Best postpartum underwear: From nursing bras to disposable briefs

Easy-release bras and supportive underwear to carry you through postpartum changes

woman’s body changes constantly during the nine months of pregnancy and this doesn’t stop once your baby is born.

While every person is different, everyone will experience breast size changes and postpartum bleeding, whether you’ve had a vaginal delivery or caesarean section.

These changes to the size and shape of your body mean that you may need to buy new underwear for the first few months after the birth of your baby. Your breasts will have grown during pregnancy and whether you choose to breastfeed or not, non-wired maternity and nursing bras as they are much more comfortable for tender breasts.

Postpartum pants are also really important, both for comfort if you have a c-section wound, and to cope with lochia - this is the name given to the vaginal discharge and bleeding women experience after labour.

This bleeding usually lasts from four to six weeks but can continue for longer. It is heavier than a period, especially in the first few days. Prepare by adding maternity pads, disposable postpartum pants and other underwear to your hospital bag. Do not use tampons or menstrual cups for postpartum bleeding as they can introduce bacteria, which could lead to an infection.

Pants to wear after you’ve had your baby are probably one of the most important items you need to think about in the run-up to your due date.

As mentioned, you might have a c-section wound which you will need to care for, or you may have had a vaginal tear or episiotomy which can take time to heal. Keeping these areas clean and comfortable will be one of your top priorities in the first few weeks.

Many women choose large, cotton pants which are comfortable to wear, can accommodate maternity pads and have a waistband which lies above a c-section scar. There are lots of different options available on the market, for all budgets and sizes. Others choose to buy disposable maternity pants but if you are eco-conscious there are plenty of other options available.

Period pants aren’t recommended for the first few weeks as your bleeding may be heavier than usual menstruation: put it this way, you may need to change a pad or pants every few hours. Postpartum pants can hold a greater volume - up to 60mls or 12 tampons’ worth, in some cases. These designs are becoming more widely available but are more expensive than regular underwear, due to the absorbent technology.

Meg Murray Jones from the Postpartum Plan team advises: “Please do not rely on postpartum pants for any urinary leaking or incontinence. This is a sign of pelvic floor issues that can be resolved with the right exercises with a physio.”

It’s likely that even before your new arrival’s birth, you’ll have had to buy some new bras. Milk ducts start to develop at around three or four months which is when regular bras may start to feel tight or uncomfortable. It’s advisable to swap to a non-wired bra at this point and to get measured a couple of times during your pregnancy so you know you’re wearing the correct size.

Maternity bras have a number of features which differ from a traditional bra. They will either be non-wire or have what is called ‘flexi-wire’ which flexes with your body as the diaphragm expands in the latter stages of pregnancy. The bras all have four or six hooks and eyes, rather than the usual three. This allows you to loosen the band as your ribcage expands.

New mothers are advised not to wear a flexi-wire bra for the first few weeks after having the baby. Your breasts will be changing size at this time and if you’re breastfeeding your milk supply may take some time to adapt to your baby’s needs, so you don’t want to risk any milk duct blockages as this could lead to mastitis.

Other features include an A-frame which creates a triangle shape around your breast, helpful when you drop the cup down to feed your newborn. This suits larger breasts as it offers a greater level of coverage and support. The alternative is a side sling which cradles the bust from the side and offers less coverage but more skin-on-skin contact.

Many bras will be cotton-lined and have hidden seams to avoid any irritation or chafing. Most maternity bras are also suitable for breastfeeding which means once you’ve shelled out on a couple during your pregnancy, you should be able to keep wearing it for the duration of the postpartum period.

Once you have had the all-clear to exercise again from your GP you may also want to buy a maternity workout bra.

Scroll on to read the top picks for postpartum underwear

Seraphine is a hugely-popular maternity wear brand, popular for its stylish, high-quality clothes. Its bras are no different and the Blush Lace Maternity Bra is not only practical with its 100 per cent cotton lining, adjustable straps and soft lace sling, but it’s also feminine too. New mums deserve something attractive and comfortable to wear when they’re exhausted and feeding a newborn and this bra fits the bill perfectly.

The Blush bra comes in black and white and goes up to size 38F. Seraphine has a huge range of other maternity bras - and pants - to browse online.

As you’d expect from M&S, these padded, non-wired bras are cracking value for money and come in either a black and white two-pack or navy and light pink. They have added stretch for comfort, four rows of hooks and eyes and easy-release nursing clips. They are pretty yet practical and have a broad size range, going up to a size G cup in 38 and an F in 42.

It is worth trying on the bras to ensure the cups are flexible and can fold down easily for feeding before you take the labels off. £30 for two.

A period pants market leader, Thinx also makes pants for postpartum. This set is an investment at £157, but for your money you'll get five pairs of black underwear, the most absorbent of which can hold up to five regular tampons' worth of liquid. One to reach for a few days or weeks after baby's arrival, they're comfortable enough to wear to bed and promise peace of mind over the state of your bedsheets.

The Modibodi briefs are a good alternative to using pads when your bleeding starts to ease. They’re suitable for a moderate-heavy flow, which means their absorbent lining holds about 15ml, or 2-3 tampons’ worth of blood. We know it’s not easy to measure how much you’re bleeding so these figures should only be taken as a guide.

The pants are high-waisted with cross-bonded panels for tummy and back support. They are made from pre-consumer recycled nylon fabric and go up to size 20/3XL. The downside of these pants is that they’re not cheap and if wearing them daily you’ll need to buy a few pairs to use on rotation.

Modibodi recommends washing the underwear before its first wear to activate the technology in the lining.

If you’re bleeding heavily and don’t want to ruin existing underwear, you might choose to buy some disposable underwear. Obviously, this has a greater environmental impact than cotton pants that can be reused, and many may not choose this option.

However, the FridaMom pants are perfectly designed for the postpartum period. They are stretchy and high-waisted, but won’t roll down over a c-section wound. They are roomy enough to accommodate a maternity pad and are mesh-free and latex-free. Another big plus? They can be ripped off at the sides, useful if you’re struggling with pain in the first day or two after giving birth.

These are a great alternative to the ugly, see-through underwear hospitals often provide so you may want to include these in your hospital bag, if only for a few wears.

They’re suitable for waist 70-110cm and come in packs of eight which makes this good value for money.

WUKA is another period pant brand with products women can use for the postpartum weeks and months. This set includes their Midi Brief Super Heavy Flow pants and their Heavy Flow underwear too. They are stretchy and breathable and made from Tencel™ fabric which they say is 3.5x softer than cotton. The Super Heavy Flow pants have a double absorbent layer in the gusset which can hold up to 60ml of blood while keeping things leak-free.

The pants come in sizes XS up to 4XL and are safe to be machine washed (after rinsing) at 30° or 40°.

Currently on sale at £91 for a pack of four.

JoJo Maman Bebe’s bras may be simple compared to others, but they are extremely comfortable and practical.

Made from 95 per cent cotton and 5 per cent elastane, they stretch over changing breasts during pregnancy and afterwards, once your child is born. They offer gentle support and can be worn comfortably at night. A breast pad can be slipped easily behind the material and the crossover front makes feeding access easy.

The bras come in packs of two and are available in black and white. Sizing is available in S, M and L.

£22 for a pack of two.

These award-winning bras have been designed with maximum comfort for new mums. They are non-wired and seamfree with stretchy fabric to accommodate your changing breasts and growing ribcage. The fabric is soft which will be welcome for those dealing with sore nipples and tender breasts.

The bra has removable foam pads, drop-down cups and nursing clips. It comes in black, white and beige and the sizes range from S to XL. Latched bras come in at a good price and if you just had one to wear and one in the wash you’d probably be set for the postpartum phase.

These are not strictly postpartum pants but many have reported that they are perfect for wearing after having a baby - and for a long time after!

Cost-aside, the benefit is that they are full brief so you should be able to fit a maternity pad inside if you’re using one and leaks should be limited. Also, they come up high over your waist and are seamfree which will be comfortable if you’ve had a c-section.

The drawback? They’re not made from cotton (instead a 94 per cent polyester and 6 per cent elastane) which may put off anyone who has had vaginal stitches.

£6 for a pack of three.

Hotmilk started life in New Zealand after being founded by a mother of three who wanted to make beautiful underwear for pregnant women and new mums.

The award-winning brand has many style, but the Show Off bra is a bestseller. It’s wireless with a full cup and discreet A-frame feeding support. The bra goes up to size 42H and comes in black, ivory, peppercorn and mocha, with matching briefs for all colours. It’s an attractive, yet practical bra which is suitable for everyday wear.

That said, it is a more expensive option which may off-putting for some.