to ask you if there exists an underwired nursing bra for my udders?

[mindthegap01]

I'm a 32H and breastfeeding my 3 week old. I used to love my boobs, but a substantial underwired bra was essential. Now that I'm breastfeeding I'm wearing what can only be described as a boob hammock. It's hideous. Can anyone recommend a larger nursing bra which actually offers support or better still is underwired? Please help!

I'm a 30/32 FF/G and I wore Hot Milk nursing bras, very pretty and supportive but not wired. Or cheap, for that matter, but I though they were worth it.

The things us big boobed ladies have to put a with! [Smile]

Ive just been on ebay and about to order a conversion kit, what a fab idea.

I totally agree that its outrageous how much overpriced tat is marketed at pg and bf women. Maternity pjs indeed! What's wrong with my DH's supersoft baggy old t shirt that I've been sleeping in flight the past 8 years? He's a lucky man hehe.

Off to attempt to ear dinner with my left hand while DD feeds on the other side, thrn whrn shds asleep will see how far I can stretch the straps on my old faithful Panache Tango bra.

I have the Bravado which has soft tubes rather than wires and is supportive and comfortable. My main problem with all maternity/nursing bras is how high they come up above all clothes necklines - it's really annoying! I was a 34G at the start of this pregnancy but have changed shape and size so many times that I couldn't afford to keep up and consequently haven't worn well fitting bras throughout so goodness knows what shape I'll be when I'm done! Haven't been able to tolerate wires though, it's all I can do to stand the softest bras of all - for the past eight months the highlight of every day has been getting home and taking off my bra!

I got measured at John Lewis and found their own brand nursing bras very good, size 36ff. Not underwired though. Good luck.

The Anita is a really good bra. I was wearing a 36I at one point, so I'm sure they do a 32H.

I'm wearing a 34j underwired bra which I wore towards the end of my pregnancy and have converted to a nursing bra. It's super easy, and makes use of a bra I thought of never wear again!

It honestly took about an hour, and that's an hour of entertaining a small baby while sewing. And I'm not a good seamstress. I've worn it everyday for about two months and I feel like a different women! Like others have said, just make sure the fit is good and you have room for engorgement. Mines actually a bit big but I'd rather that than be worrying about mastitis.

Before I tried the conversion kits I was seriously thinking about giving up bf because I couldn't cope with the bra situation.

Anita sizing is different, they skip double letters so I is really a GG. Just buy normal bras and convert.

Yes go for underwired - supported breast win over any issues thatight be affected by wires. When you have big boobs you really need underwired even more. I had twins, and once we got past the spurting milk everywhere bit I actually ended up with non-feeding wired bras - I used to slip strap down and hoik.

If you don't wear wires I think you'll be v uncomfortable- they get even bigger once baby over four weeks and maximum supply kicks in

Also: I used to have really stretchy vests and wear under normal tops- then pull the vest down and the top up- avoiding loads of tummy everywhere

Mild derail - I LIKE my bf pyjamas. You get a cold belly otherwise, what with it all hanging out unreasonably far, due to my Malteaster habit. And getting cold during night feeds is the worst - I get back into bed at 4am and shiver for an hour, before finally getting back to sleep just in time for DS1 to bounce into our room and announce he's seen a DOGGIE out of the WINDOW, no REALLY, you've got to COME AND SEE, MUMMY.

Anyway, I'm very fond of my Mothercare flannel bf pyjamas, which I inherited from my sister and which have given good service through the night feeds of five DC in total. We looked back through the old baby photos a while ago, and I got implausibly excited to see the photo of DSis in hospital with newborn DN1, in the BRAND NEW bf pjs. But then I'm sad like that

Also a fan of Anita's, I had the 38I in black and a raspberry colour. I much preferred the shape and colour. Once I was established feeding if an occasion demanded it I also wore normal underwire bra with no problems but less easy to feed with. Friends also wore normal underwired bras- they just get stretched to buggery.

I wore a soft cup (m&s biggest) to sleep in as I leaked more without it but wouldn't have wanted to wear it out. The woman who owns our local maternity/nursing shop says she always advises man made fibres over cotton as they dry quicker and don't stretch out. Even if I did drench I could shove an ever present muslin to dry off and not leak to my outside clothes then take out the muslin. I then didn't have to run home.

I had the biggest washable black breast pads too which were great. Not sure of the brand but got them from the nappylady site.

Urgh, I feel your pain, went up to a 28HH when BFing and there are no underwired feeding bras with that back, thanks for pp idea about conversion clips, I'll definitely look into that next time!

Hello - I'm 30wks pregnant at the moment and I'm ordering a bra from Optifit, they have a whole different measuring system, none of the standard numbers and letters (although I am a 38K/L in Normal Bras!) and they send the measuring thing to you at home. Then you order it and they make it specially for you. They can add nursing strap gizmos for a bit more £

Measuring device is £4 or so, then that cost is deducted from the £49.99 of the full bra, it can take a couple of weeks to make the bra though. The addition of nursing strap gizmos is £7 I believe.

HTH xxx

I've read some not very promising reviews of optifit MrsFooCough - I will try to find them but it was a while ago.

Excellent thread, thank you all. I'm 23 weeks pregnant and have gone from a 30E to a 32FF so far. I don't recognise these boobs and they show no signs of slowing down! Last pregnancy I bought whatever was cheap from the supermarket, so fast was I growing. I looked and felt awful, with a mono boob sausage.

This time I highly recommend Bravissimo - I'm there every six weeks or so at the moment.