Where am I supposed to get decent maternity bras and a fitting now mothercare is dead?

[HairsprayBabe]

13+6 first pregnancy and my already ample
(30F) bosom is in need of additional support.

I don't have a bravissimo locally - and to be honest I wanted a shop that was more pregnant lady focused as I assume the advice will be better.

I know M&S are garbage for normal bra fitting so I haven't bothered with them we have a Debenhams, an Ann Summers and I think that is basically it for other places I know do fittings, and after a quick look in town at the weekend neither had maternity bras obviously for sale - I didn't think AS would but I was getting a bit 🤦‍♀️ by the end of the day.

AIBU in thinking there isn't really anywhere I can go now for a proper maternity bra fitting?

Could you not measure yourself? There are sites that tell you how to do it properly.

Fwiw my experience of Mothercare fittings was diabolical. Debenhams are pretty good, but to be honest you're just as well doing it yourself!

Before you shell out £££ for maternity bras, you might want to consider trying out the more stretchy sports bra types - personally I found these far more comfortable, and as my (massive) boobs changed size constantly throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding, I was glad that they were able to be a bit more forgiving than normal bras. (Also found them far better for breastfeeding than those fiddly breastfeeding bras!)

I haven't been yet so can't recommend personally, but I'm booked for a nursing bra fitting at JoJo Maman Bebe, recommended by a friend.

Just measure yourself. It really isn't difficult.

I prefer getting fitted in a shop where I can try on a few different bras I always find I get the best fit that way

I don't like stretchy sports bra types I don't feel supported enough and they look awful under some clothes, I still want to feel like me.

We don't have a jojo man bebe - there is one in a town about 45 min drive from us so I might have to go on an excursion!

John Lewis were ok, but to be honest you'd be as well doing it yourself. You'll change size/shape all the time through pregnancy so it's just about being comfortable.

I just wore my normal bras in a bigger size as needed and didn't buy anything marketed as maternity until I was feeding (and then got mastitis from a soft bra that Mothercare sold me which was far too small).

It’s been a few years since I was pregnant but I think I remember the NCT offering a bra fitting service by local volunteers - I wonder if this still happens?

I'm having a similar problem so watching this thread with interest.

We don't have any of the stores mentioned on here locally. Our closest was a mothercare which has obviously now gone, but I never managed to find a bra there in my size anyway plus they seemed a bit on the small side. Our next nearest is a Debenhams but they don't have much of a bra section.

You might be better waiting a while to get proper maternity bras as your boobs might change a lot. I'm 35wks now and my boobs have actually shrunk rather than grown . I struggle to get decent bras in my size anyway (36GG) and usually go with Freya so might try their nursing bras when the time comes.
I don't like the softer crop top style either as there's no support and as they come in dress sizes, there's no way they would cover my boobs in my usual size.

Gah we don't have a John Lewis either!

I didn't mean to put a vote on btw just realised!

Thanks for the NCT tip I'll check it out

Do you have any old fashioned independent shops near you? I just got some horrific looking but fantastically comfy ones in a independent dept store in a town local to me. I nipped in on purpose as I knew they'd have something and I'd get a decent fit.

Pity you don't have a JL near you. I get measured by them and just bought non-wired bras rather than specific maternity bras. When I got nearer the end of my pregnancy I got measured again for nursing bras.

If you can make the trip to Bravissimo, I found they were excellent. I wore normal bras up until about 37 weeks (underwires are fine as long as well-fitted and comfortable). Then I went to Bravissimo and bought bras for breastfeeding. I got some really comfortable Freya and Hot Milk bras (terrible name, but absolutely brilliant bras). They are a world away from the saggy things I got from Mothercare in my first pregnancy, and made a huge difference in how I’ve felt about myself post-pregnancy as everything is just a bit perkier and better supported. If you can’t get to Bravissimo, I would try using Boob or Bust to measure yourself and then order a range to try on.

MOthercare used the same measuring system as M&S anyway. Measure yourself - you will change size several times, I think I went up something like 3 back sizes and same in cups..

I would go to Bravissimo. They see pregnant and nursing women all the time.

Bravissimo or any department store. If you don't have any of these there are often independent shops.

I am big boobed and Bravissimo actually said I could carry on wearing a good standard underwired until late on. Then I switched to non wired nursing bras.

Mothercare is still open in Ireland and I couldn't get a bra there at the weekend cos they stopped at a DD so maybe you're not missing it as much as you think you are.
I ended up measuring myself and going online to nursing bra shop as I really wanted underwire which they had... My f cups become an unsightly shelf in wireless bras

Measure yourself using boob or bust, then order from hot milk. To be honest though, for the first 6 weeks or so you're best wearing crop top style as your boobs may keep changing size/shape.

You don't need anything special in pregnancy (and for breastfeeding you just need something a bit different because of the need for access). A normal, padded, underwired bra is absolutely fine so long as it fits properly and the wire isn't pressing on any breast tissue. If you're comfortable with their fitting and your ability to tell what fits, just go to your usual place and keep an eye throughout pregnancy to make sure you don't need to size up.

I also found bravissimo excellent for both pregnancy and feeding, so maybe worth bearing in mind if it is possible to get to one.

Actually - in the first few weeks of breastfeeding, you likely will need something different as your size will be continually changing. I found crop top style bras from H&M best at this stage. Once your supply settles down you can wear something more normal, there are loads of excellent underwired feeding bras out there.

Bravissimo have been excellent at fitting me post mastectomy, even though it's not a service they advertise, it turns out all their staff are trained which I imagine would be the same for maternity bras. When I was pregnant and breastfeeding I found the best ones on Figleaves. Just ordered a load to try on and kept the ones i liked. You can always get a shop to check the fit.

I found mothercare utterly hopeless for pregnancy (my boobs had not shrunk!) but both bravissimo and john lewis were very good.

Another one here suggesting Bravissimo, they were fab when I was pregnant and breastfeeding.

My nearest bravissimo is about 45 mins away so I guess I will have to have a little shopping day trip.

Can't afford to buy a load online and then send back, good idea if you have the funds though!

Thanks for all the advice weird that mothercare didn't go higher than a DD seems absurd anyone I know who is measured properly isn't less than a D!

Hotmilk