Maternity Bras - do any actually provide support!?

[FlirtyThirty]

So I'm almost half way through my first pregnancy and have just suffered an M&S bra fitting. I have purchased the relevant bra but I have to say, it offers about as much supprt to my 38D boobs as a not wearing one at all! Aside from the fact that it is completely shapeless (I am usually an underwired, balcony bra kind of girl), I don't actually think it offers much support. It looks like it was designed for an 11 year old with precious little in the knocker department, not an ample chested pregnant woman!

So...does anyone actually have a good maternity support bra?

I plan on buying some pretty Hot Milk ones later in my pregnancy but don't want to go overboard just yet in case I change shape in the coming months.

flirty I have recently bought M&S maternity bras and they just look like a bleeding crop top and provide even less support that a crop top!!

I too am looking at hot milk for further down the line, but cant justify spending that much when my boobs havent really grown so may baloon up at any time!

i have some from mothercare they are really good

Emma...we clearly have the same bra! It is shocking really...no support whatsoever! Was so depressed walking through all the lovely lingerie having made my purchase. Have decided I'm treating myself to a Hot Milk one for Christmas!

Tink - will go and check out Mothercare...

M&S Maternity bra's are ridiculous and made for people with boobs 34B or smaller! I think they have forgotten that they become very heeeeavvvvyyyyyy as well as large and their shoulder straps are laughable!

I get M&S total support non-wired ones, and they're OK. Not as good as my normal underwired ones (I'm a 36DD normally but currently am 36F and growing!)

Just been looking at bras - make sure you check out this

I was shocked at the lack of support too so I purchased M&S firm support non wired bras. No need to buy ones which say maternity bra.

Youknownothing - you are an absolute angel! I am ordering that now!!! Thank you so so much

I hope it's ok

It actually cannot be worse than the one I'm weraing form M&S...and at least the HotMilk one looks pretty!

Will report back when it arrives...

I tried on loads a couple of weeks ago - the M&S ones are the worst!

In the end got a twin pack (simple & cheap, one black & one white, cotton feel) from Debenhams - 34 D, padded but not underwired - although stitched as if they were if that makes sense. They don't say 'maternity'.

I love underwired normally and planned to wear my lovely 32 D Chantelle with an extender at the back - no way, too uncomfortable.

I am going toa black tie dinner tonight and have decided that I will have to wear somethign underwired. The crappy M&S crop-top maternity bra just won't cut it. They are designed specifically to make you feel totally unsexy, aside formt he general lack of support.

My 'name and shame' bra in case anyone out there is thinking of buying one, is this one:
(Note: the model is not pregnant and clearly need no actual support!)

www.marksandspencer.com/gp/product/B000PHOR52/sr=1-5/qid=1227695847/ref=sr_1_5/278-7706579-2580331?i e=UTF8&node=43258030&m=A2BO0OYVBKIQJM&keywords=&mnSBrand=core&size=9&rh=&page=

Hhhm, as someone who is large of breast, I was told by the very nice ladies in Rigby & Peller (on a number of different trips) that underwiring does not cause the problem - badly fitting underwiring which presses on breast tissue potentially does.

They told me that, provided I got a properly fitted bra, in a style which gave plenty of room (not an 'up and at 'em' push up style), I would be fine to wear underwire all the way through.

I have stuck with that advice.

flirty mine actually has a ridiculous pink bow in the middle at the front...just to make it feel more like a 12 year olds crop top!!

I think i may be ordering that bargain too youknownothing although im not a fan of pink...its a damn site prettier than the one im currently wearing!

I bought the M&S bras aswell.
witht he pink bow.
what a load of cack.
went to bravissimo and had my 32e's measured.
and i did wear an underwired throughout . they advised me that so long as i had it regularly checked, there was no trouble wearing it. was brill. lovely support.

ds2 is now 7 wks and I am desperate to get back to bravissimo for another fitting.

sorry, ds2 is not 7 wks, he is 4 wks.

my gi-normous boobs, have distorted my ability to remmeber how old my new son is

wow, I might get one of those too...never actually seen one of these bras in person, are they good?

FYI

Once your baby is here (if you rae planning to breastfeed) the underwired nursing bras here are superb, and the delivery is really quick with Figleaves too, so you can wait until you know what size you'll need.

www.figleaves.com/uk/nsf/qwiseranswered.asp?searchhandle=A%253dbra%257eB%253dbra%257eD%253d12%257eG% 253d4060%255e2%257eK%253d4%257eL%253d1%257eM%253d109%257eN%253d2%257e&answerhandle=3666&answerhandle back=3912&originalquery=&answer=1&answer=3666&answer=1&answer=1&answer=1

i find sports bras better as have gone up 2 cup sizes,with no underwire tho. not sure why they say no underwire tho i suppose it is because of comfort and changing breast size.

www.lessbounce.com have a good range of sports bras + they do a support maternity bra and bra back extenders.

Bravado are the absolute best

I bought two from La Senza at the weekend - 38Es and they are really comfy and not frumpy at all.

They were £14 and £12 I think.
I never belevied that non-underwired could be supportive, but these seem to be just as good as my underwired ones!