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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

nursing/maternity bras

31 replies

KateeTheBump · 05/09/2011 12:15

After having such crap service from Mamas and Papas recently I thought it would be nice to be able to recommend a small independent business Smile

So, if you're looking for a nursing or maternity bra, I got one of the stretchy bravado crop tops from www.nursingbra-shop.co.uk/, got a friendly email and it arrived next day (free p&p too)

No ulterior motive, just wanted to recommend for the friendly service!

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MrsBloomingTroll · 05/09/2011 12:31

A friend who has done a bit of bra in the past also recommended the Bravado bras and they have been by far the most comfy ones I've encountered.

Got mine from the NCT rather than the shop you recommended OP, but good to know.

moomsy · 05/09/2011 13:19

I have been going to Marks and Spencers for my measurings.

I hate bras anyway - I will probably have tits reaching my knees when this is all over.

Will check the Bravado bras though I am currently shopping for a couple of basic nursing bras.

Thank you Katee :)

Franchini · 05/09/2011 15:32

For those of you girls out there who are big of boob try www.royce-lingerie.co.uk/

spannermary · 05/09/2011 20:25

Hmmm....big of boob & torpedo of tit! And only 9 weeks in. Thanks for the tits...I mean tips...guys! :)

Scaredycat3000 · 05/09/2011 21:51

I have ordered from them as well and when my parcel was returned to them as apparently, according to Royal mail, my property suddenly did not exist Confused, it was dealt with quickly and efficiently and arrived the next day!

Lala29 · 05/09/2011 22:20

Thanks! Have been struggling with where and what to get and sizing (M&S told me I just don't have the right shape for their bras!) Have ordered, so will see what arrives!

Catsycat · 05/09/2011 23:00

Hot Milk bras are lovely too (well, as lovely as maternity bras can be). I have a very large cup size, and some of their range does go up that far (hurrah)!!!!

Original poster
KateeTheBump · 06/09/2011 09:19

I've been tempted by the hot milk ones too Catsycat - I think I'm going to hold out til I know how enormous I'm going to get! Currently E-F (from C) so I imagine they are only going to get bigger... eek!

OP posts:
spannermary · 06/09/2011 10:54

E/F from C! Oh my word...my boobs started as 34/36 DD/E so heaven only knows where I'll end up!

Original poster
KateeTheBump · 06/09/2011 11:15

They don't feel that much bigger to me know (I think I've got used to them now) but then again it may just be that they are eclipsed by the bump now Wink

I suspect if you were bigger boobed to start with though you probably don't expand too much more from your usual size!

OP posts:
Original poster
KateeTheBump · 06/09/2011 11:16

*now, not know, doh!

OP posts:
Xiaoxiong · 06/09/2011 11:46

spanner I started off as a 34E and at 14 weeks I was in 34G bras - hasn't changed much since then and now 28 weeks. I think I'll order one 34G nursing bra and then play it by ear after the birth...

Catsycat · 06/09/2011 11:50

I started off as a DD/E, during pg they went to FF/G. 20 months later, having lost any weight I gained during pg, they are still a FF/G. Now ttc #3, and wondering if there will be a big enough bra in production.... Hoping to still fit my Hot Milk ones, a I bought nearly the whole range and it cost me a fortune!!!

Catsycat · 06/09/2011 11:50

as, not a, obviously :)

jamama · 06/09/2011 11:55

You may find that your back size increases as the bump moves up and your ribcage moves out to accommodate; at 10 weeks I had gone from 32E to 32GG, am currently in a 36G on its narrowest set of hooks to allow room for my baby to dig its heels into my ribcage constantly larger ribcage. Recommendation from specialist bra fitters is to leave off buying nursing bras until 36 weeks to see where you end up, and even then don't buy many.

spannermary · 06/09/2011 17:14

Thanks, Catsycat and Tyelperion - it's good to hear. I'm going to have to update my bras sooner rather than later, I think, as mine are all underwired, anyway - and starting to rub. Even my sports bras are too tight.

Going to see my mum in 2 weeks, so we could go girly shopping then!

Lala29 · 09/09/2011 13:13

I'm so glad this thread came up. After buying a couple of non-underwired bras in John Lewis, which were really not very comfortable, I wasn't sure what to do about maternity bras. But my Bravado seamless nursing bras arrived today from the website you posted. Not the most attractive bras I have ever owned, but so so comfortable! The wide band at the back, plus the 4 levels of hooks is perfect. I went up from a 30 back to a 34 during pregnancy (now at 37 weeks), so am looking forward to getting back down back size once baby is born.

spannermary · 09/09/2011 13:17

That's it - I can't wait any more! The tips on here are great, but mainly web based. I need to go shopping TOMORROW! Any advice on High Street bra purchases? (9 weeks in...maternity; not nursing) Thanks! Xx

metalelephant · 09/09/2011 13:25

hi, this guardian article tackles mainly nursing bras but has a little info on maternity bras too. My breasts went on changing throughout my pergnancy (36 weeks now) so I would say buy a couple and wait till they change again.

www.guardian.co.uk/fashion/fashion-blog/2011/sep/01/mother-of-all-maternity-bras

notcitrus · 09/09/2011 13:28

I get sensitive skin in pregnancy so go for M+S as their pregnancy ones are all soft and underwired, and easy to get to/return.

After birth last time I'd ordered a couple M+S ones to be delivered but they didn't fit well, so went to John Lewis and a lovely lady found ones that fit perfectly while her assistant held ds and even offered to change him! The bra was so good I refused to take it off (I was buying two anyway!)

Will see if I go back to the same size this time round...

HPonEverything · 09/09/2011 13:33

Thank you for posting this, I'm totally at a loss wrt bras.

Am 36wks and still getting into my pre-pg bras which is not ideal as I now have only one that fits so I'm having to wear bikini tops Blush it's a dire situation

Went to Mothercare last week and asked to be measured, she said "is it for support or nursing" and I got overwhelmed by the question (lol) so said Nursing, and she refused to do it as it was "too early" and to come back at 38wks. What if the baby is here by then or I can't get into town for some other reason?!

I decided there and then to just buy off the internet.

Original poster
KateeTheBump · 09/09/2011 14:31

Spanner - I would go to bravissimo, they aren't the cheapest, but they are excellent fitters and you will be able to go for an underwired one if that's most comfortable - you should be fine with one of those if it fits properly and doesn't poke into your breast tissue. Happy shopping Smile

HP - have a look at the bravissimo website as they have a fitting guide and will give you some guidance as to what might work for you? It sounds like you haven't changed a lot in size, so you might be best to get one of the bravado crop top jobs, which will fit a range of sizes and then you can still use it when your milk comes in?

OP posts:
Lala29 · 09/09/2011 16:02

That's why I went for this particular Bravado bra, as I was so confused about sizing. Got measured in several places, but the bras I got still didn't fit 100% and weren't that comfortable. These Bravado bras only come in small, medium, large with a clear sizing chart on the website and fit several different back and cup measurements, so perfect for nursing and when (hopefully) my ribs get back to normal and back size goes back down. Couldn't recommend them enough!

Xiaoxiong · 09/09/2011 16:19

I will order a few in different sizes and then send ones back that don't fit.

HP I have yet to hear anything good about mothercare - your story about the fitter is just yet another reason why I will not darken their doors unless I have to. And if I can get lovelies like this and this online, why bother with unhelpful bra fitters...I can do it myself in the comfort of my own home, TYVM.

Oeisha · 09/09/2011 22:09

Anyone that's over a D cup, step AWAY from M&S (run, run fast) and go somewhere decent like John Lewis or Bravissimo.
M&S still try to fit large cups in non-wired bras, despite this being a nonsense (if you're bras fitting properly it won't be ono breast-tissue and thus WILL NOT be of any risk to you). The only time wires will be an issue is once baby's under your ribs. They don't always kick at the wires, and it isn't always uncomfy, so as long as you're happy and wires aren't bruising you/on your breast tissue you WILL be fine.

I'm a large cup and have ALWAYS founbd M&S to be less than rubbish at fitting me.

As for nursing, I'm not sure wht I'm going to do as it looks like I'll be above a K-cup...and that limits my options considerably.