Nursing bras - how much bigger?

[Excited85]

Hoping some of you wise women can help! Just been to get measured at mothercare as am 38 weeks and the lady there announced that my teeny tiny boobs are apparently a 36D and that for nursing she would recommend a 34 DD to allow space for growth plus for ribs to come back down.

However I'm still generally wearing either my normal 34A or the cheap 34B I picked up from Asda a few months ago to cater for the minimal amount of growing my small (less than a handful) boobs have done. So I tried on the 34DD and it was huge, sagged a bit under boobs, cups halfway upto my neck and could definitely get my hands comfortably into each cup. Sales asst was adamant this was how they are meant to be for nursing and that if I opted for a smaller size I'd most probably be back in a few weeks to buy another, but I'm not convinced.

Does this sound right? Is my first so no idea what I expect in terms of boob growth after birth. Had naively thought they would grow during pregnancy but so far that hasn't been the case. Any opinions/experienes would be a great help. Thanks!

Interested to see what you ladies have to say to this. My boobs have not grown much since I became pregnant am now 33+5, I'm a 36D usually and have been wearing a 38D sports bra for comfort throughout (bones from normal bra were digging into bump ) I'm confused as to how you can buy a nursing bra in advance when my milk might not come in until after birth?

I've got feeding bras from last time with DC2 which are 40F I'm usually 34A/B....they must be mine but I can't imagine ever filling them....

Meant nursing bras!

I'd ignore the sales assistant from MotherCare. Do you have a bravissimo near you? I'd go an get measured there for a bra that will fit you now and buy something at a cup size up to wear when your milk comes in. Then go back in a few weeks once you've had baby to check you've got the right fit.
What are your measurements OP? Under bust and over (whilst leaning forward), the bra gurus around on MN will be able to help you find a good starting place for a new bra.
Pre pregnancy I was wearing a 36E, I'm now 31+3 weeks and am busting out of 36G, so I need to go shopping again, what a shame!

I'll have a measure mogz, where would I find these bra gurus?! I think there is a bravissimo in the city centre but don't fancy dragging myself around there at the minute as back pretty bad and car parking is a nightmare now I'm ready to burst!
Gosh fairy train, that's a huge difference! I did ask the woman what I should be doing for now as still in A cup underwires but she just suggested making do with the DD with the space in it. Hmmm, think will get a sports style bra or two from somewhere like Matalan for the meantime!

Bravado do a really good supportive nursing bra which has a bit of stretch. I got a few of them before the birth and they were fine after, very comfy. After using them for a couple of months when I learned what size my boobs settled into, I then bought some underwired Anita nursing bras after measuring myself in the normal way (ie 36 on the tape is 36 on the band, none of this add 5 inches thing).

I just bought bras that fitted while I was pg. Yes, when milk comes in your boobs will get a bit bigger, But I found that this only lasted a few days, and the bras had enough stretch to cope. Hope that helps

A 36D will likely be larger in the cup size than a 34DD (or very close anyway), in terms of volume, so that doesn't make much sense.

If it helps, I was a 30D pre-pregnancy and a 34D in pregnancy - bigger boobs, bigger ribs. I went to a 32F when feeding then a 32DD after feeding - I think eventually I'll get to a 30DD again.

I don't have big boobs, or small boobs, just regular size, even when nursing. Cup sizes on a 30 back are much smaller than cup sizes on a 36 back.

I bet if you're currently wearing a 34B you're probably a 30C or 30D in the real world of bras.

I agree with Ida - you're probably much more of a 30D than what you're wearing. I'm not surprised the 34DD looks enormous!

If you searh for bra interventions or posts by the user Statistically Challenged (there's another MNetter but I can't remember her name!) you'll find the measuring tips.

I was fitted at Bravissimo today for a nursing bra. After moving from a 32g to a 34j during pregnancy, I've been fitted with a 34jj Royce nursing bra (so one cup size up), which while not pretty, is surprisingly comfy for a soft cup.

Go to bravissimo. They are absolute angels.

As Anything said, have a quick search and you'll track them down, lovely ladies.