Argh! Any suggestions for comfortable maternity bras?

[redbird79]

Bit of an appeal really- do any of you ladies have advice for maternity bras which won't rub away the flesh from my ribcage, and if humanly possible, don't look like something my 80-year-old gran would wear? I know it's a minor thing, but after being a relatively ickle 32C before prgnancy and wearing anything I wanted (as long as it was padded ) I am now in size 34E non-wired ugly things which dig in everywhere. All those years I wished for bigger boobs eh?....

I'm 32D and 27wks gone, found my local boutique did hot milk bras which are soooooo pretty and very comfortable. (I wished for bigger boobs too went from a 28C)

Well, you dont have to abandon underwiring when pregnant - if you continue to wear underwired bras, you just need to check the wiring to make sure it is under your boob and not cutting into it as if that happens it can interfere with milk duct development.

I am 7 mths pregnant and just wearing normal underwired bras in a bigger size - I got properly fitted and just bought two in the new size which I just wash out and dry overnight (bit of an arse but no point in buying loads if you keep changing sizes).

If you want nice nursing bras, try Hot Milk.

Get fitted at Bravissimo - they are brilliant. I have Royce bras from there and although they're not sexy, they're not as bad as the hideous ill-fitting granny things I previously had from Mothercare and they fit, so no rubbing or soreness.

Bravissimo don't have an issue fitting you for underwired bras when pregnant. Do tell them if you want underwired bras when getting fitted as you can be a different size. I find my boobs get sore at the end of a day in underwires but not in my soft-cup bras so only wear underwires for special occasions.

I actually bought nursing bras because the only maternity ones I could get were horrible, both to look at and in terms of support/shape. Luckily I haven't grown at all since 10 weeks pregnant, so I think they might last me through. Mine were from Debenhams, Miriam Stoppard range. They aren't exactly beautiful, but they aren't ugly either (like a T shirt bra with a bit of lace trim) and they are very comfy. Also they are quite thick/lightly padded/moulded cup which I like because I don't have to worry about obvious nipples, which is often the case in soft cup bras.

I went to Bravissimo too and got a couple of pretty underwired bras that have got me through most of my pregnancy.

I'm not near a Bravissimo but got fitted at John Lewis. The woman recommended non-wired but was happy for me to go along with underwired ones, which feel so much better! Have gone from 36DD to enormous-sounding 36F and am far more comfortable in my new bras.

I can second Hot Milk bras, v pretty and comfortable (although actually they are nursing bras). I first came across them in a small boutique and bought a couple, and most recently found some online discounts and got another bundle!

Another good brand in my view is Anita, the only underwired pregnancy bra I know of. It is rather plain but in an understated rather than hideous way.

I'm in Bravado bras.
Not the sexiest things, but v comfy and supportive, and can be worm with lower cut tops as they look like a vest top underneath.
www.nursingbra-shop.co.uk/ShowDetails.asp?id=112

I agree with Pixiecake, I've bought 3 bravado bras from the Nursing Bra Shop and they are so comfortable. They do stretch as well if you are still growing! I wonder if i'll ever want to wear a scrathy nylon bra again (sorry DP).

I agree that bravado are amazing. Seamless and sooo comfortable- I remember practically hugging the woman in the shop when I finally bought one in my first pg!

They do grow with you and are nursing bras too. Not the sexiest, but the black ones are ok and tbh I was happier being comfortable than trying to remain minxy under the circumstances...

I've gone from a 30F to a 34G (only discovered today and am only 14 weeks!) and was shopping today as have had no bras that fit at all. I ended up in Mothercare after a disastrous trip to John Lewis. The girl was so helpful and they have started doing a T-shirt bra range for E-G. I ended up buying one in every colour as I don't seem to be able to find anything else and actually they're really comfortable. Definitely worth a look.

I bought great ones in Debenhams which were designed by Miriam Stoppard. They actually might be nursing bras but I found them great for the bigger boobs and not as (imo horrendously) expensive as Hot Milk.

another vote for Hot Milk nursing bras, I was chuffed to bits to wear one of those after wearing sports bras for my whole pregnancy. Glad to hear Mothercare have started doing bigger bras, when I was looking they didn't have much above a DD! And all at floor level in the Marble Arch store - because it's so easy to bend down when you're 8 months pregnant

I got an Amoralia second skin maternity bra in 34E for £26.50 from Mama la mode and find it very comfortable. I needed something low cut and smooth to fit under some low cut wrap dresses and tops and it does the job perfectly, albeit that it's not exactly frilly and feminine!

I got an Amoralia second skin maternity bra in 34E for £26.50 from Mama la mode and find it very comfortable. I needed something low cut and smooth to fit under some low cut wrap dresses and tops and it does the job perfectly, albeit that it's not exactly frilly and feminine!

elle macpherson were great. the "maternelle" ones.

Sports bras are cheap and comfy, great support.
Thats all I use for now

The girl in Mothercare did tell me that if I get any bigger (unfortunately I think the chances are high!) they won't be able to meet my needs. She told me that they direct most of their customers to Triumph. I've yet to investigate it to see if they have got what I would need but it might be worth a look.

I'm with my pal japhrimel - go to Bravissimo, particularly if you now have boobs that are worthy of page 3 (shame about the rest of my bod!). Its worth making a trip to one of their stores - make an appt in advance and tell them you're pg, as they will get you fitted by someone who knows how to fit pg women.

They put me up a back size and a cup size because of my pg, to make sure that the wires didn't touch the milk ducts and to give my ribs and boobs space to grow. Given that I'm now a 34GG (I was a fairly normal 32D this time last year) bravissimo is pretty much the only option for me (anne sounds like you def need a trip there) - though I'm hoping hotmilk will work for nursing bras.

Anyway, back to the OP, my new underwired bras have lasted for 10 weeks already and are really comfy and supportive. FWIW, bravissimo have checked with the royal college of midwives and confirmed that, if fitted properly, underwires are fine in pg.

Thanks so much to all of you ladies. Of course my DH will think this is an excuse for more shopping, but at least he will see the point in nice bras

Oh, thank God I found this thread! I finally succumbed to maternity bras this weekend after squishing my now 36E boobs into 36D bras for the last few weeks (am 20+4) and I can't get over how hideously uncomfortable they are - I thought my back must have massively expanded overnight!

Will be heading straight out to Bravissimo this weekend!

It's often best to book a fitting in advance, depending on how busy your local store is. I've been to Oxford on a Saturday and only waited 20 minutes, but had to wait 2 hours for an appointment at the Oxford Circus store on a weekday!

I got a pack of two, very comfy, but not the most flattering shape from Mothercare yesterday (my boobs are so painful!) pretty patterns but do nothing for shape! Think they were reduced to 12quid if your bargain hunting

I found John Lewis and M&S useless but got two very comfy non-underwired bras from mamas and papas - both very supportive even though not underwired, lovely and soft and also loads of different setting (? not right word - but I mean metal bits for doing up) at the back so you can make them bigger and small as you need to.

I'm another nursingbra-shop convert. I tried the Hot Milk ones from there but also ordered a Cake Lingerie from the same site which is actually more supportive, comforatble and looks like a "normal" nice bra. I managed to get to 34 weeks with larger sized underwired bras, but as bump got bigger and bigger the underwires were killing me, kept having to tuck my top under the underwires every so often at work (when nobody else around) to relieve the pain! Much more comfortable now (and well-supported) in the boobs department at least! If only there was as easy a solution to the elbowing of my cervix that the baby seems so keen on at the moment!