Nursing Bra vs Maternity Bra: What's the Difference?

What Is a Maternity Bra?

A maternity bra is designed to accommodate the breast changes that happen during pregnancy. Your breasts can grow by 1–3 cup sizes, become tender, and change shape — sometimes within the first trimester.

Maternity bras address this with:

• Stretchy, soft fabrics that give as your breasts grow
• Wider back bands with extra rows of hook-and-eye closures for adjustability
• Wire-free construction to avoid pressure on sensitive breast tissue
• Wider straps to support increasing weight without digging in

What a maternity bra does not have is a feeding mechanism. There are no clips, clasps, or pull-aside panels — it's a supportive bra for pregnancy, not for breastfeeding.

What Is a Nursing Bra?

A nursing bra includes everything a maternity bra offers — stretch, support, wider bands — plus a breastfeeding access system. This is usually one of two designs:

• Drop-down clips: A clasp at the top of each cup that unhooks with one hand, dropping the cup down to expose the breast for feeding. This is the most common design.
• Pull-aside cups: The cup fabric slides to the side for feeding, common in nursing bralettes and sleep bras. Simpler but typically less supportive.

Nursing bras are designed to be worn both during pregnancy (from the third trimester, when your size stabilises somewhat) and throughout breastfeeding. Most nursing bras available in Australia today are engineered to accommodate the size fluctuations of both stages.

Key Differences at a Glance

Feature	Maternity Bra	Nursing Bra
Designed for	Pregnancy	Pregnancy + breastfeeding
Breastfeeding access	No	Yes (clips or pull-aside)
When to wear	First trimester onwards	Third trimester onwards
Stretch and adjustability	Yes	Yes
Wire-free options	Most	Most (some flexi-wire options)
One-handed operation	N/A	Yes (designed for holding baby)
Typical lifespan	~6 months (pregnancy only)	12+ months (pregnancy through weaning)

Can One Bra Do Both?

Yes — and for most mums, this is the practical approach. A nursing bra can be worn from the third trimester of pregnancy through the entire breastfeeding period. You get the same stretch, support, and adjustability as a maternity bra, plus the feeding access you'll need after birth.

The Hot Milk Caress Bamboo Multifit is an example of a bra designed for exactly this transition. Its multifit sizing and bamboo stretch fabric accommodate breast changes from mid-pregnancy through breastfeeding, and the nursing clips provide easy feeding access when you need it.

The cost argument: If you buy 2–3 maternity bras for pregnancy and then 2–3 nursing bras for breastfeeding, that's 4–6 bras. If you buy 2–3 nursing bras in your third trimester that last through both stages, you've halved your spending.

What to Buy at Each Stage of Pregnancy

First trimester (weeks 1–12)

Your breasts may feel tender and start growing, but the changes are usually manageable. Most women can extend their current bras with a bra extender (a small hook-and-eye strip that adds length to the back band). If your current bras become truly uncomfortable, a soft bralette or stretchy wire-free bra will see you through this stage.

Second trimester (weeks 13–26)

Growth typically continues and your pre-pregnancy bras may no longer fit. This is when a maternity bra or an early nursing bra makes sense. If you choose a nursing bra now, buy one with generous stretch — your size will keep changing.

Third trimester (weeks 27–40)

Your breasts are approaching their breastfeeding size. This is the ideal time to buy your nursing bras, as your size is close to what it will be postpartum. Buy 2–3 nursing bras on the looser hooks so there's room for the slight increase when your milk comes in. For a detailed checklist of what to pack, see our hospital bag breastfeeding guide.

Postpartum and breastfeeding

Your breasts will be largest in the first 2–6 weeks as your milk supply establishes. After that, they'll settle to a more stable breastfeeding size. The nursing bras you bought in the third trimester should still fit — if they don't, this is the time to reassess.

Do You Need Both a Maternity Bra and a Nursing Bra?

For most mums, no. Here's the decision framework:

Buy nursing bras only if:

• You plan to breastfeed (even if you're unsure — the clips don't get in the way if you don't use them)
• You want to minimise how many bras you buy across pregnancy and postpartum
• You're comfortable waiting until the third trimester to buy purpose-built bras

Buy a maternity bra first if:

• Your breasts grow significantly in the first trimester and your current bras are painful
• You want a comfortable option for early pregnancy before your size stabilises
• You don't plan to breastfeed

The honest recommendation: If you think you might breastfeed, skip the maternity bra and put that money toward 2–3 quality nursing bras in your third trimester. You'll get more use out of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I start wearing a maternity or nursing bra?

Switch to a maternity bra whenever your regular bras become uncomfortable — this could be as early as 6 weeks or as late as 20 weeks. For nursing bras, the third trimester (around week 30–34) is the ideal time to buy, as your size is closer to your breastfeeding size.

Can I wear a nursing bra during pregnancy even if I haven't given birth yet?

Yes. Nursing bras work perfectly well as pregnancy bras. The nursing clips simply stay closed until you need them. You get the same stretch and support as a maternity bra.

How many bras do I need for pregnancy and breastfeeding?

A practical minimum is 3 nursing bras: two for daily rotation and one spare for laundry days. If you're active or want variety (e.g. a sleep bra plus everyday bras), 4–5 covers all situations.

Do I need an underwired nursing bra?

Not necessarily. For A–F cups, a well-constructed wire-free nursing bra provides enough support for most activities. For G cups and above, an underwired or flexi-wire nursing bra can provide the structured lift that wire-free options may lack. See our guide to nursing bras for large busts for detailed advice.

What's the difference between a nursing bra and a nursing bralette?

A nursing bralette is a lighter, less structured version of a nursing bra — typically wire-free with pull-aside cups rather than clips. Bralettes work well for sleep, lounging, or smaller busts but may not provide enough support for larger busts or active days.