When to start wearing a maternity bra??

[MissTweed]

Another stupid "I'm new to this, question" so please bear with me.....

When do you start wearing maternity bras?? I was guessing that it was nearer the end but I have read a few things about it impacting on the milk duct production which starts early??

I'm only 7.5 weeks but I have already gone from 34B to 34DD! When will they stop growing??? I have wanted bigger boobs all my life and now I find that they just get in the way!! Lol

I have resorted to wearing my big boobed friends bras (she has a weird habit of buying loads of bras that she never wears - handy for me!) but when do I need to bite the bullet and go for the unsexy maternity ones??

Many thanks in advance

Hi Misstweed - congratulations!

I'm just 9 weeks and had to go for a tiring at Bravissimo yesterday - I'm up from a 32g to a 34hh already! They advised I didn't need anything special, just something that fits well. Here's no need to worry about underwrites as long as the brains well fitting apparently.

I have invested in a sleep bra though which is a god send! I also expect to needmlore new bras around 26-30 weeks.

Keep well!

Not a tiring, a "fitting"!

I wore a sports bra for the early "keep growing" weeks. They don't have underwiring and some are flexible in size (S, M, L - for example).

I'm 7+3 and going to buy a couple from mothercare tomorrow- although underwires are fine, I'm finding mine uncomfy. Have been sleeping in a sports bra, can thoroughly recommend that!

I'm expecting DC2 and this time I started wearing sports bras pretty much from the start when they started feeling tender. The ones I'm wearing are from M&S and I think they are called sleep bras. I wear them during the day too. They don't enchance your shape but they are soft, comfy and have enough support. If I'm wearing something "special" and want a better shape to my boobs I wear a different m&s one that's more like an unwired t-shirt bra. Both of these styles of bras are listed with their maternity items online. The were cheap and come in packs of 2.
I also got some bra extenders on e-bay. They add extra rows of hooks for fastening so you can wear your bras for longer between switching sizes.
Soon enough you'll need nursing bras with drop down cups so it all adds up to a lot of new bras. Your boobs will continue to change size after baby comes but at that stage your back starts getting norrower again.

25 weeks and not planning to get any of those unflattering and unsupportive maternity bras. Have just bought my normal bras in bigger sizes.

I think it's completely dependent/ relative. Some can wear their usual underwired bras (usually in bigger size) up until the end. I found underwires, even in properly fitted bras in new, bigger size incredibly uncomfortable from about 22 wks. So I switched to very ugly non-wired mothercare maternity bras.

Whatever you choose, I think the important things are correct size, good support and comfort. How you achieve that is up to you!

Whatever you do, don't get "fitted" by Mothercare, M&S or La Senza. Go to Bravissimo.
thebetterbracampaign.blogspot.co.uk/

I went to a big John Lewis and got some non-underwired bras at about 9 weeks. They measured me and were really helpful. They look great- like T shirt bras. Yesterday all were dirty so put an underwired bra on and it was sooo uncomfortable in comparison. The lack of wire lets your boobs grow in a natural shape I think. Not sure whether there is any evidence though. I havent got sleep bras though. Has anyone found any good ones online?

I bought a couple of Royce ones for sleeping in at 9 weeks. I'm now 12+5. I really notice if I forget to put them on! They are really comfy for sleeping in but I'm not brave enough to wear them during the day though, they make my boobs look funny...! I was 34j before pregnancy, gawd help me for later on!

I second HazelNutt's advice. Visit the The Bra Campaign thread for more info!

FlowerBird - I've never heard that, I've always been told that underwires were discouraged because of damage to milkducts. A properly fitted underwired bra is fine throughout pregnancy. If your underwire bra is uncomfortable then almost certainly it's the wrong size.

I wore normal underwired ones throughout pregnancy. But they must fit properly. Do not get fitted by M&S or Mothercare as they still add 4 inches. Bravissimo is your best bet or try posting in Chat for one of the bra experts to fit you based on your measurements.

Sorry X-posted with HazelNutt and Sorrell.

Thanks guys, lots of really useful advice! I've already dug my (very underused) sports bra out of retirement and will try wearing I tonight

As for sleeping, I would recommend those here:
Bravissimo

I've bought a fab bra in asda for £6, called comfort bra, it's perfect and cheap

I got two bras for 50p each from a charity shop - there were loads there, different sizes and in good condition. No point in buying something new if I won't be wearing it for long.