WHY don't bra shops on the high street sell nursing bras for big boobs?

[terrywoganstrousers]

Given that its not exactly uncommon for pregant norks to increase in size!! My new bras have arrived- 34 I cups - Bravado Bliss and Anita underwired ones. So comfy and flattering, so why can't one buy maternity/ nursing bras above about an F cup on the high street? I would much rather have supported my local independent shop but they seem to shoot themselves in the foot- I went to a shop the other day and the fitter tried to fit me in a 38 FF and claimed it fitted. Boobs were all squashed together at the front, no separation at all and the band totally didn't fit, all riding up at the back. I measured myself at home and ordered from this shop www.nursingbra-shop.co.uk/ which was great- ordered Weds night and received bras this morning, free delivery and everything. Only problem I have is that if I grow any bigger I may struggle to get nice ones- anyone had any luck with nursing/ maternity bras in J cups or bigger? I am envisaging them going even bigger as I'm only 23 weeks preg!

I feel your pain. I'm 16 weeks and still fitting ok into my 34G and GGs, depending on brand and using the looser hook and eyes for a change. I bought some maternity bras in a 34GG from Mothercare the other day. They were rubbish and went straight back, miles too small.
Thanks for that link - I will definitely be frequenting before long.

I got my pregnancy ones from bravissimo and john lewis. Not much choice though when u are a h to j cup.

Oh yes- Mothercare's are dreadful- no support and not half big enough! I just find it so annoying- that website is great, brilliant, quick service etc, but I would much prefer to try on bras and buy them in a real shop sometimes! And large shops are no better than small- Selfridges in the Trafford centre, for example, had nothing in my size. Ditto John lewis, and also Debenhams, which I normally find great for a good selection of bras for the large of nork (am normally a 34E/F).

Horsey- did you find some in John lewis? I had a look when I was first pregnant and needed a 34G, only found one bra which was horrid ( but bought it!) and this time when looking for a H/I cup there was literally nothing. It seemed like everywhere i went, the fitters expected you to go up a back size and down a cup size, and that would be exactly the same fit as what I actually wanted. The woman who tried to tell me that the 38 FF fitted me actually said 'this is a 38FF but it will give you a 34H'.
Er, no, there is a FOUR INCH DIFFERENCE in back band! I tried it on meekly and then said I would 'think about it' and left hurriedly.

the NCT shop sells nursing bra's for humans! well decent cup sizes, I wa sa G/GG prior to pregnancy. x

Just be aware that bravado etc size differently, so you may not be as big as you think. They have no ff or gg or hh size like panache or freya do for example, so a 34I may be more like 34FF or g in those brands? Worth a try anyway!

I am a 34G normally and went to a 34K when bfing. Royce go up to an M cup I think, Bravissimo stock them.

Royce has actually changed their sizing since I last wore them. They used to miss out ff and gg etc too, but now they have changed it, so I used to wear a 32L in them, but now I would be prob looking at 32hh or J. (hey have no I cup size at all now it seems). Basically, you have to talk to retailers about individual brands sizing to be sure. Don't rule a company out because it doesn't appear to go up to the right size.

I got a triumph in a h cup. Not the most attractive bra but effective. Think I will be stuck with Royce for nursing. Was a 38j I think with them so not much room to spare!

agree agree agree
Not only that but WHY are all the back sizes huge????? Some of us have exploded in the cups department but not in the back. There is NOTHING in an H or above with a back size of 28. And I NEED an underwire or I look horrendous.

same reason they don't sell anything small. I was a 34b when pregnant and breastfeeding. They don't make them!

bravissimo do. Not a huge range, I admit, but up to a 28J or 30K cup.

Purplecatti have you considered altering 'normal' bras? I plan on converting some simple under wired ones once feeding is established as I can't do no underwires I will be (I estimate based on last time) about a 30HH which is blooming hard to find!

It's not just big sizes that are hard to get hold of. Im in 36B and the back is starting to get tight but the cup size is still to big. They didn't do a 36A so they sure won't do a 38A will they?

My ribs keep expanding but my cup size is staying the same!

WantAnOrange - have you tried bra strap extenders? I got a pack of 3 white/ 3 black on Amazon for less than 4 pounds. A really good solution if your ribs are expanding like mine - I used to be a 36 and quickly passed the 38 mark early on...

That's a good idea PeshwariNaan (I love peshwari naan bread btw), I will take a look. I look daft at the moment, with the band digging in and leaving red marks but the cups hanging off!

wantanorange I'm even worse, before pregnancy i was a 38a and now i'm a 42a (with extenders in!). I just can't find anything to fit. :(

Hmm... I had the same trouble as the poster above that small sizes are pretty impossible, too. I found some wireless M&S bras when pregnant which were ok, quite comfy (but looked hideous) & switched back to ordinary bras after a few weeks after the birth (they were fine for BFing).

The only bra i have found comfortable from about 16wks is this one from John Lewis. www.johnlewis.com/30156/Product.aspx

If the link doesn't work, it is a Bravado Seamless Nursing bra. It's not pretty, but is comfortable. :)