When to buy maternity bras

[Cariad007]

How do I figure out how big my breasts are going to get? I’m just over 37 weeks and still in my 36C/34D pre-pregnancy bras - my nipples are bigger and darker but my breasts themselves haven't really increased in size. Should I just order a nursing bra a size up? I guess I'll know for sure after the birth but I know I won't be immediately up to shopping for bras then!

Well I'm in them already and I'm only 16 weeks! My boobs get massive in pregnancy though and I find normal bras to uncomfortable.

I haven't even put on a whole stone and it's all in my bump, so am terrified that I'm suddenly going to balloon all over in the last 2 weeks!

Lucky you! You probably will get bigger the last few weeks but I wouldn't rush out and get bras just in case. Get them if you need them. You might just be able to skip the maternity bras and go straight to the nursing bras!

Hi, i think Bravissimo specifically give you a longer returns time so you can order some a few weeks before you're due and then return the ones that don't fit after you give birth (ie DH can! lol).

Sorry, I meant nursing bras - didn't realise that the terms maternity and nursing weren't interchangeable! But I figure I won't know how big I'll get until my milk comes in.

Hi. You will get bu when your milk comes (1-3 days after birth) but they usually die down again after your supply settles. If just buy one nursing bra a cup size bigger and a few crop tops for wearing I. Bed (unless your too big to b comfy) this should give you at least a week then you can get measured once your milk supply has settled. I bought a few nursing bras as soon as I came out of hospital and try only fit for a day as my boobs shrunk again! Everyone is different though. Just make sure you don't wear underwire as it can cause painful blockages in your milk ducts.

Hmm I'm still wearing underwires now - should I give them up? Also, has anyone tried the Bravado Silk nursing bra? It looks like it would give a bit of room to grow!

I was wondering this too! I was advised in mothercare to wait until 38 weeks, I'm 38+5 now and still haven't bought any, my boobs haven't got any bigger since 12 weeks ish!

Going to have to bite the bullet this week and buy one/two in a size bigger, just to get me through the first week or so. I'll (/ask my mum to) get some more when my milk is in and they've settled.

I buy these which come in S, M, L etc, so a bit easier to guestimate size before you've had the baby! You could then get another one after baby's born but these would tie you over (tbh I just use these, they're comfy!)

www.amazon.co.uk/Bravado-Seamless-Nursing-Medium-Butterscotch/dp/B000YQJD3U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390847180&sr=8-1&keywords=bravado

You can wear underwire, as long as the bra fits properly and the wore doesn't sit on breast tissue.

The bravado bras get great reviews on Mumsnet. I have a crop top one that I sleep in. I'm a J cup though, and they don't offer enough support during the day. A crop top style should give you the room you need in the early days. When my milk came in I felt like I had two rocks stuck to my chest!

After a couple of weeks you can go nursing bra shopping. Bravissimo we're great for me.

Sorry to ask ... But ... Are you sure of your size? Do you measure as per the bra intervention method?

There's a bra intervention method? I'm either a 36C or a 34D depending on the brand. The cup sizes at the same, it's just that some brands are tighter around the back than others! I had a look at nursing bras in M&S but they are so dowdy. And the Elle MacPherson ones are gorgeous but pricey. I only wear tshirt/smooth bras as I hate visible bra lines so those Bravado ones might do nicely. Nice bright colours too!

Loads of ladies on our postnatal thread bought the Bravado seamless silk nursing bra (think they sell them in John Lewis), mentioned by LittleFur. One of the best maternity buys I made. They only come in three sizes, so allow for plenty of room to grow. I wore mine during pregnancy and still am now for breast feeding.

They are especially good because they are comfortable to sleep in - which is necessary when you're leaking pre or post birth.

Yes OP - there's normally one running in Style and Beauty. Basically, most people wear a bra too big in the back band and too small in the cup. There's guidance on how to measure yourself and what size it relates to. If you're, say, an M&S 36C, you may be more likely to be a 32E. If you read the threads and post your measurements someone (hopefully posters sorrellforbes or statisticallychallenged!) will suggest a size for you to try.

Carry on as you are until you're settled with breastfeeding. Or get measured at bravissimo for a nursing bra.

Oh, and nursing bras aren't pretty in lather cup sizes, but they do the job!

In sainsburys at the moment they have these lovely crop top things, they are stretchy and seamless. I can't stand anything round my middle and these are great, I also still feed my toddler and they work for that. They might be a good stop gap while you wait for your milk to come in and settle down the best bit is they are in loads of colours and only £5 I'm at least a dd cup and they are quite supportive even after 3 years if breastfeeding!