Is underwiring really so evil? When did you switch to maternity bra!?

[ClearlyMoo]

I'm 13 weeks today, and so finally embracing the fact I need to shop for maternity clothing. I was pleasantly surprised and excited about things available to wear in general but am SO depressed about bra choices. Debenhams had one bra that fitted me. My nearest Bravissimo is over an hour away (I'm quite big FF/G) and I'm loathe to make a special trip but scared to shop online because how will I know if it fits. The bra I bought makes my boobs looks SO WEIRD! Assistant convinced me it was a proper fit, but now I'm still questioning about whether I need to go wireless so soon.

I need to shop as I'm spilling out of my biggest u/w bra but can I but new underwired ones?!

Would love to hear opinions/ experiences/ recommendations of websites (either shopping or research into actual affect on milk ducts/ breast tissue.

Just a heads-up that Mothercare bras were pretty shite.

A= 1"
B = 2"
C = 3"
D = 4"
DD = 5"
E = 6"
F = 7"
FF = 8"
G = 9"
GG = 10"
H = 11"
HH = 12"
J = 13"
JJ = 14"
K = 15"

Underwiring is EVIL!

Actually, bras are evil. I haven't been able to wear even the most expensive, properly fitted bras for months now as he's riding high in my ribs and they don't fit let alone the pain.

Thanks sorrell, I'm getting the measuring tape out later.

That linked blog is actually surprisingly good advice for measuring for an accurate bra size. The only issue is that size will also depend on brand. I'm 34GG/H/HH depending on brand!

I have never felt comfortable in non-wired bras, and I'm not going to switch until underwire becomes uncomfortable, if it does.

I'm being induced on Monday, still in underwires and dreading nursing bras (I've asked this before but if anyone can point me in the direction of a 30 back underwired nursing bra I will be eternally grateful).

I'm a 34HH normally but my boobs got bigger quite early on - got a 34J and 34JJ from bravisimo and they both were fine. I'm only wearing the JJ now but it's wired and doesn't dig in. Need to get new ones soon - will get another JJ and possibly a K. They seem to fit around my ribs ok, but they may have stretched (heavy use!) so might get 36JJ.

Not planning on getting non-wired ones though - boobs and bump would merge together!! :O

wispaxmas That blog is the work of another MNer!

Ladies, trust me on this one. The worst thing you can do when measuring yourself for a bra is using a tape measure! Look side on in the mirror,if your spilling out at the top you need a bigger cup. Get someone to pull the back strap,if they can stretch and stretch it you need a smaller back,if there's virtually no give in it at all you need bigger. Wrinkled cups at the a sides or loose at the top mean they're too big. I've been measured pretty much everywhere that does it and no where that uses a tape measure has ever given me a good fit (m&s are the worst by far!). Bravissimo on the other hand are the best and its all done by eye.

I'm still wearing wired bras at 28 weeks and to be honest have no intention of going to non wired. I was a hh pre bump and now up to a k and to be perfectly honest I fail to believe that my boobs won't go straight through the bottom of a non wired bra! As long as its a good fit there's no reason you shouldn't wear a bra with an underwire.

Fitting by eye is of course the best way, but a tape measure is really useful for finding a starting point. Especially, if you've been wearing a 38B and you're actually a 30GG!

Underwiring during pregnancy and breastfeeding is totally fine. Non-wired maternity and nursing bras are the work of devil and will give you droopy, sweaty mono-boobs hanging somewhere around your bellybutton.

I bought my normal Freya and Fantasie bras in bigger sizes, got nursing bra clips from ebay and converted the bras myself. So much better, feel like human again.

I will not be switching to unwired! I have large and sadly, saggy breasts. A properly fitting wired bra lifts them properly and gives decent seperation. Underwired are torture. I end up with a droopy mono boob somewhere in the direction of my belly! I get thrush underneath, sweat and spend most of the time scratching in agony!
Its underwires all the way for me!

bizarre cross post!

ha nice cross post

hazlenutt how do you convert them? Do you have a link to some info on how to do it?

Sure, it's really easy:
blogs.babycenter.com/tips_and_tricks/diy-the-uncrafty-moms-nursing-bra-conversion/

Make the trip to bravissimo - it's worth every penny imo

I've used websites like Bras and honey and bras 4 mums to order a selection of underwired bras including underwired nursing bras

this underwired one from Anita got me through bfing DS last time - I had it in black and white on a wear one wash one rotation.

If you can manage - order a few sizes on a credit card to try - if you are going to bf best to wait until milk comes in anyway around day 3-5, and you won't really want to be out shopping anywhere so an online shop will really help.

I have gone from a 32DD to 32 GG in this pregnancy, and have had few bras from eBay on my way up to here. Will keep them for the way (hopefully) back down and then sell back on eBay I think

That looks way easier than I expected,have a couple of old bras in my undies drawer so may have a go on an old one for practice. Failing that a friend of mine is a dress maker and could do this in 2minutes (as simple as this looks I can't see to save my life though I did hem a pair of curtains last week using wonder web)

Wow!!! MN hivemind you've done me proud. Thank you for all the answers! I usually get all my bras from Bravissimo, making a big trip and buying 4-5 at once. The problem at the mo is that I'm changing all the time. Will take advice and get my usual Freya & Fantasies in a bigger size! I might do mail order and can always return!! Thanks for all the answers.

Flexible underwiring allows your boobs to grow without damaging the surrounding tissue.

I am "blessed" with big knorks, and have two nursing wired and two nursing non wired.

All bought from figleaves. And the wired ones especially, do give me all the good support and shape i need without a monoboob.

I've got to agree with the measuring is a load of crap.

I went to a proper maternity/nursing bra store and out of the 25-30 bras I tried on only 3 fit. And they are all different sizes.

The woman fitting was great, there's no way I could have got such perfect fits on my own.

I only swapped after my milk came in, I went upto a h cup with ds3 and in desperation had to buy a nursing bra and it was awful, luckily I went back to ff after a couple of weeks so back to underwires. The lady in bravissimo said as long as it isn't digging in your bump etc it should be fine.

yy to converting nice bras. Saved my sanity

I gave birth in an underwired bra. Properly fitted, they don't touch any lactiferous tissue anyway. I only wear a soft nursing bra for the first weeks of bf.

Don't get measured at M&S - they still use the "plus four" rule.

I found that bra extenders were great for when my rib cage expanded but my boobs hadn't actually grown or moved apart.

I've just moved into non-underwired at 22wks. I've went through my bra collection and was pouring out of my larger cup sizes. Decided to move to them as they they'll last longer than wired. Am now a 34J but this bra gives me a bit of growth room. Last time I went up to 36K (maybe even a LL actually) by the end. I figured either buy nicer bras 2/3 more times before the baby is here or try and save money and maximise the wear from one size.
Bloody hate the monoboob though, so sweaty and horrible shape, constantly lifting and separating and popping myself back in properly. The curse of enormous boobs!
Def recommend bravissimo though, would never shop anywhere else for bras. It takes me over an hour to get to the nearest one and it's worth it.