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In a nutshell

Comfy nursing bra with pretty detailing, that's easy to unclasp and offers excellent support – it's easy to see why it's a must-have for many breastfeeding mums

What we tested

  • Comfort
    A star rating of 4.5 out of 5.
  • Support
    A star rating of 4.5 out of 5.
  • Ease of use
    A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
  • Discreetness
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
  • Style
    A star rating of 3.5 out of 5.
  • Worth the money
    A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
Overall Rating
A star rating of 4.4 out of 5.

Pros

  • Good support and shape, cups made of comfy cotton, easy to unclasp and do up cups, pretty detailing on cups

Cons

  • Quite thick straps that might show under clothes

The Emma Jane Nursing Bra 428 is a brilliant basic for breastfeeding mothers. Not only is it incredibly easy to release and do up the cups, it offers fantastic support and is ultra-comfy to boot.

I found the Emma Jane Nursing Bra invaluable when breastfeeding my baby son Elliot. I bought one in black and one in white, and used them constantly. Of all the bras I tried during a department store fitting, it offered the firmest support, and was easily the best fit – though this will, of course, be down to your personal shape.

Four hook positions at the back mean that, if your weight fluctuates – as we all know can be the case after having a baby – you should be able to adjust it sufficiently. However, remember, you shouldn't buy a nursing bra too early; wait til the last month of pregnancy at the earliest, and always have a proper fitting,

What we love

The fact it's so simple to unclasp the individual cups, thanks to nifty plastic clips on each side. I found you could do this one-handedly quite discreetly - definitely an issue when you're a new mum in a public place, trying not to expose your nipples to total strangers, and balancing a crying baby under one arm! It also worked fine with both disposable and washable fabric breast pads.

Finding a bra that offers good support is vital when breastfeeding as your breasts may well be larger than usual. Fortunately the team at Emma Jane has thought of everything – the bra has a double layer of fabric in the undercups for extra support, while the straps and bra sides are made of cotton elastane with restricted stretch to offer extra control. The thick supportive band under the bust meant I never felt my breasts were in danger of escaping!

For me personally, the fact the cups are made of breathable cotton, with seams that wouldn't rub, was highly important, and something I felt might be an issue with some of the more synthetic bras I tried. Countless nursing mum (myself included) do suffer from excruciatingly sore nipples, and you won't want anything to exacerbate this problem.

I found the Emma Jane Nursing Bra 428 washed incredibly well, and continued to offer a good shape. All in all, it's no surprise to learn this bra is a past award-winner from Practical Parenting magazine, amongst others.

What to watch out for

If you're looking for super-sexy lingerie, this might not be top choice. Although it has some pretty detailing on the cups, it also has quite thick straps that could show under skimpy or low-cut tops, and errs a little on the side of 'boulder-holder' in its design. That said, there are far, far dowdier nursing bras out there.

Who is the Emma Jane Nursing Bra 428 best for?

Mum who want a quality nursing bra that's comfy and practical.

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MadeForMums verdict

Nursing bras are often the first items on new mums' shopping lists, and this is a must-have at a good price. The team at Emma Jane are experts at providing specialist maternity underwear, and this bra is a feat of simple engineering, offering great control, shape, ease of use and comfort. However, always make sure you have a professional fitting before buying any nursing bra, as the size and shape of your breasts may change.

Product Specifications

Product
BrandEmma Jane
ModelNursing Bra 428
Price£20.00
Available sizes32B-42G
StyleNursing
Features
Mechanism to allow feedingDrop cup
Fastening4 hook and eyes. Plastic clips on each should strap for drop cups
UnderwiredNo
Made from95% Cotton, 5% Elastane
Washing instructionsMachine washable
Features
  • Non-underwired
  • Drop cup
  • Bow in centre
  • Lacy detailing on top of cups
Accessories
Optional extrasBra extender
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