A breast pad (50, 101, 201, 301, 401. 501) for nursing mothers comprising: an absorbent material (31, 231, 331, 431, 531, 831, 931, 1031, 1131) having an asymmetric footprint, a liquid permeable front surface (27, 227) and a liquid impermeable back surface (29, 229), the absorbent material (31, 231, 331, 431, 531, 831, 931, 1031, 1131) arranged to absorb liquid that permeates the front surface (27, 227), wherein the absorbent material (31, 231, 331, 431, 531, 831, 931, 1031, 1131) comprises a body, a perimeter (36, 136, 536, 836), and at least one cut-out portion (33, 34, 133, 633, 733, 734, 833, 834) extending inwardly from the perimeter (36, 136, 536, 836) into the body, wherein, the cut-out portion (33, 34, 133, 633, 733, 734, 833, 834) comprises two opposing edges (54, 55, 60, 61, 154, 155, 554, 555, 854, 855,860, 861) each with a shaping portion (56, 57, 62, 63, 156, 156, 556, 557), wherein the absorbent material (31, 231, 331, 431, 531, 831, 931, 1031, 1131) is adapted such that the perimeter (36, 136, 536, 836) around the absorbent material (31, 231, 331, 431, 531, 831, 931, 1031, 1131) is a first length in a first configuration and, in a second configuration, the two shaping portions (56, 57, 62, 63, 156, 156, 556, 557) are positioned closer together such that the perimeter length is reduced; and wherein the breast pad (50, 101, 201, 301, 401. 501) comprises an upper portion (35, 335, 435, 835) and a lower portion (37, 337, 437, 837) and wherein in the lower portion (37, 337, 437, 837) the absorbent material (31, 231, 331, 431, 531, 831, 931, 1031, 1131) is adapted to have increased absorbent capacity. an absorbent material (31, 231, 331, 431, 531, 831, 931, 1031, 1131) having an asymmetric footprint, a liquid permeable front surface (27, 227) and a liquid impermeable back surface (29, 229), the absorbent material (31, 231, 331, 431, 531, 831, 931, 1031, 1131) arranged to absorb liquid that permeates the front surface (27, 227), wherein the absorbent material (31, 231, 331, 431, 531, 831, 931, 1031, 1131) comprises a body, a perimeter (36, 136, 536, 836), and at least one cut-out portion (33, 34, 133, 633, 733, 734, 833, 834) extending inwardly from the perimeter (36, 136, 536, 836) into the body, wherein, the cut-out portion (33, 34, 133, 633, 733, 734, 833, 834) comprises two opposing edges (54, 55, 60, 61, 154, 155, 554, 555, 854, 855,860, 861) each with a shaping portion (56, 57, 62, 63, 156, 156, 556, 557), wherein the absorbent material (31, 231, 331, 431, 531, 831, 931, 1031, 1131) is adapted such that the perimeter (36, 136, 536, 836) around the absorbent material (31, 231, 331, 431, 531, 831, 931, 1031, 1131) is a first length in a first configuration and, in a second configuration, the two shaping portions (56, 57, 62, 63, 156, 156, 556, 557) are positioned closer together such that the perimeter length is reduced; and wherein the breast pad (50, 101, 201, 301, 401. 501) comprises an upper portion (35, 335, 435, 835) and a lower portion (37, 337, 437, 837) and wherein in the lower portion (37, 337, 437, 837) the absorbent material (31, 231, 331, 431, 531, 831, 931, 1031, 1131) is adapted to have increased absorbent capacity.