Bras in pregnancy - advice please!

[SK28]

Hi ladies. Any bra fitting experts out there...?

I wore a 30DD or 32D pre-pregnancy, but the last couple of weeks I've felt my bra isn't fitting well so today I went to M&S for a fitting.

First question - is it okay to wear an underwired bra in pregnancy? They told me I absolutely can't, but I see Bravissimo say it's ok if it fits well?

Second, the fit... They measured me at a 38 back - I was shocked as I am in the same dress size I was before, just in mat styles, but she said I'm carrying high hence the increased back measurement. And then because of going up so much at the back, I ended up being sold a 38AA. So a change from 30DD to 38AA!

I felt this was odd, but I deferred to the expertise. But reading up on things tonight I think it's wrong... I just don't believe my back measurement is 8 inches bigger than pre-pregnancy.

So I'm pretty sure I need to return the M&S bra they sold me and go elsewhere for a second opinion - but where can I trust? Are Bravissimo or John Lewis good and recommended bra fitters? I was so disappointed in M&S that now I'm really wary.

The other option is I measure myself and just go shopping armed with my own measurements. Any advice on doing this well?

Would really appreciate any recommendations/advice before I embark on a bra hunt in London tomorrow!

By the way - I'm a size 8-10 dress size, if that helps put the back size in perspective - feels wrong to me?

A 38 back when you are a size 10 is ridiculous, I'm only a 34 and I'm a generous size 14. I'd definitely return that one and go somewhere else to be measured. I'm still wearing underwires at 39 weeks but I'm not too concerned if it affects milk supply as I am planning to mix feed due to an early return to work.

Sure someone more knowledgable will be along soon who can offer more definite advice

Hi OP, you are DEFINITELY not a 38AA. Please return the bra tomorrow and make a little cow to yourself never to set foot in an M&S bra dept again. They truly are terrible.

My recommendation (I'm a 32E, size 10-12 and also pregnant) is bravissimo, debenhams or john lewis as you said. I have gone up and down a lot over the years and have a fair idea of how a bra should fit. For your dress size, a back size of 30-32 is about right and AA cups are only for the seriously flat-chested (no offence intended!).

Also, underwired bras should be fine in pregnancy, as long as they aren't too restrictive/tight. With larger women, it is virtually impossible to go without under wiring!

Hope this helps!

Ooops, damn autocorrect.... I meant *vow not cow!!

Thanks misog2000 - I'm 21 weeks and have been wearing underwired up till now (partly because my old bras still felt fine and partly because holidays and work have made getting to the shops difficult) so I'm hoping it's not a huge no-no!

I wore underwire bras throughout pregnancy. As long as they fit, they're fine as the wires sit on your rib cage. And there's very little evidence that underwiring causes blocked ducts anyway...

Oh and I'm a size 14 and wore a 32 back in pregnancy. 38 is ridiculous!

Thanks so much Elisa - I have a JL nearish to me and will maybe make the trip to Bravissimo - they seem to be getting the best recommendations and it's good to know you've had good experiences there. I was a tad concerned about the no-underwire thing, the M&S fitter just said "You're pregnant, get use to no glamour or shape" when she told me I couldn't wear underwired in pregnancy. I feel a bit silly that I just believed everything she told me - clearly my gut was telling me something wasn't right as I jumped straight on the internet to look up bra fitting and pregnancy bra advice when I got home!!

Also I BF my first one to toddlerhood and never had a blocked duct - wore underwire bras for much of the time.

Very good to know Tondelayo :)

No problem SK28, tbh I can't believe the fitter said that to you, that is incredibly rude. You may be pregnant but that doesn't mean you should be written off!

My experiences with M&S have taught me to avoid them like the plague and I encourage all my friends to avoid it at all possible. They did the same with me (I was a 36B according to them) and it is easy to trust them as they are meant to know what they're doing!

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy and for better bra fittings!

I'm also a very small back, 30/ 28 when not pregnant. I never wore underwired bras as was always too worried but I got measured at mothercare, very good. Was a 32. Down side is its hard to find maternity bras in that size. Fig leaves was excellent.

I have worn underwired bras through three pregnancies ans three lots of breast feeding. They are fine.

Badly fitted bras can cause blocked ducts. Well fitted ones are no problem.

The only thing to be aware of is that there is more leeway in a non wired - you do need to be prepared to buy a new underwired as often as you need to. That might be once, but some women change size quite a few times.

FFS I am a size 20/22 on the top but wear a 36 back bra so there is no way you are a 38 back even if pregnant!

Hiya, I was a 28 and size 8 pre pregnancy but have been wearing a 34DD for the last few weeks (I'm 24 weeks) and feel like I now need to go up to a 36-so you may need to go to a size bigger than you think you need but maybe I've just put a lot of weight on in that area

I would recommend JL. They gave me lots of advice, and didn't try to sell me the most expensive bra. I've worn underwired all my life and vowed not to switch but the non wired bra I ended up with is really supportive - I can't tell the difference!

Yes M&S fail when it comes to bra fittings!

I went to Victoria's Secret to get measured, brought one luxury bra and then got the rest from John Lewis. I'm 20weeks and have gone from 34B to 36C in last couple of weeks, but feel like they are still growing!!

I brought a great no underwire bra and it's really supportive and comfortable, think I got two for £20, no more whipping it off the second I get back from work!

Don't get measured as all bras are different. Try on a few sizes and see what feels best. You may need to go up a cup size, back size or even both! I'm normally an 8-10 with 30F boobs! Am going shopping today as spilling out, but won't be measured and def not in M&S! Debenhams have a good range if bigger bras now, seem to be better than Marks.

M&S are rubbish - go to bravissimo if you're in London, or John Lewis, from experience both have excellent fitters.

M&S fitter was very pompous with me and told me I was wearing wrong size, told her no I was wearing the right size, I know what fits. Anyway the size she brought out didn't fit at all. I am a 30F she insisted I was a 36C! I proved her wrong and promptly walked out.

I struggle terribly to get bras when preg as I'm a 34 G to begin with and generally go up to HH. I find that if you get measured and fitted properly now then you can buy the bra extenders on amazon if your rib cage widens. If you want non wired for later and bf the best place for bustier ladies is royce lingerie. I also find the asda £3 crop top type stretchy bra a godsend for sleeping in :)

September I was very open to having to go up a few back sizes but when I measured myself last night at home I'm 31 inches. From various other threads I found, it seems some fitters add inches to your actual measurement and that's not correct so I think I'll head out today and try some 30 and 32 and see how they feel. I'll definitely take the advice about not relying on fitters - will get a second opinion but will try some out and trust myself too

Google better bra campaign and follow the fitting instructions there (the mumsnet way). It's the same regardless of pregnancy, you just might find a non wired bra more comfortable if your bump comes up quite high (mine did and it was painful to wear wires). Avoid m and s like the plague!!!

I've recently had a baby. I'm now 5-6 cup sizes bigger than pre pregnancy and one back size bigger. In pregnancy I was one back size bigger but about 4 cup sizes bigger, I wore underwired when pregnant with no ill effects. Bravissimo fit you into bras but don't measure as such. You are likely to be different sizes in different bras/styles and some just won't fit well at all.

M&S are shit.

I first went to John Lewis and was told I couldn't wear an underwired bra. I tried non some non-underwired ones, but because of the weight of my breasts (already quite big before pregnancy and now huge) they provided no support (I might as well have been wearing nothing at all, and just walking around would have been pretty uncomfortable). When I said this to the fitter she then said 'oh actually it's fine to wear an underwired one'. I then went to Bravissimo instead, who were fab, and the fitter there said straight away that there's no problem wearing an underwired bra as long as it fits properly and doesn't dig in, but that you might need to change it more often. So I think the whole thing is a myth, as long as you have a bra that fits properly.

I have found that even when properly fitted there's variation between bras as to what size to take, so you just need to try on loads. Another thing to bear in mind is that if you aren't near a decent shop, you can order loads online from Figleaves in every possible style/size, try them on at home, and as long as you keep one, you get free returns on all the others. Bravissimo also do free returns I think.

Avoid M&S fitters honestly I learned this aged 14 when they fitted me 36 a ... and wanted to go smaller. I was actually a 38 C and the empty pockets at the top of the cup was not down to tiny boob but the fact the bra was resting on my big round breast like a wee teepee!
Bravissimo and Debenham fit you far better.

You can wear perfectly fitted wired bras BUT they have to fit well and as your boobs will continue to fluctuate this could work out expensive! Poorly fitted ones can cause problems when breast milk comes in and generally by super uncomfortable.

I have heard some nonsense from M&S fitters (one gem was push up bras give you cancer) ... They seem to be a little cult of ignorant fitters out of step with other fitting experts.

I got measured at Debenhams. I bought my bras there and some box granny bras from M&S (very comfy once you find your true size elsewhere) and even some from Primark! My size changed twice:
Before: 31 (so 32/30) DD
Early: 32E
Now: 34 E ... might well need an F if BFIng works out at this rate.

Argh 28 C when I was 14 not 38! Weird auto correct of the day.

agree m&s are rubbish!

Debenhams are good.

I got measured there at about 20 weeks and had gone from a 30c pre preg to a 34d. I just bought normal underwire bras in the new size.

im now breastfeeding and bought 34d non underwire feeding bras which fit well still.

It is sensible to get re measured when your milk comes in but mine have stayed the same.

im now losing weight and can tell my back is smaller so once I get back to my ideal weight ill get re measured and get new feeding bras.

(Apologies if your going to formula feed, the last bit may not be relevant!)

also I was a size 8 pre preg and put on about 4 stone and only went to 34 back size so 38 seems way out!