Maternity/Nursing lingerie woes

[PetitChou]

I refuse to believe I am only one of a few who think the range of maternity/nursing lingerie available is woefully inadequate? I never thought I was particularly big, 32DD (BC), 34H (BF) yet I have struggled terribly to find decent bras during my pregnancy and post! Those in my size tend to be either frumpy, uncomfortable or unsupportive (& without matching knickers!). BC I favoured the likes of Elle McPherson or Calvin Klein. Has anyone any recommendations please? Please help, I am sick of ugly lingerie!!!

Hot milk don't do H cups.

It is terrible-I am a similar size to you,I was 30E pc and had the same jump in size and there was just NOTHING out there that fitted and gave enough support without all the weight being on the straps which gave me awful headaches.The Agent Prococateur range is misleading as they don't do an FF cup,and I think possible don't do a DD either,so their G is in fact a smaller cup size and went nowhere near fitting me when I was a 32G.Fits more like a 32F,if that.And tight nursing bras are a recipe for blocked ducts,as I found to my cost (thankyou,Anita flattening bras).I ended up with a couple of royce bras which gave me a horrible matronly shape,and headaches,but did fit and come in black.All the other makes in my size came up too flat in the cup.I did have a freya one which was pretty and just about ok but not great.After the first few months I reverted to wired bras if I was going out and I'm still bf three years on with no problems from the bra.I buy ones that are cut lower at the front so I can pull the cup aside easily and the wires don't dig in.

Oh and I tried the Emily range linked to above and they are really flat in the cup,far far too small for me in the 32G.

I am a 36J at the moment, and am resplendent in mumsy Royce nursing bras - it's rotten. I long for underwires. Might have to try the clip stitching conversion.

Was on another thread ages ago wherein someone actually emailed Bravissimo to ask why the range had this gap in it, and they did reply politely but a bit lamely in a way that suggested it just isn't a priority for them. I can't think why. I would pay a premium for something underwired and stylish in my size. I'm sure loads of women would.

I think you might be able to buy the clips from a haberdashery if you don't have any other bras to chop up. I seem to remember someone mentioning this on another thread recently.

I have an Emily bra and it comes up very small.

Can I recommend bras4mums.co.uk ? They are very helpful with detailed email or phone consultations if you can't see them & are really helpful on size issues. They even told me that in some ranges the size can vary in the same style but different colours due to the dyes used! Cake is another range similar to Hotmilk, not sure if it is easily available in the UK tho.

Oh dear. I'm a 32GG (in Freya bras) before pregnancy. Have just found out I'm pregnant. I fear I'm going to be huge! Will be checking out these recommendations though.

Thank you all so much for your kind help & suggestions! It's nice to know it's not just me and my sagging boobs that are suffering!

You've given me courage to try underwires again - have been desperate to but worried about the consequences when BF.

www.zodee.co.uk looks good, the best selection I've seen anywhere- thank you the differentme.

Credit where it's due, I should say that I have a Bravado bra (& knickers!) in 2 colours (cream & black cherry) that has been the best (in terms of comfort and support) that I got online from mummyandlittleme.co.uk/bravado-sublime-nursing-bra-black-cherry-2911-0.html (who were very helpful). I did have to go up to size 34J/K though and the line of it comes up so high you can see it peeking out of the neckline of so many tops... What can you do??

And SaorAlba, congratulations!! You never know, everyone's so different, you may not even get that big?

Keep the recommendations coming everyone!

I've just in last month found and bought bf underwire bras in 36 H from

www.envie4u.co.uk/products.asp/SubCatID/16/nursing-bras-underwired.htm

They had my size when other sites with similar style ranges didn?t.

Wish I'd done it years ago - usually get fed up post 12 months and revert to normal bras and a lot of manoeuvring but youngest won't have that and the lack of support and resulting poor shape was getting me down.

Not sure they have much in way of colours but the fit has been great ? had Anita ones. Also found some swimwear on site that actually makes me like nice .

Don't tell me this, I'm 15 weeks pregnant and I've gone from a E to a FF already!! Your best bet is to find your 'local' bra shop, the one that looks a bit tatty and run buy grannies. They're always amazing and just KNOW boobs! I originally went to Debenhams that measured me in at 38DD (couldn't even get my nipple in, idiots) then went to Braways (I'm in Lincoln) and the assistant found the most dreamy (And sexy) bra ever for me!

WonderKate, don't worry, you might get away with it! I was a 34 DD pre-conception, a 36E at 10 weeks, but.... I am still a 36E at 40 weeks!

Eek I hope so! It's not just my boobs I have to worry about, I was a (shoe size) 7 before my first, now an 8, I'll cry if I go upto a 9!

www.nursingbra-shop.co.uk/ is a great site and really good customer service too

you think you have it bad - have gone from a 34 dd to a 38h, nothing nice at all!

woderkate my feet went up a size after my first baby too!

FWIW with all my pregnancies my breasts grew two sizes by 12 weeks then stayed that size until I gave birth. They then went up another 2 sizes for about 6wks posts birth when they settled down by two sizes - does that make sense?!

thesecondcoming I agree re the hotmilk names. they really put me off!

It is a rediculously neglected market. I was a 34-36HH bc. I have absolutely no idea what size I ended up in but it was massive :) I gave in. I only bf'd for a month (and never in public) and in the time just made do with what I had + creatively altered bras I already had.

Just to a few who commented "they go up to a G" - after G there is GG and then H. Telling someone to try a G is like telling a C cup to try an A . Most of the weight of larger boobs is carried by the backstrap. If you just increase the backsize (which I agree does increase the cupsize) you'll end up with backache and saggy boobs.

I know I'm late to this discussion but just to say that Emma-Jane will be bringing out a new range of nursing bras for larger busts. It will be style 431 (with pretty embroidery) out the first half of October and will run in sizes 32DD - 40K. It includes a choice of three detachable straps - clear, cushioned and stretch ? to ensure maximum comfort and support.

Not sure if it has matching knickers but keep an eye out for them!

Thanks joshandjamie, I'm excited to see this!

It is horrendous. There is a MASSIVE gap in the market. Pre pregnancy I was a 38G i went up to 44H in pregnancy and my DD is formula fed so I just wanted to get a couple of nice normal bras in my new temporary size and I cannot find anything. Bravissimo only go up to a 40 back and the ones I managed to order off figleaves were SO cheap and nasty. I got a couple of nursing bras whilst pregnant as I planned to breastfeed and I got measured at Rigby and Peller and she could only find 1 nursing bra in the whole world that did my size and I had to order it online myself. Its so depressing. Can't wait to lose more baby weight so I can buy some lovely decent bras again. I have no idea what very overweight ladies do or those with large bacm sizes.

How do people even FIND these threads

I did as a PP did and cut the clips of a nursing bra to transform a normal one.

By the next pregnancy I didn't even need the clips - boobs were saggy enough to just scoop out of a regular bra and feed with. It also has the benefit of being much quicker and less fiddly.