There is a wide range of brassiere styles available, designed to match different body types, situations, and outer garments. The degree of shaping and coverage of the breasts varies between styles, as do functionality, fashion, fabric, and color.
Nursing Bra
- A nursing bra is a brassiere that permits comfortable breastfeeding, without the need to remove the bra. The Importance of Fit Because of all of these size changes, a bra that accommodates this fluctuation is incredibly important, particularly during the first 2 months of breastfeeding. In addition to being important for comfort, an ill-fitting bra or a bra that does not grow or shrink with mom could result in infection if it is compressing a milk gland, for example. When a milk gland becomes compressed, it could clog and possibly result in an infection called mastitis. Extremely painful, mastitis is difficult for mom not just physically but emotionally. A well-fitting nursing bra provides support to the breasts and helps to maintain breast shape by limiting the stretching of supportive tissue.
Sports Bra
- Sports bra is a bra that provides the additional support for the breasts required during physical exercise. It is intended for wear during vigorous exercise that might cause the breasts to move uncomfortably or excessively, preventing discomfort and potential embarrassment during exercise. Sports bras are sturdier than regular bras and offer greater support for the chest during periods of exercise, thus increasing comfort and reducing the chance of damage to the ligaments of the chest.
- An underwire bra (also under wire bra, under-wire bra, or underwired bra) is a brassiere that has a wire built into the underside of the cup, and is intended to lift, separate, shape, and provide additional support for women's breasts. The underwire is a thin, U-shaped strip of metal, often with plastic or nylon tips, or a U-shaped, molded plastic piece that is fitted inside the cloth along the bottom and sides of the bra cup.