Bra shopping nightmare - help!!

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Ladies
So tired of traipsing round various shops trying to buy comfy but still pretty maternity bras. Finding it a bit stressful if am honest
Questions -
When did you switch to maternity bras? (am now 23 weeks and getting quite uncomfy!)really need to switch.
The nicest I've seen are mamas and papas range and also elle macpherson ones - can anyone recommend these? and what did the sizing come up like? as am considering ordering online
or does anyone know which shops do the best ranges? work in london so can get to major stores pretty easy, am sick of going into shops that have a poor choice and about 3 sizes left!
any advice gratefully received!

finding bra that fit is nightmare, I have had a nightmare about this week. Im a really stupid size non pregnancy 34gg so trying to find a bra that fits. Also one that is cheap. I have just been wearing my old stretched one and putting them on the last hook but I know this will not last for long.

I had to go to bravissimo in the end to get a soft cup one. Its alright and pretty which can be hard for someone my size.
So I had to buy mine online, much easier I think than going round the shops trying to find your size, order online and try it on at home.

had no clue that elle mcpherson did maternity bras.

I've got biggish bazoongas (32E pre-preg, 34F at 24 weeks). I have an Elle Mac one that's super-comfy to sleep in but doesn't offer much in the way of support for day. My best buy has been these. Not exactly sexy but really comfy.

Thanks ladies for the advice!
Good idea greenzebra think will just order a whole load online then try at home and take back what i don't get on with.
Did not think would be so difficult!
Yes elle macp does really pretty ones but i went to john lewis and house of fraser and the range was pathetic, about one style and none of the ones i saw online.
think will get some cheap-ish ones online from mamas and papas (they have a BOGOF offer at the mo) or m&s then and then invest in a couple of the elle macp nursing ones after 36 weeks as thats when they say to get nursing ones... good to know they are so comfy Queen - am normally only a 34B and think will now be a 34C or 36B so support not really an issue for me (am enjoying being a bit bustier than normal!)

Bravado ones are very comfy for the big busted! I ordered from here www.nursingbra.co.uk/bravado.htm

Their website isn't much to look at but they're cheaper than other online places and delivery was very quick. I think it came the day after I ordered.

I haven't started needing them yet, but last time the most comfortable and supportive one I had was by Emma Jane.

Not necessarily the prettiest out there but pretty enough.

Just go online... There is a new zealand company called 'hot milk' that also have nice ones and are stocked in th uk

I bought some bra expanders off ebay :)

I've just had DC2 and to be honest, I stuck with my underwire all the way through and didn't bother with maternity bras. This is because of a very enlightening conversation during a fitting (at a proper shop rather than M&S who incidently told me I hadn't changed size at all. Pah!).

So back to conversation with fitting lady which took place toasted the end of my BFing DC1. I was looking for underwire free mat/feeding bras. She told me it was a complete myth that you needed to sacrifice your underwire (v imp to me my underwire). As long as you're measured properly and have bras that fit, you're fine. So I got myself measured during this pregnancy, bought myself some gorgeous normal bras, and got on with it.

Admittedly now that DC2 is here, I've got a couple of Hot Milk feeding bras which are great, but I'm also going to get myself an Anita underwired feeding bra too. I just don't think my DDs can get through a year of being encased in saggy greying old lady bras like last time. I had a ceremonial burning in my back garden.

Hmmmmm, just read this back. Apparently I'm fixated on underwire. Who knew?!

Towards. Not toasted.

I'm so happy that this is one worry I don't have. I'm now 26 weeks, and am still in my pre-pregnancy bras. Being someone of not such generous proportions, I've always given myself an extra boost with chicken fillets. For the first time in my life I can fling the fillets aside and fill my own bras! I'm just hoping I can continue to squeeze into them until I'm ready to buy nursing bras.

Unfortunately my rear has expanded far quicker than my boobs, and pre-pregnancy pants can be quite uncomfortable. I now know why pregnant women have THAT waddle!

It's worthwhile going somewhere good to get measured if you are in london try Fenwicks, Selfridges or somewhere specialist like Pretty pregnant but then buy on line - try amoralia, hot milk, cake etc for nice preggo lingerie - if you google them then a number of websites come up and you just have to shop around to get the best price. (mamlamode, babeswithbabes or directly to amoralia.co.uk etc). Hope that helps - it definitely makes you feel better as with all nice lingerie!

i love calvin klein. these fit me the best, but by 26 weeks i have only gone from 32A to 34B :( i still wear underwire and try to make sure it is not cutting in. i find maternity bras awful looking to be honest, so i'd stay away from these if you can manage to find the right fit/size elsewhere...

I am size 34GG (21 weeks) and have ordered several bras online in a variety of sizes then returned the ones that didn't fit as I can't bear going shopping and most shops have a poor selection of larger maternity/nursing bras. Many online places have free delivery or return.
I have discovered a great underwired nursing bra which also offers some support when open for feeding it is by Elomi- do a google search. Also Bravado are good. However I am going for comfort over prettiness. I also bought some bra extenders so I am hoping these bras will last the pregnancy and feeding time as they were not cheap.
If you are smaller then you might find the pretty ones comfy hot milk are nice.

The Bravado Body Silk seamless nursing bras are fabulous. They look just like normal t'shirt bras, so are nice and simple and nothing mumsy or fussy about them, but are ridiculously comfy. Also because they have such a lot of stretch they cover a range of back and cup sizes so are perfect for going from being preggers to nursing. I've just bought another two after wrecking my first lot bfing DS for 17 months. Love them.

My ob/gyn consultant told me in my 1st pregnancy that i don't have to change into maternity bras- just be measured regularly and change bra if I expand. Therefore never used maternity bras the 1st time and intend to avoid them now.

Nursing bras are different story- 've been feeding my dd for 2 years and finding NICE nursing bra was an impossible task. Tried everything, and i mean everything, available in my size, from Bravado-Hot Milk-etc, the best were Royce.

im 8 weeks tomorrow and got my 1st maternity bras at the weekend

had gone from 34C/D to 38 E

got some mirium stoppard ones in debenhams... £22 for 2, 1 black, 1 white. they are not underwired but feel as supportive as underwired bras.

not particularly pretty though, but not too gastly either