Emma Jane
Breastfeeding sports bra

What you get: Sports style bra with double layer stretch cotton drop cup with hook and eye fastening. Available in M (34B,C,D,DD), L (36B,C,D,DD), XL (38B,C,D,DD) or XXL (40B,C,D,DD). 95% cotton, 5% elastane. White or black.

Stockists: On line: www.emma-jane.com Tel: 0208 599 3004 or through Blooming Marvellous On Line: www.bloomingmarvellous.co.uk Tel: 0870 751 8944

Why you'd want it: Babyworld verdict: Well-priced and comfy - a pretty compelling combination.

Testers' comments:

Testers' comments: A very comfortable and supportive bra for an excellent price. This is not too obviously a nursing bra - I would even wear it when I have finished breast feeding, it's just like a normal bra. I feed lying down a lot of the time and with most feeding bras the breast pads fall out when you do this which is really irritating. With this bra the pads stayed in place which was excellent. I can honestly say this was the best bra I have tried and I have tried a lot! The drop cup fastening was very easy to use, even with one hand, and it washed well.

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Bravado Maternity Bra

What you get: A pull on style bra with sports back. Drop cup with snap fastenings. Available in S,M,L,XL with three cup ranges - basic, plus and double plus. 92% cotton, 8% elastane. White, Black, Flesh and Leopard Print.

Stockists: On line: or through www.bloomingmarvellous.co.uk or through Blooming Marvellous 0870 751 8944

Why you'd want it: Babyworld verdict: A good quality, well constructed bra which is both supportive and easy to use.

Testers' comments:

My bust size is 40G and finding a good supportive bra is not easy. I usually keep away from the sports style as they just don't work well on a big bust but this one did and is certainly the best sports style I have tried. Although a sports style, the cross-over front gives good support and shape. The press stud drop cups are very easy to use and I think this is good value for a well designed bra with a good quality finish.

The fabric is quite thick which means it takes a while to dry after washing and is pretty warm in hot weather but it also makes it feel secure, robust and good quality.

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National Childbirth Trust Mava 8

What you get: Drop cup bra with cotton lining and silky finish. Available in 34-40 B,C,D,DD,E,F. 56% cotton, 41% polyamide, 3% elastane. Black only.

Stockists: 0141 636 0600 On line: www.nctms.co.uk

Why you'd want it: - Babyworld verdict: Ideal for when looking and feeling good is a greater priority than easy feeding. Excellent shape but not the most practical for discreet feeding.

Testers' comments:

This gave me a great shape - probably the best I have had while feeding. The black looked good and the silky outer fabric on the bra means this is discreet under most clothes because tops hang well over it. The cotton inner layer is more hygienic and comfortable on the breast. The drop cup fastenings are easy to use and the broad back/below breast band adds comfort and prevents the bra from riding up.

When feeding the drop cup does not drop down far enough so you have to lift your breast out of the cup completely which isn't very discreet.

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Royce
Mesh trim breast feeding bra

What you get: Cotton rich nursing bra with wide straps and clipped drop cup. Available in 34-40 B,C,D, DD, E. 94% cotton, 4% polyamide, 2% elastane. White only.

Stockists: 01295 265557 or mail order through Blooming Marvellous 0870 751 8944
On line: www.royce-lingerie.co.uk or through www.bloomingmarvellous.co.uk

Why you'd want it: Babyworld verdict: A straight talking, fuss free feeding bra which is practical and fairly priced.

Testers' comments:

+ Very comfortable to wear and well fitting. The drop cup fastens with a snap hook which is really well positioned for easily accessible, quick, one-hand securing. Good quality fabric which washes well and retains its support unlike others I have tried which have become very floppy after a few washes. Fairly priced.

The only negative I could find for this bra is that it looks and feels a little mumsy but I guess breast-feeding is not really the most sexiest of times!!

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National Childbirth Trust
Mava 3 drop cup bra

What you get: Drop cup bra with hook fastenings, embroidered top half of the cup, cotton bottom half. Available in 32 C,D,DD, 34-38 A,B,C,D,DD,E and 40 B,C,D,DD. 84% cotton, 13% polyamide and 3% elastane.

Stockists: 0141 636 0600 On line: www.nctms.co.uk

Why you'd want it: - Babyworld verdict: Supportive and feed friendly but not the best for discretion under fitted clothing.

Testers' comments:

This is a well-constructed bra which feels supportive without being heavy or making you feel too trussed up! It is very, very comfortable to wear. The drop cup fastenings are easy to use and the straps stay in place so it is easy to resecure after feeding.

Seems quite expensive, certainly more than I'd pay, but does work well so probably good value.

The seam between the embroidered and non-embroidered parts of the cup is very definite and quite noticeable through light summer clothing - especially if you wear a breast pad as well.

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Active Birth Centre
Active birth bra

What you get: Crop-top design nursing bra with adjustable sports-style back. Available in 34-44 B,C,D,DD,E,F on a 30 day free trial. 95% cotton, 5% elastane

Stockists: 0207 2816760 On line: www.activebirthcentre.com

Why you'd want it: Babyworld verdict: If you like the sporty look but have difficulty getting a good fit - this is good as it's crop-top design includes an adjust to fit feature.

Testers' comments:

Very comfortable and supportive. Sports style so you pull it on over your head but it is adjustable around the ribs to get the best fit. The drop cup is easy to undo and fasten and the breast pad stays in place even when you are feeding.

Supportive stretch fabric grows and shrinks well with the fullness of your breast but this is not a heavily constructed bra so might not be so great for really busty women. I wouldn't want to go jogging in it! The bra also gives you quite a pert shape - my husband thought it was all a bit pointy - rather the Madonna look! Felt OK to me but might not be everyone's taste.

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Elle MacPherson
Maternelle Nursing Bra

What you get: Drop cup bra with lined moulded cups. Available in 34-38, cups C,D and DD. 90% Tactel, 10% elastane. Black, lilac or pink sizes.

Stockists: Mail order through Blooming Marvellous 0870 751 8944 or JoJo Maman Bebe 0870 241 0560
On line: Through www.bloomingmarvellous.co.uk or www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk.

Why you'd want it: Babyworld verdict: Good if you are looking for something a bit different - lilac, pink and black make a refreshing change to white - but pricey and not the most practical.

Testers' comments:

A good fitting, comfortable bra. The drop cup design works well and holds breast pads in place even when dropped. The style and fabric used are good for disguising the breast pad - no awkward lumps or wrinkles showing through. It feels supportive and comes in lovely colours - nice to see something different.

Both cups are combined into one piece of fabric, so you don't have any cleavage - just a wide shelf of boob - which felt a bit odd and wasn't particularly flattering if you're not used to that kind of style.

Hand wash only - which is ridiculous for a feeding bra. I did wash it and it did survive, but presumably this would reduce the life of a bra which is really pretty expensive. I think you a paying for the Elle MacPherson name but it didn't really make me feel like a super model!

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National Childbirth Trust
Mava 12

What you get: Drop cup bra with zip-up cups. Available in 34-40 B,C,D,DD,E,F. 61% cotton, 28% polyamide, 8% viscose, 3% elastane. White only.

Stockists: 0141 636 0600 On line: www.nctms.co.uk

Why you'd want it: Babyworld verdict: So long as you are careful with the zips this is a bra built for comfort and support.

Testers' comments:

This was probably the most comfortable feeding bra I have ever worn. The supportive cotton under the cup gave me a good shape and made it feel rather like an underwired bra which is the type I normally prefer when not feeding. It felt well constructed and the fabric was soft and comfy.

The label says hand wash only - but I machine washed it and it washed beautifully. If you had to hand wash every time it would be a disaster.

The zip under the cups seemed a good idea and worked OK most of the time but I did catch my skin in the zip a number of time and that was agony! Also once the zip was undone the cup does not drop away very far so you really have to scoop yourself out of the bra to feed - otherwise the zip is in the baby's face. Not very discreet.

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Mothercare
Nursing bra 2 pack

What you get: Drop cup nursing bra with light lace trim. Available in 34-44 B,C,D,DD,E,F,G (except 44B) 73% cotton. 19% nylon , 8% Lycra. Comes in packs of two white bras or one white, one black.

Stockists: Tel 08453 30 40 30
On-line: www.mothercare.com

Why you'd want it: Babyworld verdict: Functional and a fair price but not the most supportive.

Testers' comments:

A well fitting bra which is comfortable to wear and easy to use. Very well priced. I really liked the black one - makes you feel far less of a feeding machine!
This bra washed really well over time and stayed in good condition - the black one didn't fade which was good.

The stretchy cotton makes this easy to wear but the support it gives seems to reduce as the day goes on - feels good at first but gradually the weight of my boobs seemed to overwhelm it! The drop cup is easily released with one hand but harder to resecure as the catch rides up quite high when unfastened and can be tricky to get a hold of again.

The only problem I have with these is that they don't offer brilliant support and so your boobs can look a bit saggy in them.

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