I'm a qualified teacher, but currently stay at home looking after three children, one baby and two ...
I'm a qualified teacher, but currently stay at home looking after three children, one baby and two cats.
Member since:22.09.2005
Reviews:17
Members who trust:5
The first Bravado nursing bra I bought felt like an incredible indulgence at nearly £20 seven years ago, but it has proved to be a worthwhile investment as it is still going strong four children later! In fact, it has been joined by several more, as these bras have seen me through nearly eight years of pregnancy and breastfeeding.
The style may not be the most flattering or sexy, but for sheer comfort they win hands-down, and at least there are a few different colours and prints to choose from, so you don't need to feel totally frumpy.
The bra is designed for purpose (Bravado only make nursing bras) and it shows in features like the high cotton content (92%) for easy-breathing comfort, while stretchiness and support comes from the 8% Spandex.
The bras are styled subtly differently depending on size and level of support needed too, so that the original nursing bra comes in three slightly different styles to suit different cup sizes. Don't worry that it will be tricky to choose the correct size though, because there is a fair degree of overlap between styles and the bra is designed to adapt to fit expanding and, er, deflating breasts - you may find that there is a large difference between your cup size before and after a feed, so this is a useful attribute! There is also plenty of space for breastpads, should you need them, and the cotton is thick enough for them not to show through too obviously.
The Bravado has a wide band of elastic which gives a good supportive base and helps the fit to be as forgiving as it is. As a nursing bra this works well, but I have found that it was sometimes uncomfortable to wear in mid to late pregnancy (although this is sold as a maternity bra as well as a nursing bra) because it tended to bunch up and dig in. This is the only criticism I have, but if you want the Bravado to last you through multiple children then it may be worth noting, especially if you intend to feed through pregnancy and/or tandem feed.
The cups fasten with poppers, making it easy to fasten with one hand once you get the hang of it. I certainly found this system easier than fiddling with the hooks and eyes on other nursing bras, while the zip-up one I tried was simply painful!
The Bravado Original is a pull-on style, which is very easy to use, since the elastic at the base can just be pulled into place. The straps are adjustable and the thin elastic which holds the shoulder straps in place when the cups are unclipped is good quality so it does its job well and lasts a long time - unlike cheaper bras I have tried where the elastic has perished and left me fishing about for the fasteners. Not a good way to end a discreet breastfeed! As I said, one or two of mine have been in almost constant use for over 7 years and are still serviceable (if not pretty!) so they certainly are made to last. It's just a shame the wide elastic doesn't always stay as flat as it should.
Besides the Original there are now two other styles on offer, one specifically for the fuller-breasted woman (the Supreme) and the other (the Lifestyle) a rather slinky little number which has a cotton lining and microfibre outer layer for a smoother finish. Since this offers less adjustability than the Original it is better for use once breastfeeding has been established and your cup size less likely to fluctuate as much. There is less room for breastpads too, if this is an issue for you, but it is nice to have a nursing bra which looks so "normal" and yet still performs its function well. I have my eye on one of these for when my latest little one is more settled...
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Aug 10th, 2007
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