Why are nursing bras hideous and expensive!?

[WellieWanger]

Just a little rant. I am a 40GG. Maternity/Nursing bras are bloody vile. I am dreading returning to the days of saggy mono tit that I had with DC1. And to add insult to injury, seeing as you MUST buy these hideous things if you want to nurse and not get mastitis, they aren't bloody cheap! Like the look of Molke ones (although am skinto with 2weeks to go so even that's out of my price range without asking DH for money) but their books aren't open. Does anyone have any alternative (reasonable) suggestions?

Sorry I haven't got any suggestions but just wanted to add my agreement. I have 3 children and a hefty chest size. Each time being completely and utterly fed up with mono sweaty boobs due to the dreadful and expensive nursing bras was a major factor in finishing breastfeeding after 4-6 months

32H when breastfeeding by the way

I agree. Really ugly and really expensive. It also doesn't seem like there's much choice out there either :/

This isn't really a massive help but I wanted to suggest it. Asda go up to a 40H cup but are stretchy and fit quite large. They sometimes do a lacy looking bra that isn't hideous - I don't quite have nice defined boobs but they aren't a mono boob. And only £8 each

I am so pleased I am not alone in this. It's as if you become a mother and therefore you need to forgo any sort of attractive underwear. The disposable maternity pants are bad enough but teamed with the bras-hells bells I should think my nan has more appealing underwear. I would just sod it and wear what I fancy but I have had mastitis and it's agony. I will look at Asda tonight blue2014. Is it their maternity bras? Thanks chuck.

Have you tried this website OP?

www.brastop.com/

Sorry, didn't read that you liked Molke ones

Crease Free Clothing creasefreeclothes.co.uk/product/bra/
do the same style of bra - but I'd email them first about what their lead times are on bras because I understand they're custom made so if you need one ASAP might not be ideal.

Yep, maternity bras OP. And I love that you called me chuck, made me smile - havent been called that in years

Not much in Asda right now but they get black and navy lacy ones in.

I'm still wearing massive ugly knickers though

Mothercare make some ok ish ones. Don't bid against me on eBay though. If you have one you hate you could cut the clips off and make your own. Take the underwire out of (an old) one you like and sew the clips on it. Nothing ventured etc.

I'd leave the underwire in if you're converting a bra. You also need to buy some elastic so that the shoulder strap stays in place when you drop the cup.

Have you tried feeding in an ordinary wired plunge? I can get enough boob out to do it.

Why are you bothering with disposable pants? I wore the big black cotton granny pants from tesco and I think they work out at about £1 each which makes them pretty disposable in my book.

This is a massive bugbear of mine. You can wear underwire as long as it fits properly. I just wear balcony bras (it does ruin them eventually), I couldn't be doing with monoboob or saggy boobs! Been breastfeeding for 2.5 years, only had mastitis once when I went back to work and they hadn't arranged anywhere for me to express.

I changed to Maternity Bras at 12 weeks and now at 18+4 i have been remeasured and gone back to underwire.. i'm uncomfurtable in both but at least i don't feel so disgusting in a nice wired one! Lol

I've got two I like, and cycle between them! But now they're too big as DS is 8 months and drinking less.

They're also bum ugly.

You won't get mastitis from a properly fitting bra. Underwires are totally fine while BFing and will give you much better support than a mono-boob saggy soft bra.

Freya make a fab underwired nursing bra, and being Freya I suspect they'll go to large cup sizes.

It's called Freya Pure, but watch out when you search for it as there is a nursing version and a regular version.

This style of bra has saved my sanity this time around. Having fed for just under three years last time, with mono-boob nursing bras and then wrecking some balcony bras, I was dreading a return to nursing bras. A desperate internet search unearthed the Freya Pure, and I have been a happy feeder since (2.5 years in).

Two words- Hot Milk
Yes, expensive, but utterly gorgeous. I still wore mine after I'd stopped feeding, I loved them that much.

I have the opposite problem, I'm only a 28FF and barely anywhere does nursing bras that small!

Really?? You can wear underwires while bfing as long as they're fitted properly??

You are so right OP they are almost universally hideous. I got one from Mimi Holliday which is slightly less hideous than the usual offering, but it has two layers, outer layer which comes down and unclips in silk, and a fixed layer underneath in lace, with a hole for your nipples. SOO itchy on already pretty abused nipples (dd is a biter/chewer) so useless. I would not recommend. Mine are generally just like soft wrap over sports bras, but I am a 28E so don't have really big boobs that need a lot of support. They do seem to be heading south worryingly rapidly though and encased in the ugly bras they aren't looking great.

I mean would it be so hard to put a bit of lace trim on? Or do nicer colours and patterns other than beige, black, white and bloody polka dots? Design them so the shape isn't just two huge triangles and make the bands so that there is more support at the base when there is no underwire. There is so little variety it's annoying. I don't want to feel like a totally different person just because I have a small child. It's the same with maternity wear, the designers seem to think every woman on finding out she will become a mother wants to dress in this weird uniform of florals, Breton stripes and bloody polka dots! I hope now that Rosie Huntington whitely is pregnant she will design a maternity range for M&S, I love her underwear from there and if I could have the same but with clip down cups I would be over the moon. Might just save M&S profits too!

Phil is right... Hot Milk! Really nice bras and can find them on ebay if you're ok with second hand.

Not sure if you can get them in the UK but look up Ludo. They have nice and sexy nursing bras with flexible underwrites which are meant to be okay for nursing.

I am usually a 30GG but they only start at 32 so tried 32GG (which is actually an H im European sizing) and had to go up one cup size. Back band fits well but then I'm only 16w so probably growing across my rib cage.

Underwire should never be on your breast tissue in the first place. If it is, the cup is too small. As long as it is nicely around your boob, it is totally fine to wear underwires when pregnant or breastfeeding.