That is why the seamless nursing bra is Carriwell's core product
A seamless nursing bra is knitted in one piece without seams and without underwire. This means that there are no edges that can chafe, and no metal underwire that can press on the milk ducts. Precisely that pressure can contribute to blocked milk ducts in some nursing mothers, and therefore many midwives point to the underwire-free design during the nursing period.
Carriwell made seamless nursing underwear among the first in the world almost three decades ago. For us, it is not a trend, but the core of everything we do. The idea behind it is simple: your breasts change a lot through pregnancy and nursing, and a bra that shapes itself to the body instead of forcing the body into a fixed shape, follows you all the way. The elastic knit gives way when the breasts swell before a feeding, and pulls together again afterwards.
In this collection you will find both the classic model and versions with extra padding and gel underwire. If you want to see the entire range of maternity and nursing bras, you can continue from there, but here we have gathered precisely the seamless ones.
Original, padded or Gel-Support
The collection covers three basic types, and the difference lies in how much shape and support you want.
Seamless Original Maternity Nursing Bra is the original model: soft, thin knit without padding, that almost disappears against the skin. It is a good first choice if you prefer to feel the bra as little as possible, and it is also available as 2x Seamless Original Maternity Nursing Bra, so you have a clean one while the other is in the wash.
Seamless nursing bra with padding has a soft, padded insert in the cup. It gives a smoother shape under clothing and at the same time hides if the milk suddenly leaks. Choose it if you want a little more shape, or appreciate that the nipple does not show through.
Carriwell nursing bra with gel underwire is still underwire-free in the classic sense, but has a soft gel edge that lifts and supports from under the breast without the hard pressure from a metal underwire. It is worth considering if you need more lift, without compromising on the seamless.
How to find the right size
Seamless Carriwell bras are made with good stretch, so each size covers a range rather than a single measurement. That is exactly what makes it follow you when the breasts change through pregnancy and nursing, without you having to buy new all the time.
Feel free to measure yourself towards the end of the pregnancy, where the breasts have already grown, rather than right at the beginning. Then you will hit a size that lasts through the nursing period, where the breasts are typically largest around the time when the milk really comes in. If you are in doubt between two sizes, and you buy early, it can be an advantage to choose the one that gives the most room.
We have made a Carriwell nursing bra size guide, where you can see how to measure yourself correctly, and how Carriwell's sizes are put together. Dear, if the numbers do not quite add up, remember that a midwife or nursing advisor is happy to help find the right fit.
When in the pregnancy should you buy it?
Many experience that the breasts begin to tighten and grow already in the first trimester, and a soft, seamless bra without underwire can relieve that soreness long before birth. So you do not need to wait until the baby has arrived.
A practical time to acquire it is towards the end of the pregnancy, when the breasts have found a more stable shape. Then it can go directly into the hospital bag and be ready from the first feeding. Because the same bra covers both phases, you get the benefit of it both now and later. If you want to prepare the rest of the wardrobe for the first weeks, you can continue to look in our collection for nursing.
Discreet nursing with one hand
All nursing bras in the collection have a clip you can open with one hand while holding the baby with the other. The cup folds down and gives free access to the breast, without you having to take off the whole bra. It sounds like a small detail, but in practice it is one of the places where a real nursing bra differs most from a regular bra: you can nurse calmly and discreetly, no matter where you are.
If you are still in doubt whether you prefer a bra or a top, we have written about the differences in nursing top or nursing bra
Can it be used as a night bra?
Yes. Because it is soft, seamless and underwire-free, it lies well against the body when you sleep, without hard edges that press when you lie on your side. Many nursing mothers appreciate having a bra on at night during the period when the breasts are full, both for support and to keep a nursing pad in place, if the milk leaks at night.
If you need a model that is specifically designed for sleep, you will find it in sleep bra for pregnancy and nursing. But precisely the seamlessness makes the original model also work fine all day and night.
How to wash it so it keeps its shape
Elastic knit lasts longest when treated gently. Wash it at a low temperature and avoid the dryer, as the heat over time can wear on the elastic and make the bra lose its stretch and thus its support. Feel free to lay it flat to dry.
Because you will probably use it every day for a long period, it is worth having more than one, so they can be rotated and allowed to rest between washes. That is also why the original model is available as a two-pack.
Underwire-free support, also for larger busts
A common assumption is that you need underwire to get support for a large bust. That is not necessarily true. Carriwell's seamless construction provides support through the knit itself and the wide bottom edge rather than through an underwire, and if you need extra lift, the soft gel edge in Carriwell nursing bra gel gives more without the hard pressure.
If you have a large bust and are looking for something that is tailored specifically to that need, you can see the range in nursing bra large bust without underwire. No matter what you choose, we wish you the most comfortable nursing and pregnancy journey. You are not alone in finding the right thing, and there is help to be had all the way.
