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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Under-wired bra's

15 replies

nannyl · 02/01/2011 20:51

I may have imgained this but i think i have herd that you shouldnt wear under wired bras while pregnant.
Is this true and if so why?

I have only just found out im pg (not even 4 weeks yet) and was wondering if there is any reason why i cant where my normal underwired bras while they still fit, or if theres a reason why i should use non wired bras (I have 2 non wired sports bras that i could switch to if necessary, so no big deal, except the sports bras arnt particularly attractive!

Im guessing it wont be that long before my booobs grow and i need pregnancy bras anyway, but was wondering about what i should do in the mean time.

TIA

Thanks

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bonnymiffy · 02/01/2011 20:55

I've heard that too and asked the midwife. She said that I only need to get non-underwired ones when I get new ones - currently I'm still using my pre-pregnancy ones and I'm 18 weeks, although it may not ne long before I need new ones now. Apparently the reason not to use wired bras is that they can cut off blood supplies to the milk ducts which could cause problems later...

Chynah · 02/01/2011 20:55

if your bras are properly fitted then there is no problem with underwired ones.

KirstyJC · 02/01/2011 20:59

Underwired bras are fine, my midwife told me the talk about not wearing them was outdated information. I am 28 weeks into my third pregnancy and have worn underwires the whole time with all 3 - including an underwire nursing bra which I found last time and which I will definitely be doing again this time.

I breastfed for 11 months first time and 21 months second time. No problems whatsoever!

The important thing is that they fit properly - check regularly for bulging at the sides / middle and make sure you get ones that feel comfy. But that goes for non-wired as well!

Good luck with your pregnancy.

Shanster · 02/01/2011 22:13

I wore underwire bras all through my pregnancy and for a year while breastfeeding and never had a problem. Your boobs get HEAVY, they need some support!

whoodoo · 02/01/2011 23:37

I echo Kirsty- I have huge boobs on a wee frame and there was no way I was forgoing my wires. Wore wires till birth with all 3 of mine- all breastfed ( with nursing bras which offer no support but can't be doing with the getting undressed to feed business)- no mastitis or issues. Just make sure they fit. I go from a 30g when not preg to a 34g at full term. Bravissimo good if you are big boobed. M&S crap in my view.

Zipitydoda · 02/01/2011 23:51

Sorry OP to go off on a slight tangent.

Kirsty - what make was the wired feeding bra? I'm 18 weeks with dc and my usually 34Gs are so huge I can't put my arms down by my side but having put up with non-wired bras in 2 previous pregnancies, I can't face them again - looking like I have a large sausage down my top and totally unsupported.

Nannyl, I think I read on the bravissimo website that as long as the wires don't rest on the soft breast tissue and you get new ones if they do then underwired are alright. But large underwired well fitting bras are expensive.

onimolap · 02/01/2011 23:59

It's the fit that's important.

Given that an unfeasibly high proportion of women are said to be in the wrong sized bra anyhow, and that your size/shape can change quite dramatically in spurts during pregnancy and in the early days of breastfeeding, it may make sense to avoid underwires so you're not forever buying new ones.

whoodoo · 03/01/2011 00:11

Zipitydoda- not sure if you meant me with the 34g thing. I liked Freya - the 'rio' ones - not dead sexy but roomy and uber comfy. Started with 32g and then at about 30 weeks went to 34g. Black and White one of each and lots of washing. Lasted me 3 pregs.

Original poster

nannyl · 03/01/2011 09:13

thanks for all those replies
at least i can wear my normal underwired bras for a while yet...
1 less thing to worry about!

OP posts:

Pipistrellina · 03/01/2011 15:32

Just to add to the above, if your bras (wired or not) start to get uncomfortable, get yourself properly fitted for some new ones and you'll be SO thankful. I went to M&S at 8 weeks because none of my bras fit any longer and ended up with some inexpensive new ones that fit like gloves and were sooo comfortable.

Incidentally, their reasoning was that non underwire have more flexibility if your shape changes or you get bigger, and that wearing too small an underwire bra gives you stretchmarks.

KirstyJC · 04/01/2011 17:31

The underwire feeding bra is Anita Maternity, you can get them from Figleaves.com.

They aren't cheap though! I used nasty cheap non-wired feedbing bras until my boobs had decided which shape and size they wanted to be, then got the underwired one. I will be getting 2 this time around as I always seemed to have it in the wash though!

The difference in shape and comfort wearing an underwire was unbelieveable. I have used Bravissimo for normal bras but they don't do underwired feeding ones. They have fab advice on fitting too so I was able to make sure my underwired one fitted properly even though it was bought online.

Hope this helps!

witches · 04/01/2011 20:37

Agree with above Bravissimo was great I went today as really want to breastfeed and at 10weeks felts there had been a change in size. I had also heard that ill fitting bras may affect the milk ducts. Like other ladies already quite large the fitter told me that in change from normal fitting the clips at the back should be on the tightest instead of loosest as normally advised, in order to give u chance to grow and also found me one with a full cup and lace top so they can grow with u as lets face it don't want to be paying almost £30 a pop every few months!

hellymelly · 04/01/2011 20:46

Anita bras are quite flat in the cup,and the sizing is different to uk bras,in that they don't do double cups so they go E,F,G,H,I rather than E,F,FF etc.So you need to factor that in,and also get get a cup size up at first because the flatness of the cups doesn't give you much size leeway.The wires they use are slightly flexible to allow some give. I wore wires at some points while preg (30E pre-preg,32 H when feeding)and after the first month or two of bf,when my breasts had settled down.f you have a small back with large breasts a bra with a low cut front is best while feeding as then the wires are less able to press and block a duct.Also easy to pull the cup aside if it has a low front,whereas a full cup is tricky.

funtimewincies · 18/01/2011 13:30

I know it's poor form, but just to say that I've got 2 Anita nursing bras for sale (34H, black and white). I'm flagging this up because, like others here, finding them was really difficult. They were the only bra that I could find in my size as I hate softcup bras.

And yes, they were hideously expensive new but are for sale (on the 'for sale/wanted' board) for £5 each + postage or £10 for the 2 including postage. They're in great condition and it's really hard to find anyone who stocks them.

Sorry for plugging on a thread

thefurryone · 18/01/2011 13:46

As others have said the problem with underwire is that if your bra doesn't fit properly then it will cause more damage than a non-wired that doesn't fit properly.Apparently, the trick is to make sure that there is no underwire or seams pressing on your breast tissue (whether pregnant or not) so the shape of your breast will have as much impact on the style of bra that you need as your size does. I went to Rigby & Peller for a fitting (v expensive but a friend with loads of dosh was going so I thought I'd join her otherwise I'd never have gotten round to it) and it was very informative and I can't believe how much more comfortable it is and how much better my tits look now that I'm wearing the right back size.

Currently I'm wearing non-wired as I just find them more comfortable at the moment, as I can't get underwire ones that don't dig in even though my boobs haven't actually grown that much. I have found that the style and fabric used to make the bra is far more important without wire, I have two cotton nursing bras from M&S that are terrible so I would avoid buying cotton again. I'm not sure what type of material the better ones I have are (and I'm at work so can't check) but they do feel much more upholstered!!

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