Bras!

[bumperlicious]

Mine are all too small and uncomfortable now, but I am only 9 weeks so don't want to splash out on new bras only to have to buy bigger ones in a month.
Also is it true I should stop wearing underwired bras?
Any recommendations?
Thanks!

I don't have that problem now, but I find that a sports/jogging bra is good for those stages when you are growing. Plus, they are so much more comfortable.

Bumperlicious, I am still wearing underwired bras at 25 weeks pregnant. My midwife told me at my booking-in appointment that I shouldn't wear them but lots of pregnant women do and it's fine as long as they fit properly and don't cut in anywhere.

Now that my bump is much higher under my boobs I'm finding them a bit less comfortable and have just bought some crop-top style maternity bras made by Carriwell online from the From Here to Maternity website. I bought one from the Carriwell stand at the Baby Show at Earl's Court recently and find it really comfy. I normally change into it for lounging around in the evening but am wearing it to work for the first time today. No good if you want to wear anything low-cut though as it's likely to show but I'm wearing a round-neck jumper today and it's fine.

I had gone down a bra size during the year before I conceived but deliberately kept my old bras (a cup size larger) in case I got pregnant - probably started wearing them from about 8 weeks and haven't had to change size since so am quite lucky really. You might not get much bigger but the trouble is everyone's different so you just don't know. Probably best to just buy a couple of bras at a time in case you do need to keep going up in size - that way you don't end up spending too much although it's a pain to have to keep washing them.

Bump - Currentban is right - underwired is fine as long as you are being measured/fitted properly. You only have to give up on them once you get close to birth/breastfeeding as the wires can interfere with the milk flow/ducts.

I bought two bigger bras at about 7 weeks mainly because my normal size was just too uncomfortable. I bought some more at about 18 weeks when boobs went through another growth spurt. Think they have settled down for now and I can probably live with existing bras until around 38 weeks when it's nursing bra time. I also sleep in some tops with built in shelf bra.

A lot depends on how big your breasts are. I went from 32 D to DD to F (still 32!), so would not be comfortable without proper support.

I wore underwired too... until they dug in. I then bought some crop top style ones from Mothercare and they were brilliant.... but this was much further into the pregnancy.

CurrantBun - sorry I misspelt your name

I just bought one from John Lewis - I am only 8 weeks and have already gone up 2 sizes (am usually a b cup ) and they have a range of wireless for £7!

I am normally a 30E and there is no way I could go without the support. I am 37 weeks and still wearing underwires and will be til the end and then again straight after. With my DD (5) I wore maternity bras, but the mono bump/boobs look was not one I wanted to replicate. I have found a back extender to be a great help as the cups still fit perfectly and I have only gone up to a 33 back.

The Dr Miriam Stoppard range at Debenhams has a wide range of sizes and some of the styles are underwired. The underwire seems more flexible than a normal bra though. I really like the one I got. Unfortunately Debenhams have sent the right black one and the wrong white one. Took it out and knew something was wrong. It was a 34B in a 38E packet. It wasn't going anywhere near me!

With 38E boobs I feel more comfortable with the wire. The unwired ones ride up and don't give enough support I think.

Primark do some really good support bras and sports bras for about £5, this would be cheaper for the short time - off to get mine tomorrow, havent been able to wear one all day today was last day for old bras booo hoooo

Lisa x

I had to buy new bras at about 8-9 weeks and then again at about 16. I'm almost 23 weeks now and starting to think I might need the next size up. Using mothercare's measuring instructions makes me 38G. They allegedly sell that size but our local one has no Gs under 42 inches on their shelves.

I'm wondering how you work out what size nursing bra to buy. When I had my first, my normal (pre preg) size was a 32C and I got a 38E nursing bra. It was huge but when the milk came in it was too small. If I'm already a 38G where do I go from here?

fme don't buy a nursing bra until you've had the baby and your milk has come in - then get properly fitted. This one needs to fit really well - if nothing else you don't want your nursing pads falling out!

Annobal, I disagree - nursing bras usually cost the same as maternity bras, the only difference is that they have the hooks for unclipping. So why not buy the nursing version, then if you don't change size you won't have to spend the same amount of money again?

Last time round I didn't change size from about week 25 till after I'd had the baby, and I wasted a lot of money buying 2 sets of bras.

Bienchen, you are forgiven!

The crop-top style bras I got from From Here to Maternity (link in my earlier post) are only £9.34 each so I didn't feel too bad about buying them. Most of the books I've got advise only buying two bras each time you change size - one to wear and one to wash - makes sense financially but I can do without washing bras every night! I've bought 3 and tend to wear them twice each before washing - they don't exactly get dirty underneath your clothes and as it's not summer I'm not getting hot and sweaty.

The ones I've bought also come in a nursing style with clip cups so will probably buy a couple of those later on. They don't come in standard back and cup sizes, but in small, medium, large etc. and each size fits a range of bust sizes, so this type of thing might last a bit longer than a standard bra. I'm not sure how supportive they'd be for the larger-busted though - at 26 weeks I'm still only a 32C (having started at 32B) so boobs haven't grown that much. As baby pushes upwards though I'm starting to notice my bras getting a bit tight round the ribs which is why I've started wearing the crop-top style ones - they're stretchy and more comfortable.