Maternity bras. Is it just me, or all they all awful???

[Lucinda15]

So I'm 26 weeks pregnant, and through time constraints and denial have somehow managed to avoid maternity bras up until now. But today i bit the bullet and went to get measured at mothercare and have come home with some ghastly bras that make my boobs look awful. I know partly it's to do with the non-wired requirement of maternity bras, but really, are there ANY out there that give boobs a nice shape and lift them up rather than make them look like sad, unattractive blobs that seem to flop on top of my bump?? Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Helbelle75]

Debenhams do a nice range. They're 'sturdy', but give a nice shape.
I'm only tiny though, still 34c at 34 weeks,

[NannyW]

I bought some wired ones from zalando. It also has formed cups so a bit more t-shirt bra like. Think the brand is noppies. Def not sexy to look at but gives a better shape!

[Creatureofthenight]

Do you need them yet? Are your normal bras uncomfortable?

[FrizzBombDelight]

I love the firm support sports bras from m&s, the ones that zip at the front. I'm 26weeks and my boobs have gone from a C to a painful E and these bras really seem to hold them in and reduce the pain. I even sleep in them! Nursing bras are totally shite too, not sure how I'm going to deal with that yet

[FrizzBombDelight]

Just realised we are in the same week, hope it is all going well for you :)

[GreedyDuck]

Hot Milk are alright. You can wear wired anyway.

[Lucinda15]

Unfortunately, yes i need them. I was a 34 F before pregnancy. I've now put on weight and rib cage expanded, plus gone up a cup size. I'm sure they are bigger this time than with my DS 5 years ago. My current bras are agony, by the end of the day I'm desperate to get home and release the boulders!!

I did have a look at the support bras in m&s. My local m&s is shite, got to try to go to one of the bigger ones which is a bit of a treck but will try do do that. Will also check out Debenhams.

Thanks ladies x

[Lucinda15]

Just saw ur comment greedyduck.... interesting to know you can wear wired! I will check out hot milk, are they online or in store somewhere? really think I need to go to a store to try them on. They all seem to fit differently and I can be different sizes in each bra!! Such a flipping faff.

[Theknittinggorilla]

I've never worn maternity bras (third pregnancy). I need a wire! I just get regularly measured and fitted during pregnancy and while breastfeeding and wear normal bras. Never had an issue. Other than the first few weeks post baby where I worse softer bras while my milk came in and boobs settled down a bit. Breastfed for 9 months with my two ds with no issues. Also never had any need for nursing tops - Normal clothes with vest underneath is fine!

[Theknittinggorilla]

Oh and I'm 34f too!

[Creatureofthenight]

Yes I've read comments on other threads that suggest you have to stop wearing underwired bras near enough from conception!, but my midwife said as long as they are comfy and fit well then there's no reason not to wear them.

[Creatureofthenight]

Ps also a 34F pre pregnancy, currently 36F.

[Lucinda15]

....ok that's interesting. Perhaps then I may just go to m&s/Debenhams and get remeasured and stick to wired! They just look so flipping awful in non-wired bras and feel like such a blob!

[Lucinda15]

....and funnily enough, I was a 34 F pre pregnancy, and have managed so far as I had some poorly measured 36 F bras that I never wore at the back of my drawer which seemed to have done me well from early pregnancy until recently! So I'll get remeasured and maybe just go up a size in wired! Thanks for the tip xx

[MoonlightMojitos]

27 weeks here, 34FF and sticking to wired normal bras still. Just got some new ones in a bugger size although I have now outgrown them too so am going to have to go and find some g's next weekend. All the non wired and maternity ones I've tried on have been awful like you've said giving me no lift or shape. I do sleep in the primark soft croptop ones though.

[knockedover]

Try hotmilk?

[MoonlightMojitos]

Ps please don't get measured at M&S!!! Could you measure yourself? Then order a load to tey at home that's what I do and send back the ones that don't fit. That way you can try them on a bit longer, jig around in them, try under different clothes to make sure they look ok etc

[FrizzBombDelight]

Knitting, did you just wap your boob out of the cup rather than undoing anything? I'd much rather do that than get shite nursing bras but it feeling like it might be a bit cumbersome? I thinking especially if I'm in public and trying to control a child and a bra and my clothes and an exposed tit

[Theknittinggorilla]

lucinda yes to feeling like a blob in a soft bra (which you can do without as your stomach expands!). And even more so once baby arrives for me - one of the first things I will do once up and about again post section and when breastfeeding is hopefully established is go for a bra fitting to feel normal again! Makes such a difference to the way you look/clothes hang especially when the weight is still coming off.

Worth a try anyway! Good luck. I'm 33 weeks now and feeling like a whale.....

[carrotcakecupcake]

Maternity bras are grim! Save them for when/if you actually need them which if after the birth!! I had an excellent fitting at bravissimo and wore wired bras without a problem through my pregnancy. I found I needed the support and had a much better shape when compared to the shapeless sacks I panic bought in m&s

[Theknittinggorilla]

frizz - yep, my (now finely honed!) technique is low vest top with looser top over it. Pull vest down and heft boob over top of bra sort of underneath the looser top, then can lift the other top to attach baby. Works best with a softer less sculptured cup, or a balcony style. Am sure it was less than elegant at first but no more difficult than maternity bra once you've got the hang of it.

[Theknittinggorilla]

And yes to bravissimo, all my pregnancy and breastfeeding bras from there

[hollinhurst84]

Adding to second do not get measured in m&s or mothercare, they both use the +4 band method and the bras don't fit because of that

[Lucinda15]

moonlight Hmm never trusted my own measuring skills, and also am terrible for being organised enough to return things so ordering a load to try at home is risky, although I like the idea of taking my time with them and seeing how they feel....

carrot have a feeling I panic bought today at mothercare, reluctant to get them on and have a feeling they may stay in the bag at the back of my drawer for a while....

[Theknittinggorilla]

The maternity bras will be useful for wearing at night, particularly if you are breastfeeding. I needed something soft but supportive to sleep in when pregnant and breastfeeding.