Ask me today however and my answer is YES, sort of!
Now firstly, let me say that I am not a Doctor or an expert in this field and therefore it is best that you consult with an expert before making a decision but here is my 2 bits worth.
Any bra that you wear while pregnant or feeding has to be comfortable, regardless of whether it has under wire or not. If your bra is uncomfortable or causing you pain then stop wearing it. Actually that's just common sense for any bra at any stage of life.
Now in Australia it has been a long held view that underwire maternity bras a a no no. In Europe however, most maternity bras have underwire. So for some reason we have become paranoid here in Australia and the urban myth has been created. It is not the underwire itself that causes problems, rather it is the fit if the bra.
Cake Maternity have over recent years released their flexi wire range on Maternity bras however the bigger the cup size, the firmer the under wire and with good reason. A soft underwire doesn't have sufficient strength to support a large bust and it results in an ill fitting bra.
There is even a valid argument that a soft cup bra may be more damaging than an underwire bra for a larger busted lady because without the wire all the weight of the bust is taken by the straps and causes shoulder and back pain. The underwire helps to lift the bust from underneath.
One important factor in the fit of an underwire bra is that the wire must finish past the bust. In other words, you don't want it to press into the breast tissue because this is when it can damage milk ducts and cause mastitis.
Another important consideration is that in the first trimester of your pregnancy and in the first week or two after giving birth, your breasts are going through dramatic changes. Not to mention the fact they are engorged and sore. Not the best time to be wearing an underwire bra.
After 13 years in the maternity industry I have seem and talked with my share of pregnant women. Many have worn their normal bra right throughout their pregnancy, either because they didn't realise it was a bad thing to do or they refused to give up their under wire bras.
I'm not sure that a study has ever been done to prove whether an under wire bra increases your risk of mastitis but it would seem to me that some ladies develop mastitis whether they wear an underwire bra or not.
So in summary, I am a fan of the Cake Flexiwire Maternity bras as long as they are not worn in the first trimester or the first week or so after giving birth. Just make sure it is well fitted and and it's comfortable.
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| Cake Licorice Flexi Wire Maternity Bra |
Thanks for listening.
Lisa Hovar
