Mumsnet Talk

Hello!
I'm looking for comfy, supportive maternity bra that still gives a nice shape and not sure where to start. This is pregnancy 2 and last time I went to m and s to be measured and whilst the cup was ok the band around was just too rigid and restrictive. I ended up with the bravado bras which I loved for their stretchy band and comfort. This time around though I've just started wearing them at nearly 20 weeks and they just seem to make the bottom of my boobs go into a square shape- attractive hey!!! I'm around a 36E non pregnant and would love to hear about a bra with a stretchy band around under boobs and cups that still allow my boobs to be round and supported- does it exist?!

Try Bravissimo. They will spend time with you and recommend some bras that fit your description.

I'm 20 weeks and wearing normal bras, just gone up a few sizes. I agree, go to Bravissimo - M&S is not really good at bra fitting.

It is ok to wear normal bras too, provided they fit properly

True- didn't think of that if I'm honest! Will try to get to a bravissimo as soon as I can to see if they can sort me out- it's driving me mad at the moment!

I would wear normal underwired bras until later in pregnancy. As long as they fit well they are fine. I hate non wired bras and find they really don't support that well. I wore underwires until about 7-8 months.

I'm a 36e! But I eventually give up with buying underwired bras because they have become far too expensive! I got myself some nursing bras from asda for £6 each (I think) and I'm glad i did. However I am further on than you... X

I was just about to start a similar thread! In my last pregnancy I was measured at mothercare, m&s, jojo man Bebe and others, and was given measurements ranging from 34e to 42e! This time I got a bra at a posh independent shop which made me look flat and pointy (and I left with my esteem in tatters after the woman basically said my boobs were ruined and recommended her plastic surgeon!). It cost me £50 and lasted 4 weeks. On Saturday I got measured again at jojo Amman Bebe and she's put me in a 38b. I'm pretty sure I'm not a b cup-more like a d.
I despair!! And, none of the places would even consider selling me wires!

Muggle, go to Bravissimo. Or alternatively, tell me your under- and overbust measurements and I can tell you approximately how far off Jojo was

Thanks! I'm 32 under and 40/42 over. Will try bravissimo!

Muggle - I've been having the same problem - I found a great site last night here
I've gone from 34F to 38GG and I'm only 14+6

I love my Hot Milk bra - I was advised not to get any underwired while growing my milk-bags…

Good luck

PS - that site makes you a 34G x

Muggle and they put you in 38B???
Yes I would recommend something around 32FF/G/GG

That site makes me a 28H, but 30 bands are almost uncomfortable, so don't think I'm 28. I think it depends these days were you get measured, some use the add 4/5 if even or odd onto band size some don't so its all pretty confusing. Ive been wearing primark seamless bras for support, there abit like genie bras but a lot less at only 3 pound. I bought m&s maternity bras and absolutely hated them, they looked pointy and horrible, took them back xx

Thanks for that! It's an Emma Jane bra-the cup does seem quite big but her assessment of me was that I was 'broad with small cups' - I'm a size 12 and only 14 weeks so I don't think I'm really that broad?! I'd just like to find a bra shop that doesn't make me feel like a freak!!

Have you been measured at Debenhams muggle I found them good, and tried on some nice comfortable bras, pre pregnancy though

No, a size 12 with 32 underbust measurement is not broad. Bravissimo will sort you out.

Beckie, but what cup do you have in 30 band? If it's too small, the bra will feel tight and uncomfortable, even if the back is actually too big.

It's just the back but saying that, its m&s everywere else I got 30 from fits perfect. I got measured at Ann summers, Debenhams, and la senza as a 30GG before pregnancy, they all said same my underbust is 26 so they must use the add 4/5 on.

Haven't tried debenhams Beckie... Have an embarrassing memory of getting measured there for my first bra, aged 13, and the woman marching into my cubicle and exposing my boobs to the whole shop!!
How do these people get it so wrong?! They all have their certificates on the walls saying they're trained in bra fitting!

If your underbust is 26 then you need a 26 bra (hard to find indeed, I'm afraid) and bigger cup. La senza, Ann Summers and M&S are horrible at bra fitting - Debenhamns can be hit and miss, but most likely they just didn't have any 26 backs in stock.
a sample of VS fitting service:
www.investinyourchest.co.uk/victorias-secret-open-london-flagship-store

Thats awful, they was great with me, but i think it also depends on different areas and staff too. Have no idea, but I do think that people use different ways for measuring and thats usually why they come up so different, but luckily I've never had that, the 3 places I went all said same, just that Ann summers said they didn't stock 30 and la senza round here no longer do large bust sizes, so just left Debenhams for me

Yea I know Victoria secrets give you the band size you measure. However all places dont, some bands are smaller than others would be in a different store, m&s measure chart says for there 30 band size underbust should measure 25.5. I tried 28 on in Debenhams and it was just too tight it dug in a little too much wereas 30 is perfect, so I've just stuck to that size since. But if I prob went to London and go to VS then most likely I'd be a 26/28. Says online the 4/5 method is an old fashioned way of measuring, so I guess the places I've been are old fashioned lol but its very rubbish here for anything like that.

I've not been measured since been pregnant cause just been wearing the stretchy seamless bras, but just done a measure, and I'm still 26 under and 38.5 over, think I was 37 overbust before x

I've found a lot depends on the style of the bra. Two bras in the same size, from the same shop, but different styles (eg full cup vs balcony vs plunge) can fit me very differently.

I suggest going somewhere like Bravissimo, getting measured, but then trying on a bunch of different styles to see what fits comfortably. And trust how it feels - I've been reliably told that I'm a 28 back size, but I just find this too restrictive so I go for 30 and am much happier with this. The numbers are a good starting point but focus on the fit.

I'm on pg number 2 and this time around my cup size seems not to have changed too much (firmer but around the same size) but obviously I'm bigger round the rib cage so my back size has gone up.

I bought a bra extender from John Lewis haberdashery for the princely sum of £3 at around 20 weeks and that's done me up until now (31 weeks). I feel like the wire is digging in to my bump more now though so I'll be bra shopping this weekend. Bravissimo sorted me out last time, and there was none of this "no wires" nonsense. The fit is the thing, not whether it's underwired or not.

This weekend I bought two bras from Mothercare and they feel great, one was this maternity one and the other was this nursing one. The woman in the shop was adamant I didn't need the maternity one (I already know this as I'm only 5 weeks!) but the only difference is the clips and it was too comfortable not to buy!

* sorry, I meant, she was adamant I didn't need the nursing one...

I second what sleepy head said about bra back extenders. They have been a life saver to me when cup size has not changed and to improve comfort. I bought them in white and black. My SiL said they will come in very handy after baby is born too

Figleaves x

I found after my fourth child that I went from a 38 under bust measurement when pregnant, down to a 32. I have used bra extenders this time because I ended up going through so many bras last time in a couple of months and they are expensive.

I found Debenhams were good and small independent shops the best for fitting, but not so much choice.

Another vote for Bravissimo - M&S fitted me for these awful 50s style non-wired bras that made me want to cry, having bullied me into not going for wired bras (she also insisted I was a 44C when I have been a 36G for nearly a decade).

I only went up a back and bra size at 20 weeks and although it was £38 it's pretty comfortable and have an extender if it gets tighter.

So I followed your advice and went to Bravissimo...my life (or boobs at least!) are transformed! Brilliant fitting and advice, no messing about with rubbish non-wired tent monstrosities, and quite reasonably priced! Thanks for the tip!

Also they fitted me at a 34E, despite Jo Jo maman bebe's claim that I'm a 38B!

Glad it worked out Muggle these things are SO important x