When browsing for maternity bras have you ever felt underwhelmed by the choices available? It is like becoming a Mother means you must give up your desire to feel beautiful.
When Tracey Montford was pregnant, she struggled to find maternity and nursing wear that was comfortable and functional, but also stylish. That is when she created her now award winning, Sydney based maternity brand Cake Maternity. She resisted the social tendency for motherhood to place women into a one-size-fits-all basket of how they should look, act, and feel. Breastfeeding is one of the most beautiful things a woman will do in her life, so why not look, and feel beautiful while doing it, right?
Flash forward to 2021 and Tracey still has the same passion driving her. She encourages women to breastfeed for as long as possible, however recognises that it does not always come naturally or easily. She understands that every woman’s experience is different & while perseverance is often required, it is not always possible to continue to feed. Cake Maternity bras are designed with real women in mind. In fact, they are based on the personal experiences or the Cake Maternity staff and are even tested on them too.
I personally love Cake Maternity for their stylish designs, desire to support the motherhood community and commitment to caring for mother earth. Through their many channels they actively work on creating conversations about breastfeeding and removing the ‘taboo’ stigma that can be linked to the subject. From the design process to delivery to your door, Cake Maternity brand products have been designed with waste minimisation. Let’s face it their pieces are just stunning!
I have never felt more beautiful in a nursing bra then in the nude Truffles Lace Nursing Bra (RRP $59.90) which you can see pictured below. I matched it with the nude Truffles Lace Brief (RRP $29.90). The bra features stunning, French-inspired deco lace and a deep plunge cut. It has cotton lined side slings and easy feed drop down cups which I can open and close one handed. I am wearing a size 8E bra and 10 bottoms.
Cake Maternity believes that 80% of women are wearing an incorrect bra size. You can identity whether your bra fits you correctly by asking the following questions:
1. Is the back band too tight or too loose?
2. How are the straps fitting? Are they too loose and slipping off the shoulder, or too tight and cutting in?
3. How does the cup size look? Is the cup too small and restricting the breast tissue, or too big and gaping?
It is so important to wear a bra that fits properly especially when breastfeeding, as a poorly fitted bra can affect your milk supply and even lead to painful mastitis.
To help you find the perfect nursing bra for your body Cake Maternity recommends following these simple steps:
1. Check that the band is sitting horizontally around your body and not riding up. It needs to be fitting firmly but not too tight.
2. Your breasts should be fully encased in the bra cups, not spilling out the top, sides or bottom of the cups.
3. There should not be any wrinkling in the fabric or gaping in the cups.
4. The bra cups should be smooth, and the wire should sit neatly under and around the breasts.
5. Most importantly the bra should feel comfortable.
Here are some other things to keep in mind when shopping for a nursing bra:
1. You can buy a maternity bra at any stage in your pregnancy however I recommend doing so at about 8 to 10 weeks. It is important that you feel comfortable and well-supported in the coming months.
2. You can use the same bra once baby is born, but only if it still fits you correctly. It is best to check your bra size at 8 months pregnant to ensure that your size is still fits your correctly.
3. You can protect your bra from excess milk leak stains by purchasing nursing pads. It is very common for your breasts to leak milk for the first 8 weeks of your baby’s life (mine still leak from time to time.)
4. It is suggested to buy at least three bras: one to wear, one in the wash and one in the drawer.
5. Think about what is the best bra for you in terms of both your lifestyle and personal preference might be.
6. Buy a good quality bra to avoid ligament damage, pressure on the milk ducts and other breastfeeding related health issues.
7. Choose superior quality fabrics for comfort and breathability.
8. Five to six hooks and eyes are a must, so that your bra can allow for your rib cage to expand and contract.
9. Look for one-handed drop-down clips for easy nursing.
If you need any further help with finding your correct bra size, you can head to the Cake Maternity fitting page which gives tips & tricks as well as helpful videos and fit troubleshooting. Or reach out to their lovely staff for help +61 2 8850 9800 (9am – 5pm AEST.) or support@cakelingerie.com.
You can find Cake Maternity on their website or Instagram.
I truly hope that these tips help you on your breastfeeding journey.
Lots of love,
The beautiful images in this blog piece were captured by Sunshine Coast photographer Nicola Holland Photography.
Disclaimer – As always please remember that I am not a midwife, lactation consult, nutritionist, doctor, or any other medical expert. I am just a Mother expressing her journey and opinions. Natalie Sullivan and www.thissweetlife.blog only endorses brands/items that her family uses, loves, and highly recommends. To read the full disclaimer see here. This blog post has been sponsored by Cake Maternity however all opinions are my own.