Too busty for Bravissimo! Help!

[TottWriter]

I know it's not a problem faced by everyone, and believe me, I have had people commenting that they're envious of my rather mahoosive boobs before now, but at 18wks, I've outgrown my 32J maternity bra, and I'm still on the tightest back setting! (Normally I'm a 30 back.)

Bravissmo only go up to J cup in their maternity bras, so where do I go now? I live in Kent and can't drive (so rely on public/parental transport), so does anyone know a good place to go and find a bigger bra? I don't like just mail ordering an unknown brand without having a fitting, because they all come up slightly differently, but obviously if things get that desperate that's what I'll have to do.

In my last pregnancy I ended up just not wearing a bra for most of it, and holding myself in with a high bump and vests. But that really didn't do me any good at all, and I certainly don't want to be that daft again - it took me a long time before I could get myself back in bras without it being agony. Plus, this time round I might be able to breastfeed (medical issues, don't ask! ) so I really will need a bra.

Right, enough rambling. Does anyone know of a good specialist I can go to/call?

NCT bra fitting service - think they will come to your home in some areas

Could you email or phone Bravissimo and ask their advice?

Or how about Rigby and Peller?

Otherwise I would try a big department store like John Lewis, perhaps.

If you are super rich you could get one made specially!

You can just wear a soft cup bra, doesn't have to be a special maternity one. Unless you are talking about a feeding bra?

I would agree with phoning Bravissimo because they may have come across this problem before and be able to point you in the direction of something useful. Worth a try, anyway.

Sympathy for you -- hope you find something!

I second Rigby and Peller or order from America online

Is it your cups changing or your ribcage expanding? I had to buy new bras a couple of weeks ago, and the cup hadn't really changed, it was my ribcage that was expanding. So maybe you could try a 34J or 36J (if they do those sizes?).
I just got cheap non-wired bras from John Lewis, they're only a tenner each.

Wow. That Rigby and Peller looks fantastic...but sadly I'm on benefits. DLA and all that makes for a small budget.

The trouble with department stores is that they don't stock bras which fit me - I have a small back size and a massive cup size. Believe me, I have searched!

The NCT link looks interesting though, I'll have to check out the sizes.

Bettymum, it's my cup size which is expanding. The bra I have is already one back size up from my normal, and as I say, I'm still on the tightest fitting for it.

TottWriter I'm afraid I don't have any useful advise but am following this thread with interest. I am a Bravissimo customer too and am nearly 6 weeks pregnant. So far my boobies have not changed much but it is something I'm waiting with trepidation for.

Good luck

I got a K cup from them when bf DC1, but noticed recently that they had got rid of that make and I'm nervous that they won't have one big enough this time round as I'll probs end up at least the same size.

try googling Anita bras - I think they do feeding bras up to about an M cup so may do big maternity bras as well. You may be able to find a local stockist

I know a feeding bras isn't what you need at this stage, but may end up being a good option. Certainly better than no bra at all.

Also, if you are going up in back size but not cup size, I think as you go up one size your cup drops (because cup is difference between under boobs and round boobs, so if back expanding but round boobs size not then you drop a cup size. So definitely worth calling Bravissimo for advice as you may now be a 34H rather than 34J. Not certain if this is how it works, but seem to remember being told something like that.

I would call Bravissimo, they are fab. They will be able to give you some advice about size even if they don't stock it.

They used to do the Royce breastfeeding bra, which I see they don't do anymore, and that went up to an L cup, if that is what you need, you can still get them from www.nursingbra.co.uk/

Sorry Tott, I didn't read the bit about the back setting properly. I'm normally a 30E so I also have a small back and that size is hard enough to find, I hope you get something that suits.

The Royce is the one I had - it was great as a feeding bra - may be a good choice if you can't find anything else.

tottwriter - I found the NCT comfort bras generous in the cup size compared to the bravissimo, might be worth you trying thier 32K? I found that many of the others were to high up under the arm with me although some of the other bras do go up to an L cup. My solution in the end: I kept with the comfort bra and went up a back size to increase in the cup size, and then hand sewed the back to reduce the back size.
Later in pregnancy when my ribcage expanded I was able to get the larger back size with a k cup to fit, as my bust itself did not actually increase much.

It is not easy being big busted and small rib-cage! I hope you find something that suits you.

Fantasie and Freya go up to a JJ...or as others have suggested, Rigby and Pellar as they are all distributed by the same company.

There is also a company called Anita who do really good nursing bras and speciality bras, such as mastectomy and post-surgical support bras. They are not expensive, and might be worth a try. Warning though, they are pretty plain and basic!

NCT stocks Royce and they go up to a K cup.I was a fitter but have handed the role over but if you mail measurements I will try to give you a rough size guide.I do have some bigger bras left but will have to go dig them out of the box as they are waiting to go back.

If you feel up to it, you could try making your own .
Just buy a normal bra and a pair of extra shoulder straps (or even just elastic). You will also need type of hooks that are used for detachable bra straps (like this one).
First thing to do is to cut the shoulder strap off at the cup end.
Then you attach the hook to the cup and make a little fold in the shoulder strap for the hook to go through.
The spare strap/piece of elastic is then attached - one end to the shoulder strap in the same place it's been cut, the other end to the bottom of the cup.
The end result is - when you unhook the cup, shoulder strap stays in place, and the cup drops!
You got yourself a maternity bra
It sounds a bit complicated, but is dead easy, really.
It's also explained very well ON THIS WEBSITE. It's in polish, but pictures should give you an idea what goes where.

TottWriter - I am in exactly the same position (literally even down to relying on public/parental transport and strict budget). The only difference is that I'm in Hampshire, not Kent!

I have been surviving on a 34J soft cup bra from M&S since about 13 weeks but it was already too small when I bought it so is really uncomfortable now (I have also gone from a 30 to a 32 back since being pregnant but couldn't afford to go somewhere specialist to get my actual size).

I'm not particularly worried about finding something to fit right now as, at nearly 33 weeks, I'm generally feeling uncomfortable anyway and I'm not doing any damage but I definitely want a properly supportive nursing bra for bf.

My concern is that I have no idea what bra size I actually am now (I know it's bigger than J but not how much bigger...) and I am loathed to buy a whole load of sizes online as I really can't afford it - I don't know if you are in the same position?

How did you get measured for your maternity bra, or was it simply finding the largest size you could find (like me)?

Have you tried Pregalicious in the Royal Star Arcade? (they've re-named it I think) They might well have something. HTH

Try here. They do the Royce bra in K and L cups.

Daisydotandgertie - those bras you put a link too are underwired - no good for pregnancy / breastfeeding, sorry!

Hoopermummy - With the NCT you can get a whole load delivered and return free those that don't fit.... worked for me, I ordered a huge range of sizes and tried them and checked fit on myself. As most ample-bossumed ladies know it is difficult to get someone to fit us properly. But if you are fairly good at knowing if you are getting the right support then ordering online nct and returning is the easiest to do I think. I did try to get the NCT local bra fitter to help me, but being SO large they were not much help. You could go into your local normal shop for measuring, but basically it all depends on the cut and sytle of the bra anyway. So order on mass from NCT and return what does not fit is my suggestion! Also if you are in Hampshire and anywhere near Southampton, try the tyrellandgreen shop, for bra fitting, I have found them really helpful in the past.

Also do get some bra-back extenders for the last few weeks of pregnancy when the rib cage expands too.

rainbowdays - actually, you can wear underwired bras during pregnancy and while breastfeeding, you just need to make sure they fit perfectly. In a well fitting bra underwire doesn't touch or put any pressure on breasts, but offers a much better support than a non-wired bra.

Clevercircusflea - can you point us in the right direction for an underwire bra with small back size with huge cup size, where the underwire does not put pressure on the breast-tissue on the under-arm part? I certainly have never found one, even with rigby and peller! If I could find a decent fitting, underwire bra then I would grab it in an instant. So any suggestions for the large boobs here gratefully recieved!

rainbowdays - unfortunately, i can't. The very few bras that are available in small back size and large cup (HH and above) are a disgrace, they work for very few women and in my opinion their construction should be completely re-designed.
I was just answering to your comment that "underwired - no good for pregnancy / breastfeeding, sorry!", as i don't believe it's true. If you're one of the few lucky women that find the small back/large cup bras comfortable, then there is no reason why you should avoid them in pregnancy.

There is a polish online shop that does maternity versions of their standard bras, and will also make them to measure if you ask. THIS is their website, but i must warn you that its english translation is very dodgy!