Maternity bras

[zinnia]

Just coming to end of 1st trimester and gone up a cup size (painfully).

Got a real lecture at the till in M&S yesterday for buying underwires in a D cup - was only planning to wear them for a month or so before swtiching to non-wired maternity bras, but SO depressed about range available. The only really nice ones I've seen are Agent Provocateur and they're £60 a pop!

Can anyone who's gone up to about my size or more recommend a really supportive, non-hideous bra? I've looked at M&S and Elle Macpherson but not inspired by either (esp not the former).

Also when do I really need to give up the wires?

[BellaBear]

My GP said that I didn't need to give up the underwiring as long as the bra fits properly, if that helps

[zinnia]

That is absolute music to the ears! thank you!

[whenachildisbob]

zinnia - as long as you are measured regularly you can still wear underwiring.

I've just bought 3 new bras from Bravissimo and had a bit of a lecture about not having been in til 24 weeks. I should have had my first fitting at around 15 weeks

Get measured properly - don't guess. When you are measured the bra should be at the tightest fitting while you are pg so that as your ribcage expands you can loosen it. When you're not pg you fit the bra at it's loosest and tighten the fitting over time as the material stretches.

I've been told I shouldn't need to go back for another bra size until 2 weeks before baby so I can get fitted for nursing bras.

Bravissimo can fit over the phone as long as you;re willing to describe in detail what your exisitng bra looks like ie are you spilling our over the cups, by how much and how doe it fit across your back - that kind of thing.

I was undergoing investigation for breast lumps when I was expecting dd and I saw a top level breast consultant bloke who said underwiring was fine through pregnancy, but has to be well fitted and not restricted.

I would personally go to a bra specialist if poss, rather than M&S/John Lewis etc who have always got it wrong in my experience.

I've gone up to a 34GG and my new bras are fab

[violeta]

I'm 33 weeks and still wearing underwires (am a DD cup now from a B before pregnancy ] I've also got a lecture each time I've got re-fitted from the M and S fitters, but I've read that as long as the wires don't touch your breasts it's absolutely fine. I tried on a maternity bra last time at the fitter's insistence and I just don't think they give the same support...

Be aware incidentally that you're likely to go up a cup size or so more over the next few months, so it's never worth forking out too much...

[zinnia]

Thank you both so much, that's really helpful. I can feel a trip to Rigby & Peller coming on (though their maternity range is no better than anyone else's, judging by the website)

I'm reconciled to submitting to nursing bras in the 3rd trimester, but the thought of the next 5 months without "proper" support just fills me with horror!

[spackcat]

They are hideous, aren't they?! I am 36 weeks and a 40B I think, but am wearing 38C non underwired but padded(got them off ebay). Finding it comfortable enough (am so used to underwiring!) but impossible in the area I live to find hardly anything - let alone (god-forebid) nice! And also why is it so hard to find a nursing bra that is padded? It took ages to find some that weren't ridiculously priced (come on, how long do you wear them for considering how much your tits may inflate/deflate during and after pg/bf?!) and that was on ebay (unworn and boxed, charity seller). Just because your are pg/bf doesn't mean you want to wear a bra that makes you have a mono-boob that's flatter than your pre-pregnancy bossom and looks like a relic from you great great grandma's undercracker drawer!!

[whenachildisbob]

zinnia - you don't need a maternity bra - any ordinary or damn gorgeous bra will do as long as it fits well.

I've got a rather yummy scarlet one on order as I type

[zinnia]

spackcat - couldn't agree more!

whenachildisbob - Hooray! thanks again, so reassuring to know that my newly-enhanced shape can be adequately supported for the foreseeable future.

[supergirl2000]

I was nearly in tears at the awfullness of the maternity bras in my current size (36FF).
Then the kind fitting lady at bravissimo told me that people only say not to use underwires incase the wires dig into the milk ducts at the edges of your boobs. As long as the underwire goes round the outside of your boobs and doesn't dig in at all there is no reason not to wear them

[mumofk]

Just one more thought- why maternity bras AND breastfeeding bras- except to give loads of money to the shops? If you BF, you will go through range of boob sizes, eventually back to prior size (though if your like me completely different shape!) so maternity bras are just a money making gimmic. I BF for 2 yrs and went back to normal bras/bra size after about 8 months, but definately going through range of sizes as I'm using them now.Even if you don't BF your boobs will still go through the changes, just quicker I guess. Just wish I hadn't bought mat bras first time around, as this time I much prefer my BF bras for comfort and fit (and slightly better looks, but I'm a comfort rather than style girl).
Underwire or not underwire- where what you like, stop if it hurts?! Blocked ducts HURT.

[tab]

Hi. Like others have said, I dont think you need to give up the wires - so long as it fits. Have you tried figleaves.com? I remember buying their Anita maternity bras which are underwired - I think they double as maternity/nursing giving good support. I hate not to wear underwired bras too.
Fig leaves has other makes too I think and they're not preposterously expensive! Hope this helps. Im sure you could find the Anita make on other sites too.

[spugs]

i like mothercares t shirt style maternity bras, there actually nice to look at and give you a nice shape unlike some of the horrors ive tried. plus you can get it in bright pink

[daisynova]

I got measured at about 20 weeks and the fitterin Debenhams was very shocked to find that I had been wearing my usual 34A - I had gone up to a 36D by this point! No wonder I was in agony.

I bought some nice non-UW bras for the rest of the pregnancy but find that they show when wearing my maternity t-shirts and tops. Also they don't give me a nice shape at all

I can't wait to get back to normal decent bras after this pregnancy is over!

[moominsmummy]

always found bravissimo to be fab - i used to totally hate bra shopping but now it feels like a treat - they instantly found me a very comfy shapely underwire bra for pregnancy - again no probs with underwires here - am even thinking of doing some diy on my nice underwire bras so they can become breastfeeding bras

(I got my bf bras out the other day and was so depressed at them - they just give no support at all yuk yuk yuk)

[mitfordsisters]

If anyone lectures you on wearing underwires in pregnancy(or eating prawns), just kick them in the shins and run away.

I got lovely bras from Triumph thus And they're on sale!!