Underwired Bras

[Spice17]

Hi all

Am 13 weeks and wondering if the underwired bra thing is true? E.g do you have to stop wearing them? and if so why and when? Sorry, this is my first time and I'm a bit clueless. Poor little future baby Spice!

Hi

i think it depends on what you feel comfy in to be honest, i was around 13 weeks when i went to get measured at bravissimo (that was an experience, gone up 4 cup sizes!!), the lady showed me how to make sure your bra fits correctly and ive still got the same one now at nearly 30 weeks.

unless there is some medical reason you ned to stop that ive not discovered yet either so god bless both our babies cos im clueless then too!

I work in a maternity hospital and while pregnant searched through dozens of books and journals looking for the reason behind the commonly circulated advice not to wear underwired bras in pregnancy.

I didn't even find one mention of it.

Your breasts will change shape/size so you should check that your bras still fit you and the wire isn't pressing or rubbing - basically that they still fit and are comfortable, but it's as simple as that.

the theory apparently is that poorly fitting underwires can dig into your milk ducts.

However, I think you would be aware of it if the wires in your bra were poking into your breast tissue, as the bra would hurt. Underwires are ok so long as you are not squeezing into a too-small cup. Get properly fitted and it will be fine. Although after about 32 weeks I found that I was more comfortable in non-wired.

Thanks ladies, I was freaking out about not wearing one, my boobs would drop several inches! But was also worried about continuing. Think I'll get fitted ASAP as sure they've grown. They were DD-E already.

Your rib cage also expands so you'll probably need a bigger back.

I was fitted by Bravissimo when pregnant and I think they used different fitting criteria to non-pregnancy (if I recall correctly they fitted it on the tightest hook so that you could loosen the back as you grew rather than fitting it on the loosest hook so that you could tighten it as it stretched - if that makes sense!).

I was a 32f before being pregnant thought no way I was going to go into non underwired bras as hate the shape. I went up bra sizes but found at about 25 weeks when sitting at my desk all day my under wired bra really started to dig in to the top of my bump (probably slouching in my chair didn't help) it was so uncomfy by the end of the day. I now wear non under wired at work but if going out in the evenings/weekends I wear wired.

Leia are fantastic for fitting you properly & no, you don't need to stop wearing underwires. You must get regular fittings though to ensure your breasts aren't getting squashed

I also stuck with underwired until about 28 weeks when I found that the bump pushes the wires in and I had red welts under my boobs every night. Until then all was fine though - and another vote for Bravissimo where I was fitted (34DD at start), they are really good. Pity their non-wired/nursing range is so limited.