Is it safe to wear underwired bras during pregnancy?
Sally Sago answers:
There does not seem to be any concrete evidence to show that wearing underwired bras during pregnancy may be harmful. However, there appears to be a potential risk. Many midwives and retail outlets advise against purchasing underwiring in pregnancy. The reasoning behind this advice appears to be that the rigid wire may interfere with the natural changes in size and shape of the breast during pregnancy. This may obstruct the increased blood flow or "squash" of the developing milk duct system, causing pain, discomfort and possibly mastitis.
Changes to the breasts start much earlier than most women expect. By the sixth week of pregnancy tenderness and slight enlargement has already taken place. It is not uncommon for the breasts to become "lumpy" in the first three months as the milk duct system begins to develop. The dark skin around the nipple (areola) becomes more prominent and darker in colour. The veins beneath the skin are more visible due to the increase in blood supply needed for growth and development of the breast, in preparation for feeding your baby later on. There is a gradual increase in size during pregnancy and, on average, the breast will increase by 5cm and 1400g.
These changes show why it is important to wear a comfortable, supportive bra. Depending on the size of your breasts before pregnancy and the rate of growth, some women need a maternity bra sooner than others. Many retailers nowadays offer a free fitting service to ensure you get the correct size. You need a comfortable bra which supports the increasing weight of your breasts and does not compress the breast in any way. You may need to be measured two or three times during your pregnancy.
A good maternity bra will have wider shoulder straps than a fashion bra, support panels and adjustable back fastenings to allow longer use as you increase in size.
So the secret is in the fitting. If you do wear an underwired bra at any time in your pregnancy make sure that the wire does not put pressure anywhere on the breast and don't sleep in it. It is much more likely to dig in to the breasts when you are lying down, possibly causing problems.
Is it okay to wear underwire nursing bras?
Susan Condon, lactation consultant
Many breastfeeding consultants don't recommend it. Underwire nursing bras have been linked to plugged milk ducts and mastitis. If the underwires press on the milk ducts, they can interfere with your milk flow, clogging the ducts, which then become infected.
Even if you find an underwire nursing bra that fits well in the store, it won't take long for it to fit poorly when it's repeatedly worn and washed. I don't know many mothers who hand-wash and line-dry their fine washables after a day of leaking milk. You're lucky if you have time to unfasten your bra, put it in a lingerie bag, and toss it in with the rest of the wash!
A soft-cup nursing bra provides much more support than you might realize. Look for one with non-stretch straps made by a company that specializes in nursing clothes and accessories. For the best fit, ask a salesperson to help you. Plugged milk ducts and mastitis are painful and can put you in bed for several days — so why tempt fate by wearing an underwire bra?
.... Maybe I'll leave it til the last few weeks and then switch to sports bras...
