The 8 Best Maternity Bras Provide Maximum Comfort and Relieve Breast Soreness

Though marketed as a nursing bra, the Bravado Designs Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra is a very popular choice among What to Expect moms-to-be looking for a maternity option to wear now and later. For both pregnancy and breastfeeding, this bra checks all the boxes: The fabric feels soft and smooth against skin; there’s a bit of stretch from Spandex to accommodate breast growth; a knitted area around the cups and a wide band each deliver plenty of support and coverage; and the drop-down cups offer easy nursing access. 

What makes the Bravado Designs maternity bra stand out is that it works for a wide range of breast sizes. It’s available in size small through XXL (up to a G cup) as well as full cup sizes, which are designed for those with larger busts but a smaller band (these go up to a J cup).

Moms-to-be say they appreciate how well these bras hold up, even after lots of wear and many washes, as well as how supportive they are. The fit on this style is secure and snug without being too tight, and moms say it’s comfortable enough to wear as an everyday bra even if you’re not pregnant or nursing, so you’ll get plenty of wear out of it.

The only criticism some moms have about this bra is toward the foam inserts, which some find frustrating to wash and manage as they might come out of the bra. In that case, you might prefer one of the brand’s bralette styles, which do not have built-in cups.

Kindred Bravely has one of the most inclusive size ranges on the market for maternity and nursing bras. This brand is frequently referenced by moms-to-be and nursing moms in the What to Expect community with larger breasts, who say it was one of the few retailers to offer a comfortable maternity or nursing bra in their size. The brand’s bras are available in multiple size ranges: Regular (cups B to D) and Busty (from E to H). But some styles, this one included, have extended sizing up to a K cup.

In addition to their range of sizes, Kindred Bravely bras are also praised for their comfort and support. The Nellie Simply Wireless Bra is made of a soft, stretchy fabric (a nylon and spandex blend) that moms-to-be say makes these bras easy to slip on. Though adjustable, the straps are a little wider than average, and the seamless band offers plenty of support without riding up. In fact, these bras are so comfortable that several moms say they end up stocking up on multiple pairs soon after buying their first.

However, you should note that this style doesn’t have nursing features, so if you’d prefer to invest in a maternity bra that can also be used postpartum, you may want to opt for one of Kindred Bravely’s nursing styles: The Simply Sublime Nursing Bra is one of the most popular among What to Expect moms. Just note that this design doesn’t have sizing up to a K cup like the Nellie. 

What to Expect moms-to-be rave about how comfortable the Suekaphin Maternity Nursing Bra Bralettes are, due to the ribbed fabric and perfect amount of stretch. (This brand also has a similar style that’s not ribbed, if you prefer.) At under $13 each, this is one of the more affordable maternity bras that also comes highly reviewed with over 10,000 five-star ratings on Amazon. 

Moms-to-be appreciate the wireless construction and soft, elastic fabric on these bras, which they say are stretchy enough to accommodate pregnancy breast growth. They’re also designed for nursing, with drop-down cups and a low neckline that can quickly be pulled aside. What to Expect moms also say that despite their lower price, the material holds up after many washes. 

Some bras that aren’t sized by cup tend to have a smaller size range, but the Suekaphin has one of the better ranges (from small to 3XL Plus) and there are a number of color options, all available in packs of five. Just note: These bras do have a hook-and-eye closure, which means they may not be the most comfortable maternity bra to sleep in.

A strapless bra can be a tricky style to wear during pregnancy and especially while nursing. Though you can pull the whole thing down to breastfeed, it’s not as easy-access as bras with drop-down cups or low necklines that can be quickly pulled aside. And because so many strapless bras have underwire, it tends not to be the most comfortable style to wear during pregnancy, either.

Still, there are times when you need a strapless bra while pregnant, and Soma’s Enbliss Wireless Stay Put Multi-Way Strapless Bra is one of the most supportive yet comfortable options on the market. As with Soma’s other Enbliss styles — the line is a favorite among What to Expect moms, particularly the Enbliss Wireless bra — this strapless bra is silky-smooth, so it will feel gentle on sensitive pregnancy breasts.

There’s no underwire, either, but the bra has wide band supports, full-coverage contour cups and exposed spandex to help it stay in place. Crucially, this style also has a hook-and-eye closure; once your bump gets bigger, pull-on styles like bandeau bras become trickier or impossible to get on. It also comes with removable and adjustable straps to allow you to wear it as a halter, crisscross back, one shoulder or traditional bra so you can get more use out of it.

Between breast growth, nipple sensitivity and leaking colostrum, working out during pregnancy can become increasingly uncomfortable as the weeks go on. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends a sports bra that’s supportive enough to protect your breasts when exercising, and Kindred Bravely Sublime Nursing and Maternity Sports Bra really delivers, according to moms in the What to Expect community.

The racerback style and thick bottom band provide gentle lift without underwire. Though the straps are on the thinner side, they don’t dig into skin. Plus, the fabric is so soft and comfortable, with many moms-to-be saying they wear this as an everyday bra in addition to reaching for it for exercise. And although it can carry you through your pregnancy workouts, you can continue to use this bra postpartum, too. Nursing moms appreciate how supportive the fit is as well as how easy it is to nurse in, thanks to drop-down cups and moisture-wicking fabric.

As with Kindred Bravely’s many other styles, the size range on this sports bra is excellent — it’s available in both Regular and Busty sizing from small to 2X. (This is particularly impressive for sports bras, which tend to have more limited sizing.)

As the weeks go on, and breasts get bigger and increasingly sensitive, some moms-to-be find it comfortable to start wearing a bra to bed. When choosing a sleep bra for either pregnancy or nursing, the most important thing to consider is a comfortable fit that’s supportive but not too tight, ideally with no wires or hardware that could dig into your skin while you snooze.

This Motherhood Maternity sleep bralette is designed for both maternity and postpartum sleep. Made of soft cotton with a small amount of Spandex for stretch, it’ll feel incredible to wear at night. And although it’s comfortable to wear during pregnancy, it’s also ideal for nursing, since the crossover front design can easily be pulled aside to breastfeed.

Although not as supportive as many of the other bras on this list, many moms find that it’s a perfect option for nighttime, especially those with bigger busts.

Skims is known for soft and super stretchy shapewear, so it’s little surprise that countless moms in the What to Expect community said this was one of the few “regular” bras they purchased pre-pregnancy but continued to wear as a maternity bra. The Skims Fits Everybody Scoop Bralette is an especially popular choice among moms-to-be: With a deep scoop neckline and thin straps, it has a versatile design that works well under a variety of clothing types and is comfortable yet reasonably supportive.

This soft and stretchy bra is great for everyday wear: There’s an elastic underbust seam instead of underwire, which many moms say is enough to give you a little lift without digging into skin. Some even say that they’re comfortable enough to sleep in! Compared to many other bra brands, Skims has one of the most inclusive size ranges (this style is available in XXS through 4X) as well as color options (there are 10 classic shades to help you find the closest nude to match your skin tone). Many moms-to-be with large breasts say they were able to continue wearing this bra comfortably all the way through pregnancy.

Keep in mind that while it offers the soft fabric and stretchy fit you want while pregnant, this is not a nursing bra (though that Skims also has a few nursing styles). So if you were hoping to invest in a maternity bra that also has nursing features like drop-down cups, this may not be your best bet. 

The soft and stretchy Bodily The Everything Bra is a popular pick in the What to Expect community. It’ll take you from pregnancy to nursing and beyond thanks to several unique features.

For one, the fabric on this bra is unbelievably soft. Made of a viscose, micromodal and elastane blend, it has just enough stretch, and is also OEKO-TEX certified, which means the materials have been tested against up to 350 toxic chemicals. During pregnancy, when your breasts and skin feel more sensitive, it will feel like a dream to slip on. But what makes The Everything Bra particularly great for maternity and nursing is that it was also designed with the help of a lactation consultant and has a number of nursing-friendly features, including a neckline that can either be pulled aside or clipped down for easy nursing access.

I used this bra during my second pregnancy and fell in love with how comfortable it was. I wore it at the end of pregnancy and while nursing, and there were days when I had it on 24/7 — I can confirm that it is indeed comfortable enough to sleep in, and I’d often forget I even have it on. It’s an ideal bra to wear while lounging around the house or wearing out with comfortable clothes, and I still use it often today.

Although the size range is more limited than others on this list, many moms say the material is stretchy enough to accommodate breasts within a few sizes as they fluctuate during pregnancy and nursing. Still, this isn’t the most supportive option on the list — the straps are a little on the thinner side — and it may not be the best maternity bra for those with larger breasts. 

There also aren’t built-in pads and the material is on the thin side, which means you may need some added protection in the form of a nursing pad if, like me, you start to leak a little colostrum during pregnancy. The bra has included padding slits if you prefer to use a reusable option.