Can i wear a nursing bra when pregnant?

[iWILLdothis]

Need to order online, desperately need new bras....
I'm thinking of breastfeeding and IF my boobs happen not to get much bigger between now and due date (but I'm only 16wks now), then the same bra might do for breastfeeding as well? Is there any reason why I shouldn't wear a nursing bra when pregnant?
Ok....reading over this it sounds like a really dumb question , I can't think of any reason why I shouldn't....but maybe there's something I'm missing?? Any advice?
Tia

[MrsJamin]

It's a good question - choose a hotmilk bra and they do for both pregnancy and nursing so you can justify the higher price :) The best bit is it has a lot of different clasps at the back so it adjusts throughout pregnancy and nursing.

[magicmelons]

I wouldn't you need to be resized for bras once you milk comes in, ill fitting bras can give you mastitis.

Another point is that they are quite ugly and give a dowdy shape under clothes, i would stick to a well fitting ordinary bra for as long as you can. I flipping hated my feeding bras and couldn't wait to by some nice underwear when i stopped feeding both times, that said i found the elle mc phearson intimates the best out of a bad lot.

[onadietcokebreak]

You can but you have another 24 weeks to go. It is likely that a bra will have stretched alot in that time and may not offer you the support you need even if boobs stay the same.

I was going to get a nursing bra but none fit me in local shop...(I am huge!)
Have got my normal wired bra which I have been assured is fine as long as it fits properly and doesnt dig in.

[littlemisslozza]

I do. In my first pregnancy I didn't as I went to get measured for nursing bras at around 36 weeks thinking that would be when I was at my biggest (until the milk came in obviously!). I'm now expecting DC3 and in this pg and the last I wore my nursing bras as maternity bras too - I seem to be 'unblessed' in the boob growth dept, throughout pregnancy and feeding they pretty much stay the same. Mine were from M&S btw.

[iWILLdothis]

thanks for your reply....i looked at the hotmilk website, but I want a t-shirt bra and didn't see any on their website. I must admit all of their stuff is gorgeous though! I think the mothercare ones also have a lot of clasps at the back.

[magicmelons]

mrsjasmin i was just eyeing up hotmilk lingerie the other day particularly there cami top, is it good quality? Not too scratchy? Am going away with dh for romanticfilthy weekend in July and will be the size of a small house.

[onadietcokebreak]

DO NOT BUY MOTHERCARE IF YOU WANT A DECENT SUPPORTIVE BRA

Excuse caps lock but seriously just dont waste your money or time!

[UniS]

If its a comfy well fitting bra why not. it may not be a bra you wear while brest feeding if your shape changes a lot but it maybe a bra you wear again in future and its will be a bra you wear now.
Personally I found nursing bras had nice wide comfy straps and bought a couple that fit me very nicely during pregnancy , I then didn't wear them in the early months of feeding but as I reduced the the feeding I went back to the bras I'd bought and worn in pregnancy.

[magicmelons]

I really didn't rate mothercare bras, in the end just used the to sleep in as they were so crap.

[iWILLdothis]

ok....3 more replies in the meantime....
magicmelons, I didn't know elle mcperson did maternity stuff too....where can I buy the range?
onadietcokebreak me too (36F)....so they didn't have that size in local store. Also wondered about normal underwired ones, that puts my mind at ease thanks.
littlemissloza I was in M&S yest & asked for help but no one was in the least bit helpful so I thought "stuff you" and left the store.

[magicmelons]

I bought mine in House of frazer but you can by it online http://www.figleaves.com/uk/nsf/qwiser.asp?term=elle%20macpherson%20maternity here worth the money, saw me through 2 babies, really good quality.

[magicmelons]

i had a couple of these and they don't look great in the pic but give really good support and not too ugly.

[onadietcokebreak]

If you are a 36F stay away from Mothercare and M&S they will increase your back size too much just to get you in the cup.

When I was much younger I trained as a lingerie fitter. I know what fits and what doesnt but even I was persuded by the fitters in mothercare that " Dear you need to go with what fits you not what is comfortable. Its supportive enough honest" Cue a weeping rash under my boobs.

Similar fitting probs in M&S

Do you live near a bravissimo? If not mail order- one postage charge, free returns and if you order an exchange if first one doesnt fit they dont charge postage again. Great advice by phone.

[moragbellingham]

Yes, Mothercare bras are rubbish.
My boobs inflated incredibly just after birth and they were big beforehand. Had to rush out and buy more as I was getting through 1-2 bras a day with glorious leakage problems. (Lansinoh breast pads were the best by far - just not to swim in)
Elle Mcpherson maternelle bras are good (esp in the John Lewis 1/2 sale, all of mine were) as they are relatively expandable.

[moragbellingham]

Just realised magicmelons and I are both recommending the same bra!
Freya now do nursing bras too BTW - they are good.

[iWILLdothis]

onadietcokebreak that is just what the fitter in mothercare said to me yesterday....a 34F fitted me perfectly but she said no, you need a 36F so it will fit as your ribs expand as preg continues.

Don't live near bravissimo but have ordered from them before.

BUT I want a t-shirt bra and i don't see any on bravissimo or hotmilk[wails]...haven't finished checking figleaves site though.

[onadietcokebreak]

They are still rubbish then! You can wear a wired one. Normally a bra should fit on middle hook or first one (if only two hooks) to allow for change/material loosening after prolonged use.

I would recommend a wired t-shirt one that fits well on tighest setting to allow for ribcage.

From memory I was a 36f when last pregnant and they tried to get me in a 42G or H. Rubbish!

[KristinaM]

No, get a t shirt one in bravissimo. If you wear it most days for the next 24 weeks it will be pretty much done anyway. You need the unwiring and you will miss it when you are bf

I am a 32e normally and a 34 GG or H when bf. You might be too big for the hot milk bras later

[WincyEtNightie]

I've only skimmed the replies (sorry) but think I am going with the flow here anyway...

If you are an F cup already I'd stay away from Mothercare & M&S and stick with either John Lewis, Bravissimo or another place with a properly trained lingerie fitter.

TBH I stayed in underwire until well over 30 weeks for both pregnancies. John Lewis are trained to discourage that I think, but the Bravissimo lady told me that as long as you are not wearing a badly fitting underwire it won't be pressing on the tissue anyway and should be fine.

If you are unlucky and really sprout (I didn't hugely - was big enough anyway ) it might mean a couple of changes of bras so stick cheap and go down the "one to wash, one to wear" route.

I really don't think larger (DD+) ladies need to be in "maternity bras" until well into the 3rd trimester. You've got time enough for soft cups when you are feeding.

[iWILLdothis]

Thanks for all the advice.
Argh. I just measured myself and according to hotmilk, I am a 36D. Hmmm.... Right now I'm wearing a Bravissimo size 32F and it's too small.
I have no decent lingerie shop nearby so have to mail order and will have to order about 10 different sizes just so at least one of them will fit.
I am so tired and can't do this anymore. :(

[onadietcokebreak]

Which one are you wearing at the moment? If you ring bravissimo and explain where it feels small they will recommend size for you.

[KristinaM]

is it too small on the band or the cups? i agrre that you shoudl phone bravissimo and get advice

[cerealqueen]

M&S do non wired t-shirt bras if that is the style you want. I've got a couple, very comfy and supportive but no wires (which are not recommended).
You will need new bras when you give birth, and will need to change them while breastfeeding. i am normally a 34B and went up to a 38C with DD, then down a few sizes before i went back to my original size.

Ah ,just re-read and saw your size, not sure what size they go up to but in M&S.
Anyway, be prepared to buy a few bras in different sizes, that i what i am trying to say!

[mommybee]

You can definitely wear a nursing bra when pregnant - it might not fit you when you start feeding, but will fit again later on. It is definitely worth getting fitted - you could try 3 bras in the "same" size but only one will actually fit you...
nct offers a bra fitting service (mostly nct and bravado bras), lots of branches have a local fitter - search the website for your area.