Maternity bra fitting - help!

[SpanielFace]

I'm 28 weeks pregnant and really need to buy some bigger bras. I'm currently wearing a 38DD which are clearly too small and the underwriting is digging in (I was a size 18 pre-pregnancy, so a 38 is probably right). I am getting totally confused by measuring guides online! My measure bra are:
Below the bust: 41 inches (!)
Around the breasts, bending over: 48 inches.
So, I know to ignore the guides that tell you to add inches to the band measurement. So, a 40G or a 42FF? Have I got that right? I'm going to pop to M&S tomorrow, but have had some bad experience with being fitted wrongly there in the past.

[LettuceLaughton]

Yes, that sounds about right.

When you're fitting maternity bras you need to fit on the tightest hook, rather than the loosest hook (as you usually would). The ribcage keeps expanding - as you've probably noticed

Fitting on the tightest hook means that you're effectively taking the bra down a band size so you need to take that into account in the cup. One band size up is one cup size down, more or less. So, if a 42FF fits perfectly on the loosest setting a 44F should fit more or less the same on the tightest setting as the cup volume is the same. I hope that makes sense!

I'd try the 40, 42 and 44's in F, FF and G and work from there. Also, if you're thinking you might breastfeed then it's worth buying feeding bras rather than maternity bras - they'll all fit at some point on the way back down. The price is about the same, or, well, it was in my day.

[LettuceLaughton]

fitting info here

[SpanielFace]

Thank you, that's really helpful. I wasn't going to get nursing bras yet because I know I grew again after DS was born, but you are right, they would probably fit on the way back down, and even if they don't, I've not wasted anything. I got so frustrated with DS as to how much my size changed - I have about 10 bras in 3 different sizes, none of which fit this time as I'm about 3 stone heavier. Which is why I've been squashing myself into too-small bras this time! Right, I'll see what M&S have got to offer. Thank you.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

One more point. ..wires are fine so long as they fit you well - in pregnancy and when feeding.