Is it safe to wear underwired bras during pregnancy?
There does not seem to be any concrete evidence to show that wearing underwired bras during pregnancy may be harmful. However, there appears to be a potential risk. Many midwives and retail outlets advise against purchasing underwiring in pregnancy. The reasoning behind this advice appears to be that the rigid wire may interfere with the natural changes in size and shape of the breast during pregnancy. This may obstruct the increased blood flow or “squash” of the developing milk duct system, causing pain, discomfort and possibly mastitis. Changes to the breasts start much earlier than most women expect. By the sixth week of pregnancy tenderness and slight enlargement has already taken place. It is not uncommon for the breasts to become “lumpy” in the first three months as the milk duct system begins to develop. The dark skin around the nipple (areola) becomes more prominent and darker in colour. The veins beneath the skin are more visible due to the increase in blood supply needed for
