can anyone recommend a maternity bra to fit 30E?

[chickenmommy]

Hi - I'm wondering if anyone has any advice on good maternity bras to fit my peculiar sized boobs. I'm 15 weeks pregnant and thinking as my boobs now seem to be a bit tender, and because I'm worried I might damage them if I continue to wear my normal under-wired bras, I need to get a proper maternity bra. Problem is very few start at a 30 back and those that do are "proper size" bras i.e. 30E and I think the cup will be to small shortly. Any suggestions? thanks

you don't need a 'maternity' bra, just a non-wired one. It's a fact of pregnancy that you change size so don't expect one bra to see you all the way through, and your back size is likely to increase as well as your cup size
some here, not too pricey either

I'm only a 32B normally (boobs deflated after last pregnancy!) I went to John Lewis on Friday and a very helpful assistant advised me that the main thing is support and no underwiring to compress the milk ducts.

I'm now 34C so far in this pregnancy and she pointed me to a range of teenage bras they had which looked very pretty like normal bras, just with a bit more padding and they went up to an F cup as far as I could see...

I got some excellent stuff on figleaves.com - they have a good range. I started with "normal" maternity bras i.e. unwired, but found them very uncomfortable as I got bigger. I'm currently 36F (having started 32D!), and the best I've found is the Anita Jaquard bra, which gives really good support. It's underwired, but designed for nursing. I don't get any red marks with this one, and I did with the unwired ones, so I'm not convinced it's such a bad thing to have wiring.

p.s. you can also get bra extenders which increase the back size without changing the cup size, also on figleaves - cost 2 quid or so.

thank you for all your ideas! hadn't thought that maternity bras are just non-wired ones really. good point too Canda about the bra extenders - that might get me a few extra weeks out of my ordinary bra size. I feel a spending spree coming on

I was a 32f before pregnancy and a 32H feeding bra's
great options in john lewis, a few options in bravissimo

What I was recommended - as an F cup before I got pregnant - was the Bravado range. They're actually breastfeeding bras (so you save money as they're useful later on!) but are elasticated more like a sports bra - really supportive and comfortable. And there is a range of sizes which covers all back and cup sizes. What's more, you can get a very groovy leopardskin one, which made me smile through a lot of pregnancy and beyond...

I was all ready to recommend Bravado too but they reckon their smallest is a 32"...

I am a 30DD normally- the brand Freya is usually quite good and you can find them at John Lewis. I got measured recently as am now 15 weeks and am now a 32FF. I found Bravissimo to be very good.

maybe from Mothercare? as im not sure from size 30 as im a 40f

I second the Bravado bra's. The designs for the bigger busts are like sports bra - they are also very stretchy so are good for growing boobs.

Oh, have just seen they start at 30". Although within the next few weeks/months you will probably find your ribs will flare, so you will need a bigger size.

you can wear underwires while you're pregnant as long as you get fitted regularly to make sure that the wires are flat against your chest and not on your boobs (which they should be anyway, pregnant or not).

i had problems with my back and ended up in shock absorber sports bras halfway through pregnancy (i'm a 30F). there is a low impact one which isn't too bad.

don't go to john lewis because they have this horrible thing called "the doreen", which will make you cry. go to bravissimo or figleaves. bravissimo have also just got a load of new feeding bras which look Ok too.

bravado great for sleeping in, lounging about but too big for 30 back, sadly.

I'd definitely recommend bravissimo. As well as having bras that start at 30" they will definitely keep you right as your boobs change size. If you can, go in for a fitting; because different brands can fit slightly differently, they were really helpful in finding me some bras that would last throughout pregnancy. I got a few at around 15 weeks that have lasted me till now (34 weeks).

Hi Chickenmommy

I've gone up to a 32GG (was 32FF before anyway)! And I really do not want to wear non-wired bras. Bravissimo were great and as Lulu25 says above, the girl who measured me said that you don't have to wear non-wired bras, just make sure that the wires are flat but also that they are quite far back under your arms so they don't interfere with milk duct formation.

I bought this one in 3 colours and it is SO comfy! It's very cottony and soft (no itchy nipples!) and still has a good shape www.bravissimo.com/products/lingerie/everyday-essentials/kalyani/balconette-bras/ka61-details.aspx?c olour=Refresher

I agree with canda too about the extenders - my ribcage is growing already. ebay have lots as well, a packet of 3 is around £4 including postage and they have different sizes depending on how many hooks you need.

Happy shopping!

I was 30F when I got pregnant and was fitted at Bravissimo. They said I could wear underwired as long as I was fitted regularly and the wire didn't touch any breast tissue...in fact they encouraged because I needed the support. Found a wire too uncomfortable once in later stages of pregnancy but Bravissimo's soft cups pretty crap (found the Freya one really uncomfortable).Ended up living in a Carriwell soft sports like maternity bra which was soooo comfy and then into Bravado once nursing. You won't be a size 30 by then-your ribcage expands- and their size small in the one for bigger cups (not the cross over style )was my godsend!