Can anyone recommend a good maternity bra-fitting service that's not too dear?

[Gateau]

Last time I was pg I got fitted at M & S, but don't think I ever got really good, supportive bras, or the best fit, come to that. (of course maybe that was just the branch I used). The only good thing was the price!
Can anyone recommend a good service that is reasonably priced? What about Bravissimo?
And when dod the rest of you move into mat bras? I'm nearly 15 weeks pg.

Ah, I read the title and thought M&S straight away. As you say, maybe you were unlucky with the 'fitter' in your local brance, as mine was fine. Maybe try there again, and jut don't get it if you feel it's not right. No experience elsewhere I'm afraid (oh, apart from one from Jojo maman bebe which was terrible, but then it was ordered over the internet!)

Correction: when I say "not too dear" I am not referring to the service, as it's obviously free. I mean the bras themselves!

What area do you live in? I only ask as there is a fantastic bra shop in Keynsham (which is near Bath/Bristol) which is where I got my mat bras from.

Yorkshire, mishy.

NCT have a free bra fitting service - via local branches. I don't think you have to be a member. You can buy bras from NCT as a result of the fitting, but no obligation to do so.
www.nct.org.uk/shop/bra-fitting-service

I got measured in M&S but their bras are so depressing (and they only seem to sell in 2 packs of black and white and I don't want black ones). Actually bought a bigger underwired one in M&S and got told off by the woman who had measured me for doing so! So tried loads on in Mothercare which were marginally less boring. And have needed them from 9 weeks this time (pg no 3) whereas I think it was more like 14 for the last 2. At some point you'll probably start to feel uncomfortable in the bras you wear now.
Tried John Lewis yesterday but they only had the nursing bras that open up.

Just wasted my lunch hour in teh Debenhams store in Lees being supposedly fitted for a maternity bra.The lady measured me and then just brought out a selection of general underwired bras in bigger sizes. She said she didn't "think" pg women needed non-wired until later pregnancy.
Didn't know what to do, so I just left it.
Anyone any advice? Surely we need maternith bras from aroud the second trimester? I am nearly 15 wks pg.

In my experience M&S, Debenhams and Mothercare were shockingly bad for maternity AND nursing fitting services!

I see someone else has recommended the NCT which will be great if they have a fitter in your area, and they have a pretty varied price range.

Bravissimo are excellent - I believe they have a training module for their fitters specifically for meternity/nursing bras.

Also, if there's one in your area "Leia" are excellent too.

Good luck!

should read "MATernity" - Oops

Another local NCT vote here.

I am also based in Leeds (and 36 weeks pregnant). I have heard great things about Fit to Bust in chapel allerton but I believe their bra's are a bit on the pricey side.

I have been wearing normal underwired bra's throughout my pregancy and am only going to change to nursing bra's now that my due date is approaching.

I found that I went up two cup sizes by 14 weeks and they have stayed the same since (not sure that is typical though). The lady who measured me in M & S did say wearing normal underwired bra's isnt recommended but as long as you make sure it fits (plenty of room around the back) and doesnt dig into the breast tissue you shouldnt cause any damage.

Im only a 34 D now tho....(was 34B before pregnancy)...so perhaps its more of an issue if you have bigger assets

hi - sorry to be bearer of bad news regarding underwired bra's - was told to switch to non-wired as soon as I was pregnant at an M&S fitting. Has been backed up since by NCT fitter.

I've struggled with getting 'nice bras'. M& S fitting in Southend & Chelmsford has been very good. Mothercare, I have found was appalling for their bra fitting service - grotty pretty basis sales assistant, weird measuring style, no help with choosing bra (and their bras are same price as M&S!).

So I got bra fitted at M&S through my pregnancy and armed with my size popped into mothercare to buy their slightly more 'fashion conscious' bras - from their sale rails, when feeling desperate about the passion killers from M&S!

I have moved into non-wired bras today. I am 37 weeks plus 2 days. I have done the same the past two pregnancies. I have not found this to be a problem with subsequent bf.

Hi,

I'm also in Leeds. It's fine to wear underwires as long as the bra is well fitting (the problem is so many women wear the wrong size so often advice is given to not wear underwires).

I can definitely recommend Bravissimo in the city centre - their maternity soft cup bras start from around £19 iirc.

I have fairly generous boobs, without the added pregnancy hormones, and I never seem to get fitted well in M&S.

I like bravissimo but they have hardly any maternity/nursing bras and what they do have are hideous!

I find old fashioned department stores best for fitting - the local independent type, or John Lewis, debenhams, bentalls that type of place.
although the absolute best is Rigby and Peller, where the assistants are so good they just look at you rather than measure you. However the bras are MEGA expensive so save it for a treat like id did when I had DS1 - As soon as I finished BF I got DH to splash out £80 (each!!!!) on 2 well fitting and pretty bras. A lot of money for us but being the size I am and having just spent a year in hideous bras I needed it for my confidence and to feel like "me" again rather than "DS Mum".

I also got a good service from "Bras4mums" at a baby show, although she is based up north and I am south so can only use her mail order/internet service.

I was told that wearing an underwired bra occasionally during pregnancy was ok but you should NEVER wear one when BF - even those sold as nursing bras as you put yourself at serious risk of mastitius!

Duh, forgot to say I got underwired bras around 12-13 weeks when I felt my others weren't fitting anymore (bump was v low down for ages). Then about 19-20 weeks decided to move into soft cup ones just because I found them more comfy as my bump started to expand more!

I second Rigby and Peller. They look posh and some bras are expensive, but I got 2 nursing bras for about £25 each which is a bit more than your M and S, but then I only ever used the 2. Wear one, wash one, with breasts pads not a problem. I am just the opposite to Tamtam29, so small that I hardly looked like I was breastfeeding, and everything in M&S and Mothercare or any other maternity store were just too big....

Sorry just realised you asked about maternity bras not nursing bras, but Rigby and Peller does them too