A question for the larger busted among you.

[MyDaydream]

I was just wondering how much you grew during pregnancy? I'm 32FF normally, but at just shy of 5 weeks my boobs are already filling out and none of my bras fit, I have two that are okay ish until I can go get fitted. I'm just wondering how big I could potentially go, and where have you bee buying your bras from?

I'm a 38G and didn't grow at all in either pregnancy. Which was a bit of a relief tbh! :o

I was 34e and haven't grown all that much - now 38f at 37 weeks. I was v worried about getting massive too but it hasn't happened. I have worn a non-wired bra to sleep every night, which may have helped.

I was 34f the first time, I was wearing 36g by the end but they were on the large side so I don't think I got much bigger at all. Probably mainly around my back.

I was a 32f and they grew in first weeks of pregnancy a lot to a 32gg and settled down but was painful while they were expanding. Once I got a proper bump at about 24 weeks I found underwire to uncomfy as I sit in a chair all day at work and the weight of my boobs dug the underwire into my bump. I have now gone up one back size so 34gg as my rib cage has expanded. Hoping I won't increase too much when my milk comes in, I really don't want them any bigger!

I was a 32g at the start of pregnancy and got up to 34k when my milk came in. Went up a back size fairly early in pregnancy and my cup size increased gradually to J by the end of pregnancy and then K when full of milk.

I started at 30F and up to 30G by 8 weeks. Hasn't expanded since (now 12weeks), thankfully. I would recommend debenhams as their bras are reasonably priced while you work out what's going on! I got two sets for 30quid I think.

Pre-pregnancy I was 32/34F and now, at 38 weeks, I'm 38G. I've accommodated for the extra milk that will come in though.

I've bought my wireless and nursing bras from marks & spencer's, which aren't very good! Think mono-boob. I've lost all sense of glamour, so I don't mind. . There sizing might be a bit off too!

Although, I normally buy my bras from bravissimo or department stores like John Lewis/ Debenhams.

I only went up one cup size while pregnant, but while breastfeeding I was enormous. I think I went three cup sizes?

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Didn't shift at all from a 38GG. Got fitted At Bravissimo, and worn underwires until I went in at 38w. BF'd for 17m (still going) back in underwires when away from DD, and 16w pg! If you get them properly fitted you can wear underwires all the way through.

I went up from wearing EE to G. I went up some of that during the first 12 weeks pg and I initialy bought some new bras from Bravissimo, but then I grew even more once I started bf - and couldn't easily get to bravissimo for a fitting with a newborn baby. NCT are the stars here - check with your local branch, there is probablly a bra rap near you. I was able to visit her house and try on all the different sizes in the comfort of a bedroom (no probs with trying to have DS in pram in a tiny fitting room!) once I'd decided what I wanted to get, she was able to let me have one of them immediately as she had two of that style in stock, and the others came by next-day delivery.

I was 32H and ended up 34K when feeding DS and then went to 34J with DD. I increased back size during pregnancy quite quickly and then cup size grew towards the end.

Bravissimo was fab as was a local maternity boutique

Was 36E initially, went to 38E in the first few weeks, lost some weight due to morning sickness and went to 36FF. I'm now at 40 weeks and in a 34GG nursing bra which is a bit loose (34G was perfect) but should fill up once the breastfeeding starts.

Another vote for Bravissimo - they were great. I got measured and then bought other bras in the same size / brand online to save money. I wore underwired bras throughout but they were fine as they all fitted perfectly. I tried nursing bras from Mothercare last week and they tried to tell me I was a 40C! The bra was horrible too, never mind completely the wrong size.

Thanks for the input, glad to hear so many of you saying Bravissimo are good, that's where I was planning to go for my bras.

Those of you that have big cups and small backs - how do you cope with bras where the underwires end up round your back??

I'm a 34FF and could do with going up a cupsize, but it seems to be the underwires that get bigger rather than the fabric, which isn't much help? My boobs are getting bigger, they're not migrating to my underarms :o

Fluffy - That actually suggests to me that you might need to go down a back size as it sounds like a 34G is a bit too big around your back and hence the wires are coming round under your arms too much? So a 32G, which gives you the cup size you need, might fit you better than a 34G. I know that when I get fitted at Bravissimo they often jiggle around with back sizes as much as cup sizes to get the perfect fit, especially as different manufacturers can come up smaller than others even though they say they're the same size!!! So if a 34H is too small in the cup for me sometimes a 32HH fits better than a 34HH which seems counter-intuitive but it definitely works!

I would definitely get fitted at somewhere with a good reputation for big boobs - so unfortunately not a high street place like M&S or John Lewis who IME can't cope with boobs bigger than a D cup! Bravissimo is definitely your best bet, or Rigby & Peller.

I noticed that the couple of nursing bras that came up in a search for me on Bravissimo's website didn't seem to come in back sizes larger than 40.

Last time I was fitted (years ago) I had a back size of 44. Now I like to think that may have gone down some, but it would be handy to know if bravissimo don't stock over 40, or whether it was just the couple I looked at.

If they don't, are there any good recommendations for larger women?

Should I wait until after birth for my milk supply to come in and settle down before getting fitted?

I never wear underwires after I had one break, poke out of the fabric and cut my breast as a teen. To be fair it was probably more worn than it should have been, but I find soft bras more comfortable anyway.

Oh I seeee, so the back size alters the underwires too?

I was fitted in Bravissimo for my 34FF bra just a few months ago, but I have to pay £20 to get there via train tightwad - I might try a 32G in my local bra shop - thanks :)

Spirited- they do only go up to a 40 back but you may well be smaller In the band than you think, especially if you got measured at M&S!

Hi. I started at a 34FF and went to 36GG by 16 weeks. Not changed since and now nearly 39 weeks. There is a bra specialist who works with the hospitals here and she said that if you're big to start with You tend to only go up a wee bit, which I found very reassuring.:)

Not certain how it works fluffy - all a bit of a mystery to me - but the Bravissimo fitter often suggest we go down a back size and up a cup size if the fit of a bra is not quite right and it often works!

Bear in mind that different makes and shapes can sit differently as well so a 32G in one may not fit the same as another, and a 34FF might be fine for you in a different make. You would think they'd all have the same sizes given it is so specifically measured, but apparently not...

Spirited - I got fitted about 4 weeks before with both babies. The fitter said you're usually as big as you are going to be in pregnancy by then, and they usually allow a cup size for when your milk comes in. I got a couple of nursing bras in the recommended size and they were fine when my milk came in, very comfy. Once my milk supply was in and settled I went back for a check (at around 8-10 weeks I think) - I think first time around I dropped back a cup size and second time around I was still that size. I would definitely get fitted before because the last thing you want when your milk comes in is an ill-fitting bra - definitely best to get one that is a reasonable fit but with room beforehand. Besides, if you have the energy and wherewithal to get you and a newborn to a bra shop in the first few weeks then you are three times the super mummy that I and most of my friends are :o

The Royce range goes up to a 42 I think and is excellent.

I started at 34dd so not massive but now @ 18 weeks +2 I'm 34G, nearly need a H too. Bit scared of how big they are going to get!

32F now up to 34G at 22 wks. That happened early and i've plateaued at that since about 12 ish weeks. Bravissimo the place for me :)

I was a 32D and went up to a 34G- I am now a 32FF 4 years after having DS so they haven't gone down much and I'm only half a stone heavier than I was before getting pregnant- sucks cos I can only wear clothes that you can wear a bra with.

I was 32DD before pregnancy and as soon as I got pregnant my breasts just exploded. It was very painful. I got fitted at John Lewis and was told I was 34GG, but the lady gave me a bra with some extra room for when they grow even more! I wasn't too thrilled with their maternity bras though and ended up finding only one.

I am at 20weeks now and my breasts don't hurt anymore so that's a relief although I need to go buy more bras, so thank you for the bravissimo recommendation!