mothercare nursing bras, many don't come in sizes larger than F cup....

[ipanemagirl]

just went to mothercareworld and none of their nursing bras really fit me well enough for bf.

I'm not enormous, I'm 37 weeks pg and am 36 E, the fitter there said I'd need F or G in a nursing size and a large percentage of MC nursing bras only go up to size E or F.

?? I asked why and she just said they don't send them in the larger sizes.

Is that weird? I mean why not cater for all sizes? I thought more people were bf now. Am I an unnatural size?

Nope, you're perfectly normal. It's Mothercare who are rubbish. I've always found their nursing bras a terrible fit, unsupportive and quite badly made. M&S not much better! And as for some of the fitters I've had...
I rate John Lewis if you've got one nearby, or getting a stretchy, forgiving bra to start you off then going shopping after the birth. I've also had a lot of success measuring myself and using online retailers with good returns policies.
Your size when bf is a bit unpredictable and can go up again after the first few weeks when the baby's appetite increases. Good luck!

You want John Lewis or NCT sales, or there are a few big ones on figleaves too. You're small by my standards .

I recommend Royce at Bravissimo. And they are very good at fitting too, unlike Mothercare.

I am a G or an H can't remember.

I did not really go up in cup size after birth btw, did all my growing (2 sizes) in the first three months.

Mothercare is overpriced and underwhelming, not just in bras either.

Meant to say I already had my baby, he is nearly 7 months and still bf, and still wearing the same bras!

The NCT catalogue seems to only go up to 40 or 42 in, which seems odd (I've gone from a very average 36DD to a 40DD at 38 weeks), although they do do bigger cups.

Do I need nursing bras pre-birth? Family experience seems to involve leaking everywhere for a couple weeks and having intimate relationships with towels, so was wondering about not bothering with a bra for the duration - is that at all practical?? I can't walk to a shop atm so getting nursing bras would mean mail order or sending MrNC to a shop.

I got an anita bra in a 40 h. It was very nice indeed and had underwiring which I was advised wasn't at all bad if it fitted properly.
Much better support and it helped me breastfeed as it kept them in line...haha

another vote for john lewis

mothercare seem to go up in cup size if you go up in back size

thanks very much for this good advice, I'm relieved that I am not off all the scales of measurement!

I only went to Mothercare because it's super convenient, John Lewis is a bit of a trek and I feel like avoiding long marches...
But if I feel up to it, I'll go in the next few days but I may not pull it off!

Hello Notcitrus!

interesting thread, hope you dont mind me gate crashing...

In Johnlewis- do you to the lingerie or baby department for such bras?

I was a g cup in my bf bras for ds and am hoping to use the same ones in 4 weeks when dc2 arrives (unless my boobs continue to grow in the manner in which they are at the mo - in which case not really sure what I'll do!) I got my bras from Blooming Marvellous they are called 'Anita' and they are underwired but safe for bf-ing. I used them for 8 months of successful feeding. They were comfy and gave me the support that I wanted after spending 9 months in non-wired maternity bras.

A vote here for Bravissimo or figleaves. And another big thumbs down for Mothercare or M&S - not supportive, didn't fit properly and not even bigger sizes.

I like Bravado for the softer stretchier bras for the early stages (or to sleep), and they are half price on the figleaves clearance site now.

I have found getting nursing bras really hard also as cup sizes appear to stop at E in most makes which is really frustrating. . I was a 34D before and have been a 34G in most bra makes since about 3 months in.

I also got very frustrated as the assumption appears to be that you are nursing and therefore will want to wear a large frumpy thing that does up under your chin and are so high you can't wear a lot of tops! There are some spectacularly ugly bras out there.

If you want to order online then Bravissimo (online) sell Freya and Hot Milk and Royce all of which are quite pretty and go up to H in some styles.

Royce even have a maternity underwire that goes to quite large cups and that is sold by Blooming Marvellous so is available online and in store. They are really comfy but they don't have a nursing version, though some work with scissors and a needle and hooks sorted that

I have found that because the cuts of bras vary the size you are in the bra does vary with the model even within the same brand which is very frustrating so it is worth going in and being measured and physically trying before you buy if you can. I found M&S rubbish for this but Blooming Marvellous were really helpful and patient.

Debenhams do quite nice nursing bras up to a size H in multipacks.

thanks so much, I've never bought clothes or anything from mcare before, it just seemed odd that the products would be so poor and fail to cater for what must be a fairly average siza of British bfeeder!

I'm off to hunt online, many thanks for all the advice. I think I had a Bravado with my ds now that I come to think of it, but it was a few years ago and I can't remember much!

GYo - go to the lingerie dept (save getting your puppies out in the baby dept for after the birth ). You'll probably overhear a conversation in the next cubicle between the fitter and someone pregnant - they're usually overrun with hormonal women busting out of their current bras.
And another vote for Royce here - not the most glamorous bras I've ever owned but great support. And try Debenhams esp. during the sale - I got 2 Miriam Stoppard ones or about £4 each recently and they're actually quite pretty.

Thanks, I'm just looking online too @ all these excellent recommendations. But I hesitate to order anything because I'm that woman in the fitting room who always has to try on 200 bras to get a decent fit, I think I'm an odder shape than most!

I can often get a good fit that looks AWFUL, rare to get a good fit that actually flatters..... (who am I kidding when I look like a mountain.... )

Sorry lastyear, meant to say I do need to go in myself I think! Always takes me forever to find a decent fit.

Ipanemagirl if you get in contact with your local NCT branch they often have a member who is trained as a bra fitter to fit their range, so that may be a good bet if you don't have a good shop near you.

Hi, This may sound silly but I am sure you can understand someone told me that you can buy a maternity bra with silver laced through it as wearing silver is meant to prevent MRSA. Is this true and can you tell me where to buy them from. I am now a 34G to so I completely understand and have found Bravisimo to be great and if you have a fitting and know your size www.brastop.com is good as well.

ipanemagirl if you need to try on 200 bras because you are an odd shape it is extra important that you do so now. You need good support when bf and the last thing you need is a bra that is too small, that squeezes somewhere and gives you blocked ducts/mastitis. So be critical and make sure you get the right one, then buy two.

Jezza i fail to see how a bra can 'prevent mrsa'. mrsa bacteria live quite normally in our noses and on our skin and is not a problem unless it gets into a wound so what it has to do with bras and breastfeeding I have no idea. sounds like another money making scam to me

there is some evidence that silver can help with wound healing, but it does not kill mrsa as far as I know

Jezza - this is the bra with the silver woven into it. I wouldn't have thought that MRSA was a problem with breastfeeding, but thrush would be (if the silver is antimicrobial).

Maybe 200 bras was an unconscious exagerration! But it certainly FEELS like 200!
Thanks for all advice, I definitely need to sort it out in next couple of days.

Went to John Lewis yesterday! got a proper fitting and three nursing bras, still less choice then I would have thought but anyway far better than the slim pickings at mothercare braworld! Feel more prepared now....