Oooh, am getting so annoyed with Maternity Bras!

[MrsNoggin]

Why oh why does mothercare not have any bras in my size?! It is getting very frustrating. I managed to get to a mothercare store yesterday (no mean feat!) and get measured by a girl who tried to convince me it was too early to buy a maternity bra. Well, I don't fit in my normal ones anymore! And if I'm buying bras I may as well get supportive ones. And why don't you want my business? What is wrong with my money?!

Anyway, after all that they had none in my size. Not just the pretty one I wanted. I mean none. Not even the ugly mugly ones. 36F. Is that so much to ask? They had As-GGs for goodness sake. But no 36Fs. Or even 38Fs, which I would have accepted.

So I dragged DD all the way back home and looked online. And would you believe it?? There is only about three in my size and they are all ugly mugly and thin cups ( I like the slightly padded ones, you know, that support you, not just suspend you).

Does anyone know where I can get pretty but still supportive bras? Preferably for Mothercare prices, as I'm not even 2 months in, and at this rate underwear is going to get pricey this time round!

Murgle Gurgle!

Wait til you're about 37/38 weeks to get measured. I think they usually advise you go up 1 or 2 cup sizes and 1 back size at first. Was right for me anyway. Usually a 36d pre pg, post birth i'm fitting a 38e or 36f depending on the bra.

I'm going to have to order online as there seem to be no big bosomed women here (am overseas). Bras go up to a D and I'm a 32F normally! Will chance going up a back size and 2 cup sizes from what I measure myself as at 36 weeks to allow them to get here in time and 2 back sizes 1 cup size.

Order a 2 pack (1 on and 1 in wash) to start with. A few weeks after birth when your boobs settle down, then you can invest in Hot Milk bras which I can totally recommend.

Or - don't go up in the back, just go up in the cup. But buy & use a bra extender (£2 from NCT online I think) then when your rib cage goes back to normal, which happens pretty quickly after baby arrives - you will still have a supportive bra.

Its really important to have the back of the bra sit horizontal around your rib cage and not ride up. Otherwise the weight of your (engorged) breasts will be taken in your shoulders, plus as you will be bending over playing with the baby/picking baby up/taking flapjack out oven etc you will need it tight in the back to counter balance you. (does that make sense)

When estimating how big to go in the cup, basically your hand should fit into the cup comfortably prior to baby arriving. You are accommodating for engorgement (some women go massive - ie. Me! & others not so big) and also for breast pads.) If you estimate too small, then 1. your breast pads are liable to sneak out which, from previous experience, is a little embarrassing! And 2. the cup will compress your breast which may encourage mastitis (truly evil and best to be avoided at all costs, thought I was going to die!)

I fitted a young girl once who was wearing such a badly fitting bra that she had developed mastitis BEFORE the baby had even arrived. Her GP said he'd never seen that before and told her to get herself properly fitted.

She went from a 38B to a 32F. Big difference.

HTH x

Ohhhh genius plan for bra extender! So a normal 32 with extender and a FF or a G?

I'm fanatical about my bra fitting - suffered horribly as a teen with bras too big in the back, not supportive enough, bulging out the cup, wires not fitting under my boobs and supporting them...which is why I'm really concerned about the ridiculous flat chestedness here! When I was at Uni I bribed someone from Rigby & Peller to teach me how to fit my own bras and what to look out for and it was the best thing I ever did.

Is it usual for your bra back size to go up in the last few weeks of pregnancy? I'm 34 weeks and my back size hasn't changed at all yet, though my cup size has gone from C to FF. I don't want to buy nursing bras with too big a back size, but thought that the usual advice of down a back size, up a cup size might not work for me as I actually haven't gone up a back size yet.

Gah, may stick to my idea of living in sleep bras for the first couple of weeks as working out what size I'll be is too darn hard.

Ohhhh genius plan for bra extender! So a normal 32 with extender and a FF or a G?

I'm fanatical about my bra fitting - suffered horribly as a teen with bras too big in the back, not supportive enough, bulging out the cup, wires not fitting under my boobs and supporting them...which is why I'm really concerned about the ridiculous flat chestedness here! When I was at Uni I bribed someone from Rigby & Peller to teach me how to fit my own bras and what to look out for and it was the best thing I ever did.

I really don't think there is any 'usual' thing which happens in pregnancy concerning bras. Everyone is different, and each pregnancy for each person is different.

The majority of people go up a back size towards the end of their 3rd trimester. But not everyone might.

If you measure the same in inches around your chest (under your boobs) as what you measure now, later in your pregnancy then obviously you've not gone up....yet!

In my 1st pregnancy I didn't go up at all until the last 2 weeks (when I was over due) and I went from 32" to a 34"

This time round, starting at a 32" back I have been a 38" back from about 30 weeks. I think because I had strectched already a bit from having my son, maybe I had a more flexible rib cage this time round?! (my theory anyway!) - in any rate is certainly is not fat making me a 38" back, as my heartburn is so bad I've not put any extra weight on at all! (sooo hungry!)

I think living in sleep bras for the first couple of weeks is a jolly good idea, as it means you won't be wasting money on bras which may/may not fit you. You can get fitted when you have established feeding and are maybe not so engorged. I have plenty of customers who do this. (tend to be 2nd time+ mothers)

I am just terrified of how big I am going to be this time round compared to last time. I went up to a 34K when my milk first came in with my son. !!! It took me 3 years to get back to only 1 cup size bigger than I started then I got pregnant again. Oh, for small boobs!

Sleep bras?

Sleep Bra 1 This one is my favourite as it is stretch and you can wear it in pregnancy or when nursing.

Sleep Bra 2 This one not so good (available in nursing and non nursing versions.) This one won't keep breast pads in place as it is more of a 'uni-bosom' shape. Like a crop top. And basically no good for those of us who are larger than average.

The first one however, is great. I am a 36H and wear the 14. I sold a 12 to a 32G lady today.

Sleep bras will give you an element of support in bed without you feeling trussed up. Also, after first having the baby you will need to wear some kind of bra in bed to keep breast pads in place as otherwise you are in danger of waking up in a milk sodden puddle of bedding.

Apparently French women wear sleep bras alot, even when they are not pregnant. Its supposed to alleviate 'la droop' !

I am such a saddo.
I sound like a bra/boob obsessive.

Oh crap! Noone told me that!

I fail so miserably at being French and this is clearly one of the reasons why. I must do better :( so as a 32F I probably need 12?

Btw you aren't a bra/boob obsessive - it's your job. I, otoh, am properly obsessing over mine!

Yes, a 12 would be fine.

LMAO at you failing being French. Maybe its a Parisian thing? And in the bit of France you come from they don't wear sleep bras? I am sure that must be it.

I live in the bit of France that can more accurately be described as being part of Africa....

And I'm not French (yet). I'm just trying very hard to convince them to let me be. There's clearly going to be some kind of citizenship test equivalent about how often one should go for a manicure and the advantages of sleep bras.

Lizzie, what size of sleep bra do I need? I started as a 34DD, I'm currently a 36E at 21wks, last time I was bf-ing I went up to a 36F.

Thank you wise one.

LOL!
Try a 14. It depends on how tight you like them or not.

Basically I would say what ever size you were before you got pregnant, go for that size. They are not particularly tight, but then I am from the 'tight bras are best' school of thought as I like to have my boobs up where they are supposed to be! (not that that will happen in a sleep bra)

firefrakkers - Make sure you wear matching shoes and handbag too. And that you wear taupe. French women always seem to wear taupe.