Where are the good maternity bras?!?

[misboo]

I'm after some support bras which are non underwired, not too hideous and not too expensive - mothercare don't stock anything in my size (34 c/d - nothing too unusual!) online or in store at the moment - any ideas?

If you are a larger size and looking for non underwired I would definately recomend you go shopping and get one fitted. It will save you money in the long run. Online is not a good idea in my experience, its such a long shot to find a good one.
Personally I skip the maternity bra thing and just bought one of my favourites in two sizes up, its the nursing bra I really had trouble finding. There I would say the same, or opt for underwired. It stops your boobs falling out everywhere, and you dont always have to wear your bra in the house.
Thats my opinion anyways.
Good Luck!
xxx

John Lewis great - not a fan of M&S here but then I found very saggy bras for bigger cups and not supportive at all. And they start at a 34. Apparently women with size 32 backs don't have babies (and size 30 don't exist at all...) Grr. JL have tonnes in your size and great fitters.

I can recommend bras4mums.co.uk - they do a really helpful email or phone fitting system which is virtually as good as a fitting in person and they cater for even 28 back sizes!! (They are at the baby show at Excel this weekend if you are nearby)
However, if you haven't ever been fitted before at all for normal bras I'd say go for a fitting in person. Bravissimo.com has shops in some major towns and really know what they are doing.

I like contessa

hang on its called la senza now or something like that...

How come theres ppl posting and not one comes onto the insomniacs thread!

Just something I wish I'd known when pg- after pg, i.e. when nursing or just boobs deflating, you still need support- therefore nursing bras do the same job as maternity bras so you don't need mat bras! This time around I'm working through the nursing sizes I got as boobs deflated- and I really hated the mat bras I got- nursing ones much prettier and comfier. Could just be where I looked, but had more choice too.
Cynical I know, but I reckon maternity bras are just one more way to make money out of us pg women- and we all think of it as normal to buy all these bras for only a few weeks, then another set a few months later (if you think you might bfeed). Grrr.
Oh, and my knockers are big but the support is fine despite being used for a while already (remember someone saying that I'd have to replace bras after 3 months or something, due to the 'heavy loads' at 38 G. They didn't have enough faith in the fabric and careful washing!! I'm doing fine in my old nursing bras from last time. Though I appreciate that what works for me might not be for everyone.
Good luck at finding something you like, anyway.
mumofk

I'm a 34d and all mine are Marks and Spencers too.

I've never found nursing bras from M&S, do they do them? I have been wearing nursing bras through this pregnancy, and have recently got a couple of very nice, very supportive nursing bras from mothercare, slightly padded but not underwired, and quite pleased with them.

mothercare don't do your size? How odd. did you try ordering?

They make my size but are sold out in the shop and online! I am just too average for them i think. Will go and have a look at M&S and John Lewis today - didn't realise they did nursing and maternity stuff.

I agree with the point about maternity bras being another way to make money out of pregnant women, but i hate the potential boob-flopping out feeling of nursing bras, and only wore them for the time i had to even though i bf for 18months last time. But i am really suffering with my normal bras so i need something a bit softer.

Thanks for all your advice!

Hot milk.
Google it.
Wonderful maternity and nursing bras.
ABsolutely gorgeous.

I agree maternity bras are a bit of a rip-off, but the problem I've found is the usual underwired ones tend to really "dig in" as you start getting bigger (depends how big yo u are to start with) with DS I got measured at m & s & they found me a really comfy sports bra, this time they sold me "maternity" bras, which are ok, but at pre-preg 36c I'm used to a bit more support. Get measured & try a selection of non-wired ones on would be my advise.... Have been ogling the hot milk site too!

Hi! I had this same dilemma at the weekend- now nearly 12 weeks and boobs just too sore in old bras. I eventually bought a bra in M and S. Not amazingly sexy but liss to wear. It looks a little like somehting my granny would wear but I guess cos I'm not my lovely granny's age, it looks okay (ish!).

Have a look on figleaves.com herethey have a large range and quite a few nice ones. I highly recommend the Elle McPherson "maternelle" one - it is expensive (£32) but you will wear it/them to death, they are relatively pretty and look like camisoles under a lower cut top so very practical. I ended up buying 3 when I was having/had DS, now wearing again 2nd time round. For most attractive one, look at the Amoralia "nougatine" - probably as pretty as you will get but steep at £40!

Bravissimo www.bravissimo.com/ also have some nice ones.

I'm 38C and have found M&S sports and firm support bras (non-wired) to be an absolute joy. So supportive and comfy (for me at least).

I have to say that I bought a double pack of M and S bras and got the biggest size they did - a G - and they were too small. I remember looking at them and saying to my boyfriend "there is no way these can be a G"

A few days later we were in Mothercare and he takes a liking to a set that they do - he has a thing about underwear - so I picked it up in the same size. Looking at it it appeared to be enormous. I got it home and tried it on and I had so much room to spare I could have stored my keys and mobile phone in it as well as money for a cab home!

I have to say now I am completely put off Marks and Spencers bras as there sizing is obviously drastically flawed somewhere.

Do a google search for triumph lace maternity bra - I was always a 12E and ballooned to 14G and their bras have fantastic support and front clips for easy feeding.

I found Elle McPherson bras expensive but worth it, much better than anything else-although Hennes have some very cheap and (i think) quite pretty ones.

I go Tesco because I really can't afford to stump up £20 odd quid for a maternity bra.