2 questions: bras and cleaning the oven!!

[glitternanny]

Morning - 2 questions if I may:
where is a good place for bras? And reasonably priced - think I need to give in and get measured!!

I managed to make a mess of our oven - can I use things like mr muscle oven cleaner while pregnant? I'm sure I've read somewhere that I can't!

What size are you? Or what size were you prior to the pregnancy, and how much bigger do you think you are now? That will affect the answer.

Secondly, no, absolutely you cannot clean the oven with any sort of cleaner. Or at all. It is very harmful to the baby to be doing oven cleaning, and under no circumstances should your partner let you do it, but should do it him or herself to show the appropriate amount of love and care to you. hth.

Thank you!

I'll let him know he'll be pleased!! Tho last time i cleaned it the oven died a week later!!

I was wearing a 38c, think my cups definately gone up!!

Do I need to get maternity/pregnancy bras or just the right size!

Glitter - I went to M&S and got fitted for maternity bras - I wouldnt reccomend them - they were awful! I actually havent changed size and I'm still wearing my normal bras, the maternity ones have no support whatsoever and are hideously ugly. I have seen a some nicer ones on line but havent given in and bought any yet!

Bravissimo were lovely last time I was pregnant and I also need a return trip soon. I have to find a strapless bra for a wedding in three weeks and my boobs are already a g cup so I'm not looking forward to that shopping trip!

Another vote for Bravissimo and if you get properly fitted you don't need a maternity bra. Am 25 weeks and still wearing underwired. Wore underwired right through last pregnancy too with no problems as long as you keep moving up the sizes as you need to. It's worth getting to one of their shops if you can even if it's a bit of a trek. Ask lots of questions about how they're fitting you and you can do it yourself from their online store next time if the shop is too far.

Are Bravissimo only for the, ah, well-endowed ladies? I always thought they were. I most definitely don't fall into that category but I do need to get measured and have been warned off going to one of the big department stores... Any other recommendations?

Sorry for the slight hijack OP! In the interests of contributing something - I'd recommend professional oven cleaning. I used OvenU and they did an amazing job.

On the oven cleaning:
This link and this link say yes, but to take extra precautions if you do it yourself.

I have had major issues with bras since becoming pregnant. I have a small back and large cups, which is a hard enough combination when not pregnant. They were 30FF, but have now increased to 32FF or a 30G at 14 weeks. I found that the likes of M&S, Mothercare, Debenhams, even John Lewis didn't stock anything in my size. I found a website called babystork.com that stock a large selection of maternity/nursing bras. ASOS also stock surprisingly good maternity lingerie. I found that going straight for nursing bras were useful as well, instead of maternity bras, as they are just as supportive and comfortable, and they have more extended use (if you decide to breastfeed).

Also, I have heard two schools of thought on underwires. One is to steer clear, as the wires have a potential to 'dig into' delicate breast tissue. However, I have also read that if the bra is well fitting, and the wires are not sticking into anywhere they shouldn't then that is also fine. Personally, I now find underwires so uncomfortable that I have no choice but to give them up.

I'm convinced my baby is growing in my boobs, and not my belly!

Serena, afaik Bravissimo start at a D cup, Odabear if you can get to a store or are confident on your sizing, some of Bravissimo's bras go even up to a K cup, and all start at a 30 back, so no need to feel unusual there. I was fitted as 32GG at 9 weeks (had been in 34DDs erroneously for years), and am still comfortably wearing this at 15+5; this is wired. No contact between breast tissue and wires is the decree, esp in pg

If there is any time you deserve to get the oven cleaned professionally its during pregnancy.... Its about £50 (central London so surely cheaper elsewhere) and the results are definitely worth it.

Jamama, you and I both know that our sizes are not unusual, which is why I don't understand why you can't find our sizes in regular shops? I heard Bravissimo are also good for sizing, but I got distracted by the HotMilk ranges online before I got there, and before I knew it, I'd spent £140. I'm sure my boobs will continue to grow, so I shall have a look at Brav when the need arises. :)

Lol at Oda, I agree we are normal - no reason that M&S etc., couldn't stock nice bras in E+ cup sizes (I think this was part of the reason I was wearing 34DDs for so long - they didn't fit properly, but this was what I measured as, and I could get them in pretty colours from the high st). Anyway, enough of the hijacking with the wonderfulness of Bravissimo from me - glitter don't use those chemicals - I work in a lab & wouldn't dream of working with anything as toxic as oven cleaner without a fume hood and double gloves - either get your partner to do it or pay someone to do it if you think he'd do a s**t job (my oven can stay dirty now until after the baby comes, frankly, as I know DH would leave a layer of Mr Muscle on it and fumigate the entire house, which is worse than the occasional whiff of pepperoni from when he's 'cooked' a pizza :) ).

Thanks ladies.

Think I'll have a browse online at nice bras!!