In this day of instant communication, international travel and the availability of brands in most corners of the globe, there still remains a mystery surrounding two phrases. What is the difference between a nursing bra and a breastfeeding bra?

Coming from the Southern Hemisphere, "breastfeeding bra" was the term I came across when I went searching for a bra to make feeding my first daughter fuss free and to give me the extra support and comfort I needed during this time. Not being able to find a sexy, feminine bra with these features, I did identify a significant gap in the market and so launched my own maternity lingerie company. And during this journey, I naturally spent a lot of time researching products and was introduced to the Northern Hemisphere term, nursing bra. Yes, quite simply, they are one and the same.

Like maternity bras, nursing bras come in all shapes and sizes and with a variety of features. A-frame or side sling, full cup or three quarter. Double cotton lined, lace edged, be-ribboned and frilled. Smooth, seam free and functional. Made from technologically advanced fabrics with six rows of hooks and eyes for adjustment when your diaphragm expands and contracts. Wider than usual shoulder straps for comfort and support with power elastene wings for added strength and shaping. Both nursing bras and maternity bras possess these important features.

Did you know though, that both maternity and nursing bras can be worn during pregnancy too? The changes women experience around the end of the first trimester and again at the end of the second trimester are similar to those experienced when your milk comes in (your breasts will increase in size, often quite dramatically) and then decrease, once a regular feeding pattern is established. Coping with these size fluctuations, the comfort level and the ability to retain their shape is exactly what nursing bras – and maternity bras – are designed to do.

Mystery solved!