Maternity bras

[wellbalanced]

When did you buy your 1st maternity bra? How far into the pregnancy did you wear it for before grew again? Im only 6+6 and ive gone up 2 sizes, im sure they'll slow down but if not ill have 100s of bras in different sizes!!!!
Ive just bought 4 in my new size but is this too many?
They are not v flattering either! Make me feel flat chested and dont have any omph!! Even thou my boobs are biggest have ever been!!
Sorry for the moan.

I didn't buy any maternity bras for any pregnancy. They are totally unnecessary. A well fitting underwired bra is absolutely fine. If it's just your back size getting bigger then buy yourself a bra extender for a couple of quid instead.

Message withdrawn

I found most of the "mainstream" maternity bras quite flimsy. (e.g mothercare etc)

I ended up with 2 rather sturdy M&S bras, well fitting with 3 hooks at the back. When the lady scanned them the description "plain bra" came up on the till. They were ugly but very comfortable and supportive.

Yes get bra extenders and CSWS suggests - the NCT Sales catalogue do them I think, as do Betterwear.

I was told not to wear underwired due to affecting breast tissue so i do feel its necessary to buy new maternity ones, my back size has stayed same i just have it on last hook but my cup size has increased 2 sizes, its not comfatable wearing my normal everyday bras.

I think I bought my crumb catchers maternity bras about halfway through the pregnancy...but then my norks have hardly changed at all, even now I'm at term.

Apart from being much saggier, obviously

You were told wrongly wellbalanced, and should tell whoever told you that that they are misinformed.

Obviously it's important that an underwired bra fits well, as it is any bra, but a well fitting one is perfectly fine.

I might add that I wore underwired bras throughout my entire pregnancy with dd, and since I'm still breastfeeding her 2.6 years later I clearly didn't do any damage!

With DS2 I wore underwired bras until 8 months, when I didn't really find any bra comforatble at all.

In my first pg I wore maternity bras early on they weren't very supportive, and I'm sure my Boobs sagger more than they could have done

Really cswc, i didnt know that, thats what i was told, also been measured today at debs & m&s and they said same. Thanks

The problem with underwires is that if you grow fast and a lot, the bra is unlikely to remain well fitting for very long, and then it can damage tissues. If your boobs aren't on a mission to rival Jordan's, then wires are fine.

I've gone from a pre-pregnant 32D to a 36H at 6 months, and though I hate the recommended soft bras, they at least have got me through in two new sizes so far - a 34 and a 36, and hopefully I'll only need one more set before I'm done. I simply can't afford to buy top-notch bras and change them every month, and at this size I do need top notch. I'm getting mine in pairs from Rigby & Peller, one on and one in the wash per new size. Rigby & Peller are expensive, but IMO far better than anywhere else, so worth it in this instance.

I started of AA/A, I would say now i'm only A/B and i'm 20 weeks! I used to wear underwired bras, they are uncomfortable now so i've taken to not wearing bra's at all. Has anyone else barely grown at all at around 5 months?

I found that I needed the support of underwire for my entire pregnancy. I grew a couple cup sizes very early on (up to 34 E/F until milk came in) and went straight into the Anita underwire maternity bras. If you have to buy new bras anyway, why not buy a good maternity one? I found them comfortable, and they are made to be supportive without digging in. I then bought a couple Anita underwire nursing bras towards the latter half of my preg as I grew a bit again. MY DS is 5 months and I'm still wearing those bras, so they were a good investment.

Whatever you buy, just make sure it fits you properly. Cariwell pull over bras are good, too, for sleeping or for when you get to the last weeks where any bra is uncomfortable.

Has anyone ever heard of anyone who had damaged tissues from wearing underwires?
I know the stores all say that - don't think they want the blame. I am still in underwires this time at 35 weeks, it's great (at 34E) still to have a bit of shape to my top half!!

Ginni - I needed a larger back size at 18 weeks, so I bought a 38 and a 2-pack of 40s to go on holiday with. The 38 fit for about 2 days before being too small, but the 40-inch ones still fit at 36 weeks! And I'm still the same cup size as when I started.

I've acquired very sensitive skin so I'm appreciating the soft non-underwired maternity bras (M&S). The pack was one black one white, so I usually have one in the wash (I haven't been able to get to the shops, so washing is easier than buying more!)

I figure I'll put off buying any nursing bra as long as possible.

Have come across a really good website about this www.bras4mums.co.uk Have tried loads of different sizes during pregnancy, and none of them fitting great (despite being measured at john lewis, debenhams and M&S: am now at 34 weeks in smaller size according to Debenhams than was at 20 weeks according to M&S )

Just phomed up this bras4mums and they are coming to fit me at home in a few weeks for nursing bra - woman on phone was more helpful than any of the fitters Ive tried so far. And website gives a lot of info too.

Anyone else tried them?