Pregnancy & Maternity Bra Fitting Guide

Breast Growth - the breast consists of fatty and connective tissue and glands enclosed in skin.  It has no muscles itself, but sits on top of the muscular system.  Each breast becomes 30 - 500g heavier during pregnancy as the mammory glands grow and tissue fluid is stored.  This puts the surrounding skin and tissue under considerably strain! If the breast is not adequately supported, this can lead to deformation, and in the case of large breasts, to tension in the shoulders and neck area.

WHY A MATERNITY BRA? - EnVie recommends wearing a maternity bra because:

- it expands with the breasts without cutting into the skin.

- it has an integrated support system for the expanding breast.

- it minimises and even helps to prevent stretch marks and deformation of the breast.

- it is made from materials specially selected for comfort, preventing irritation of sensitive breasts.

- its wide, softly padded straps ease strain on the shoulders and neck area.

When should you start wearing a maternity bra? - When your existing bras no longer fit, or from the 4th month onwards.

At month 4, the bra should be fitted so that it is comfortable and does not dig in even on the tightest setting.  The breast should be fully enclosed by the cup on both sides and at the decollete.  The underbust band can be widened twice during the course of pregnancy.  The cup expands with the breast.  If the bra is correctly adjusted, it can normally be worn right through to the end of pregnancy.

Now comes the inevitable question UNDERWIRED or NON?   I hear that it is bad for you to wear underwires when you are pregnant or breastfeeding.  Have a look at the letter to Dr. Miriam Stoppard and let her educate you about this myth.

THE TUMMY  and STRAIN RELIEF during PREGNANCY - the tummy expands during the months of pregnancy.  A weight gain of 10-14 kilos is usual, but some women may put on up to 30 kilos!

The weight of the tummy shifts the body's centre of gravity forwards and downwards.  It presses against the abdonimal wall, pelvis and spine.  To counteract this, the woman will lean back, forming a hollow in her back.  This posture puts excessive strain on the back muscles and often leads to backache. 

Many mothers-to-be find an Anita support aid helpful.  Wearing a support belt during pregnancy greatly reduced the pains, pressure and tension experienced in the back, tummy and pevic area, as well as helping to retore the tummy's firmness after the birth.  The effectiveness of a support aid has been tested and confirmed by the University Hospsital of Frankfurt/Main.

After clinical testing women wearing an Anita support aid had an amazing reduction in backache of 82%  and 93% reduction in pressure and tension in the abdominal and pelvic regions along with pelvic twinges.  

WHY A NURSING BRA? - According to the latest medical and psychological research breastfeeding not only has a beneficial effect on the baby's physical development, but also on its intelligence.

- mother's milk protects the baby against infections and allergies.

- the close physical contact during breastfeeding gives the baby a feeling of security.

- breastfeeding has a beneficial effect on the baby's intelligence, as suckling stimulates the nerve and muscle function.

- for the mother, breastfeeding provides protection against infection and reduced the risk of bleeding after birth.

-the breastfeeding hormones help restore the womb to its normal shape.

- the additional calorie consumption aids weight loss.

A functional, well-designed nursing bra is necessary to maintain the shape and support of the bust during the breastfeeding period.  Nursing bras are made from skin-kind materials as breasts and nipples can be extra sensitive at this time.

When should you start wearing a nursing bra? - Nursing bras should not be purchased before the beginning of the 8th month, as the bust stops growing around this time.  We recommend choosing a cup size larger than the existing size at this point.  The underbust band should fit loosly on the widest setting.  If necessary, check the measurements (please see size  size chart on previous fitting page). 

Nursing Bras offer:

- moulded (seamless) cups for extra-sensitive breasts

- all-round breast support.

- naturally-shaping, soft underwiring for a perfect fit.

- Kwik Klip (most models) allowing the cups to be opened/closed with one hand. 

- Elastic, adjustable straps permanently attached to the breast support to prevent them slipping down the back on unfastening, along with a 3-position adjustable back fastening.

-Anita Memo for tagging the side last fed from.

KWIK KLIP SYSTEM - The patented Kwik Klip system allows easy opening-closing of the cups with one hand.  A tiny loop is attached to the bra strap - just enough to fit your finger through. This way the other can hold her baby in one arm while preparing for breastfeeding or changing sides.

THE ANITA MEMO - This system was developed by Anita as an aide-memoire for breastfeeding mothers:  Do you always seem to have one breast larger than the other?  Not any more!  A tiny stork on a ribbon at the centre of the nursing bra can be moved to the left or right to mark the breast last used for feeding!

When baby has stopped breastfeeding, please allow yourself at least one month for your breasts to get back to their 'normal size'!  It may be tempting to buy a bra immediately but your breast size may still be reducing for up to one month.

For any further information on sizes or fit, please telephone our customer service team on 01274 873610. We will be happy to answer any of your queries.