra is the best way to support your breasts comfortably and preserve your shape.

When to buy?

Most expectant mothers experience growing breasts well before a growing tummy and as soon as your pre-pregnancy bra begins to feel uncomfortable that is the time to buy your first maternity bra – roughly month 4 but possibly a lot earlier than that. Your breasts will continue to change and grow and you may need to adjust your bra or change bra size throughout your pregnancy. Expect your breasts to weigh an extra 750 grams more and be 5cm bigger! Avoid regular underwire bras as the wires can cause the milk ducts to become blocked, as your milk comes in, and are more uncomfortable during pregnancy.

What to look for?

Remember these four key things when choosing your maternity bras:

Support: You will need wider straps, sides and underbust band, with firm elastic straps to eliminate 'bounce' and give you the extra support you need.

Coverage: More fabric over breast area. This will provide increased comfort as your breasts become more sensitive.

Adjustability: A minimum of 4 rows of back eyes will allow your bra to grow with you.

Comfort : They should have a high cotton content or other microfibre breathable fabric as your breasts will tend to perspire more.

Get the correct fit

Use our size chart to work out your size or visit one of our retailers for a bra fitting. Important things to remember:

  • When fitting a maternity bra, ensure you have room to grow by fastening the bra on the tightest hook and eye setting. As your rib cage expands, you can adjust it to give yourself extra room.
  • Make sure the straps are wide enough to support you without digging in. They shouldn’t be too stretchy.
  • Ensure the centre seam lies flat against your breast bone and isn’t riding up too high at the back.
  • Make sure that the cups fit snugly and smoothly covering most of the breast with no overflow at the top

For more information on breast care during pregnancy, click here http://www.womenshealthcaretopics.com/preg_breast_changes.htm

Nursing Bras

Breastfeeding – particularly in the early days – means your breasts will change size multiple times during a day.

When to buy?

The best time is during the 36th week of pregnancy. Don’t buy them too early as your breasts might change significantly in those last four weeks as your milk comes in. Remember, you will need at least two or three bras as there will invariably be leakages and it’s good to have spares while one is in the wash!

What to look for

You will want a bra that:

  • allows you to feed easily and discreetly
  • provides the best comfort for tender breasts
  • good support, including when one cup is open for feeding, the other should continue to provide comfortable support
  • has a bit of spare room to accommodate breast pads and changes in breast size between feedings cups that open easily allowing good access for feeding. The opening should never constrict or squeeze as this can lead to blocked ducts or mastitis
  • doesn’t have regular hard underwires which may restrict the milk duct system. The Emma-Jane range includes Supa-Lite underwires that adjust to body changes and do not affect milk ducts.

 

Get the correct fit

Use our size chart to work out your size or visit one of our retailers for a bra fitting. Important things to remember:

When fitting a nursing bra, ensure you fit it using the loosest setting as your rib cage will contract post birth and you may have to tighten the bra by using one of the tighter hook and eye settings.

  • If you can’t fit it on the loosest setting, move up one chest size while going down one cup size.
  • Make sure the straps are wide enough to support you without digging in and shouldn’t be too stretchy.
  • Ensure the centre seam lies flat against your breast bone and isn’t riding up too high at the back.
  • Make sure that the cups fit snugly and smoothly covering most of the breast with no overflow at the top.
  • If there is any extra breast flesh sticking out the sides, move up a cup size.

Sleep Bras

Sleep is going to become something you just can’t get enough of. The sleepless nights start well before the baby arrives as you try to get comfortable. This is where sleep bras help.

They are softer than standard maternity bras yet offer good, comfortable support throughout the night. They don’t have back adjusters – no hard bits to lie on - and by supporting the additional weight of your breasts, they aid relaxing sleep.

Your breasts may leak during the last few weeks of pregnancy or while you are breastfeeding. Wearing a sleep bra allows you to insert breast pads to absorb excess milk. See what Think Baby says about wearing a bra to sleep in here http://www.thinkbaby.co.uk/your-pregnant-body/should-i-wear-a-bra-at-night/1985.html

For other pregnancy sleep tips, click here http://video.about.com/pregnancy/Sleep-Better-During-Pregnancy.htm

Maternity Knickers

The key decision when it comes to knickers is whether you’re an ‘over the bump’ or an ‘under the bump’ fan. Some women want the feeling of support over the bump gives, while others can’t stand to have anything on their sensitive belly skin, preferring the under bump knickers.

Our maternity knickers can be chosen to not only match our bras, but to provide you the under/over bump choice. They come in a range of colours, some with lace trim for a bit of girly loveliness and shorts that are suitable for wear before and after birth. Most mums find them so comfy, they wear them as they adjust to their post-baby body.

Whether you an under or over the bump fan, find out all about your bump here http://www.askamum.co.uk/Pregnancy/Search-Results/Looking-good/Pregnancy-bumps-the-facts/

Maternity Swimwear

Swimming while pregnant is a fantastic way to keep fit, without putting any pressure on your joints.

We’ve got a stylish range of swimwear that not only looks great, it offers comfort and support. Ruched sides adjust to body changes during pregnancy while elasticated bra shelves give breast support.

For more information on swimming in pregnancy, click here http://www.babycenter.com/0_great-pregnancy-exercise-swimming_7822.bc

Maternity Tights (and rights!)

If you’re working, tights might be required to meet corporate dress codes. In which case, comfort is key. Our maternity tights are designed to grow with you throughout your pregnancy, offering comfort with expanding waistbands and shaped feet and gussets. So you’ll look smart and feel great. Now if only we could help get rid of that irritating co-worker for you....

If you want to know your maternity rights in the workplace, click here http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Moneyandworkentitlements/WorkAndFamilies/DG_10026556

Nursing Tops

Until you get the hang of it, breastfeeding in public can be a little awkward. You never have quite enough hands and either your breasts or your belly end up on show. Our maternity tops solve this problem. They are designed to ensure everything that should stay covered, stays covered.

With built-in support capable of holding breast pads in place, many mums don’t even bother wearing a nursing bra underneath our breastfeeding vests, while our tops and loungers provide discreet front flaps for easy, confident feeding.

All our tops look great on their own, layered under clothing or can even be used as sleepwear.

For more advice on breastfeeding in public, click here http://www.ehow.com/how_3344_breast-feed-public.html

Nightwear

Getting a good night’s sleep becomes something of a holy grail during your final trimester and during those first few months of parenthood. Our maternity nightwear – which can be used well after the baby arrives too – might not help with heartburn or getting your little one to sleep, but when you do get a lie down, you’ll be wearing something comfortable. What’s more, they look so good, you’ll be happy to spend all day in them when you just can’t be bothered to change.

Accessories

We stock a range of little bits and pieces to make breastfeeding and motherhood easier.

And finally…

The changes your body goes through during and after pregnancy are tremendous! We believe maternity lingerie should provide silky soft comfort and support to make for happy mummies, which in turn, helps create happy babies.