Maternity bras

[Madratlady]

I'm really struggling financially (lost my job at 8 weeks and won't start my new job till end of august when I'll be around 20 weeks) so I can't afford to buy maternity clothes or bras. I'm managing with my normal clothes so far but I'm having to squeeze my larger and rathe tender boobs into my normal bras. Will wearing slightly too small underwired bras for another couple of months till I'm less skint do any harm?

If your desperate, you could try getting some bra extenders from m&s. they're £5 for three in white black and nude and give you some extra back length so make bras fit a little longer!

It's more the underwiring that's the problem. The bra extenders would probably help a bit by loosening my bras though.

I bought a 2-pack of non-underwired M&S bras for £8 off ebay. If there's any way you could do something similar, I think it would make the next couple of months more comfortable for you. They don't need to be special maternity ones, which can get really pricey x

The single thing that has made me most uncomfortable and miserable during my pregnancy is bras that are badly fitting, too small, underwired or lined with horrible scratchy material. Can you bid for some on eBay or get something cheap from Amazon? And have you been on the bra interventions threads?

What about the seam free nonunderwired bras from sainsburys? They're a fiver and I've seen loads of people on here rave about them. My boobs made me utterly miserable during early pregnancy, I moved into nonunderwired at 6 weeks and it was complete bliss.

I'll look at getting some either off eBay or from Sainsburys. I have no idea what size I am these days. 32 back I think and as a guess maybe a C. Not huge but bigger than my B cup bras.

Madrat the sainsburys ones come in S/M/L about wouldn't matter what size you are exactly.

I bought a seam free non underwired bra from Sainsburys this afternoon and feel comfortable for the first time in ages. Would definitely recommend. Total bargin for a fiver.

Can anyone recommend a very supportive bra for boobs sized 38G (I know -mahoosive!) but minus the underwiring?

I have just gone up and up since becoming pregnant and I'm just looking for comfort now - not style. I think I have given up on ever looking good until I've given birth and the baby is a year old!

Xenadog, have a look on bravissimo website. At 16 weeks I'm currently at 34 H and needing new bras again. I think by the end of this I might just be using a wheelbarrow!

Thanks Spacefrog.

I am so worried that I will buy a bra and then a couple of weeks later it doesn't fit - and I can't be done with spending a fortune on bras! I do like Bravissimo though.

Just found a website called "Fashion World" and they have non wired for about £13 or £14 each in wheelbarrow sizes so I will check out Bravissimo first but if they are a bit pricey I might try Fashion World.

I keep seeing a bra called "Doreen" and you just know with a name like that it is not at all sexy but probably deeply supportive and reliable!

I'm off to sainsburys - what a brilliant tip!! x

xena I have the same size boobs as you! A Royce nursing bra and a Doreen granny bra saw me through pregnancy. Hideous but no underwire and comfortable. Doreen I did get a 36 though- I think they are sized big. The Doreen is the most supportive bra I have ever worn.

Now having to take the Large mothercare comfort nursing bra back to get an XL as my norks are just not contained.

Oh- and get fitted! It really does make the difference. - good luck! Xx

Tesco sell a fairly light sports bra for £4, I have a couple of those and they are good (I wear them to bed too as supportive but not tight like most sports bras). I won't lie, they are not attractive, but they are cheap and supportive!

Xena - check out bravado bras, they only come in four sizes as they are stretchy, so should see you through a bit of growth. They are not the cheapest but totally worth it and very, very comfy. I don't know what I'd do with out mine!

Try freecycle, I often see maternity clothes on there, just not in my size!

Maybe also bras, but I always feel they are a bit more personal, so the Sainsbury and Tesco tips might be best.

If you know any of your friends have recently had babies, get yourself measured and ask them. I recently bagged up a whole load of bras from my two pregnancies and took them to a charity shop - there's a big need for proper bras in many poorer countries. You could also see if any friends who have stopped bf have any to give away.

You could also cut a slit at the top of the channel the underwire sits in and slide it out...obviously if you don't have a sewing machine or aren't handy with a needle it will be difficult to get back in but it's a free short term solution at least!

Thanks for all the tips about bras - might do so internet shopping tomorrow. xx

I got my 2 pack of 'blooming marvelous' maternity bras in the sale at mothercare for £14. My boobs were agonising this time around from very early on and the were an instant relief. As a previous poster said do get measured tho, I didn't with my son but have with current bump and can defo tell what a massive difference its made. I haven't had to buy any more bras yet either.
The Sainsburys ones sound a good option too