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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Underwire bras - are they really that bad?

25 replies

emmyloo2 · 05/07/2010 13:52

I am 22 weeks and have been wearing underwire bras the whole pregnancy. I know some people say you are not meant to wear them but I am still going to the gym and find soft cup bras way to uncomfortable plus they give me a terrible shape. I have gone from a C cup to an E cup already and just cannot cope with turning up to work wearing a soft cup bra.

Anyway, I went to John Lewis to get fitted for new bras on the weekend and the woman fitting me, when I told her I wanted to continue to wear underwire bras, responsed with "you are not planning on breastfeeding then?". I said "Ummm, yes I certainly am but I am of the view that wearing underwire bras will not affect this." I was so upset though because now of course I am worried I won't be able to breastfeed. She basically then made it out like I was being vain because I don't like the shape soft cup bras give me. I promptly left there and went to Bravissimo where I found some lovely underwire bras and some excellent sports bras for the gym. In my paranoia I bought one soft cup which I might wear around the house.

Anyway, has anyone worn properly fitted underwire bras during pregnancy and still managed to breast feed. My underwire bras sit neatly on my rib cage and the wire is well away from my breast tissue.

Thanks!

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EldonAve · 05/07/2010 13:55

yes wore them throughout pg with DC3
now wearing underwired nursing bras

if they fit they are fine
don't worry

nunnie · 05/07/2010 13:56

I wore underwired bras (didn't know they were an issue), I didn't grow at all during or after so continued to wear the same bras until after DD was born then I went onto nursing bras easier for whipping out they aren't underwired though.
I did struggle with breastfeeding but it was more of a latching on issue for me, not sure if that was due to bras, never thought about it till now.

redllamayellowllama · 05/07/2010 13:59

I bought some Anita underwired Nursing Bras and wore them at the end of my pregnancy and into breast-feeding. As far as I know, they are the only brand that make underwired Maternity/Nursing bras. I'm fairly big on top and they made a massive difference - soft-cup bras just didn't cut if for me. I breast-fed DS very successfully and am pregnant again and wearing them again.

They're available on Figleaves, but if the ones you've got are fitting you and not pressing on your breast tissue, I don't see how they can be that different. The wire on the Anita bra does go all the way around my breast (not the top of it, but noticeably higher than that of a normal bra).

John Lewis have always given me the same advice as they gave you (and whilst John is my God, I chose to ignore them on this one).

nymphadora · 05/07/2010 14:01

If the bra fits the wire isno problem

miragefr · 05/07/2010 14:11

Didn't realise that there was an issue with underwire bras and breastfeeding. Wore underwire bras all throughout my 1st pregnancy and didn't have any issues breastfeeding.

Original poster

emmyloo2 · 05/07/2010 14:12

Thanks everybody. The new bras I have now cover my whole boob and the wire does not cut across the breat tissue at all. I cannot for the life of me see how this could block the milk ducts anymore than a soft cup bra and I am sure as shit not going braless.

Red - I will try some Anita bras from Figleaves.

I found the service as Bravisso excellent. The woman really knew her stuff and said she wore underwire bras the whole time. I am already worried about not being able to breastfeed because I know a lot of women have trouble, so I just didn't need the disapprovement of this woman making me feel bad!

OP posts:

MrsJamin · 05/07/2010 14:27

Hotmilk bras give an excellent shape, as are 'shaped' but not underwired - they do for pregnancy and breastfeeding.

sarahscot · 05/07/2010 15:10

I wore underwired bras throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding and had no problems.

cinnamongreyhound · 05/07/2010 16:30

If they fit properly then it is fine, only if the wire is on the breast tissue it can cause blocked milk ducts. I fed DS until he was 15 months and when he was around 6 months found a nursing bra that was underwired- it even had a little bit to push from one side to the other to remind you which side to feed from next. It's not just the uni-boob a non-underwired bra gives you but I just don't feel supported at all and if you breastfeed for a long time you just end up feeling very unfeminine.

Yankunian · 05/07/2010 19:39

Same exact experience as redllama, wore Anita's fabulous maternity, then nursing bras for DD1, then breastfed for 10 months with no major issues. Now pregnant with DD2 and wearing them again... they are amazingly well-designed, durable, comfortable and supportive. And they are designed specifically for pregnant and nursing mothers so I don't see how they could advise against wearing them if they are properly fitted.

I honestly don't know how I'd get by without them as my already bountiful bosoms seem to get more bountiful with each baby! Those Hot Milk bras are lovely and great for some folks, they just didn't have the support I needed. Spent a fortune on them and only wore them around the house... I know better this time.

LoveAndSqualor · 05/07/2010 19:46

Wore underwired bras throughout pregnancy and breastfed with no problems. So long as they fit, don't worry about it!

seasister · 05/07/2010 19:52

I was also receiving contradictory info - I went from a DD to a G (huge sigh!) in my first trimester. There was no way I was going to feel supported in a soft bra. I got a bra from Bravissimo with wire all around the breast. I even showed it to my midwife at my 16 week and she said fine. As long as it doesn't cut short/into breast, I think.

People say things very glibly to pregnant women and don't realise that what they say can stick and make you anxious, especially if it's your first pregnancy and you want to get everything right - and there is far too much to think about and get right

GwennieF · 05/07/2010 20:17

The only problems I had with underwire bras was in my second trimester my bump was so high the underwire usd to dig in and was very very uncomfortable. Now my bump has dropped I'm back in them.

I wore the soft cup bras all the way through my first pregnancy and for the first 4-5 months of breast-feeding, but after that I wore normal bras - I found them all just so ugly and lets face it - you don;t feel at your most attractive post baby, what with all the extra stomach skin - may aswell make the most of the bigger boobs!

This time round I haven't really worn the maternity bras much, apart from those few months mid-pregnancy.....

JPsMom · 05/07/2010 20:45

As others have said as long as it's properly fitted you should be fine. Best advice I had though was to wear a soft cup bra around the house. With both my first pregnancy (E to an H) and now (25 weeks) by the end of the day I just want to take off my underwired bras. But, it's really good to have the extra support to prevent aching (especially when your milk comes in) and stretching (!). So just change into it after work and wear it all night long. Very comfy, but wouldn't be caught dead in it outside the house .

vix206 · 05/07/2010 21:08

I am a trained bra fitter and run my own lingerie business and so I couldn't ignore this post. There is absolutely nothing wrong with underwired bras at any point in your life including pregnancy, as long as they are fitting you properly. The wire must always sit on your rib cage and not soft breast tissue, which yours are, and must always support your entire breast and not dig in or end on soft tissue under your arm as this is where your lymph nodes are and this can cause problems.

John Lewis staff are infamous at giving this rubbish advice and I have complained about them several times because it is totally wrong. So carry on wearing what feels comfortable I am 34 weeks and have had to buy lots of new bras during this pregnancy and, like you, cannot get on with soft bras although I know many women swear by them. My FFs need wires for support and I'm not giving them up for anyone!

BrittanyBeers · 05/07/2010 21:19

I have an Anita nursing bra.
It rocks my world.

I did get mastitis, but in the boob that the underwire had fallen out of after 2 years constant washing in the machine.

Does that make any sense?

redandyellowandpinkandgreen · 05/07/2010 21:39

I'm still wearing underwired. I tried two non-wired and they just don't give me enough support, I feel like I've wasted my money. I got measured and am sure I am in the right size so I'm keeping them until they become uncomfortable.

Original poster

emmyloo2 · 05/07/2010 21:49

Thanks everybody - good to hear some sense. It was a great experience standing in the change rooms of John Lewis in tears because I couldn't face the thought of having triangle shaped boobs for the rest of my pregnancy. Imagine going to work wearing a fitted top with my boobs in some hideous shape. Didn't help that the woman made me feel completely vain for wanting a decent shape and said I just was used to the shape of underwire bras and would just get used to the shape of soft-cup bras. Lady - my boobs look like triangles pointing towards my armpits. I WILL NEVER get used to that shape!! It was her flippant statement of "so you aren't planning on breasfeeding that made me the most mad."

Anyway, feel better now and will carry on wearing my well fitted underwire bras.

OP posts:

bellabelly · 05/07/2010 23:10

I've just ordered another one of these Anita bras. I have one already (from my previous pregnancy) and it's been fantastic. Have tried out lots of other styles/brands and they've all been rubbish! Think the underwiring is slightlysofter than a normal underwire bra but it stil keeps my mahoosive boobs from sagging!

ja9 · 05/07/2010 23:18

I wore underwired bras throughout pregnancy and for the whole time i bf dc (ds to 20 mths,dd to 18mths)

I never had any issues with mastitus or any complications

I bought underwired nursing bras from either jojo maman bebe or blooming marvellous.

i refused to have 'wide' boobs

Ozziegirly · 06/07/2010 00:56

emmy I sympathise. I tried on loads of soft bras and just hated the look, I am also well endowed in the breast area.

Then when I tried on underwired the woman said "oh you can't wear them when you're pregnant, it will mean you will get mastitis and won't be able to breastfeed"

Time will tell and I hope I'm not wrong, but I have stayed in well fitting underwired bras.

cinnamongreyhound · 06/07/2010 08:25

That's the same one I had with DS bellabelly and loved it, although I had a white one. Never used the little pink bit in the middle though, had a wrist band.

bellabelly · 06/07/2010 08:41

cinnamongreyhound - I never used the pink bit either - hadn't worked out what it was for! Doh!

WhatWillSantaBring · 06/07/2010 09:03

I spoke to the lovely women at Bravissimo about this, and apparently they have checked with the Royal College of Midwives - you're fine to wear u/w bras throughout pregnancy as long as they fit properly.

When I went to Bravissimo to be fitted, I was given a back size higher and a cup size higher than I otherwise would have been so that it will have room to support my ever expanding breasts. (I've gone from a 32DD to a 34GG in the first trimester!). When I commented on how relieved I was, she agreed that the non-wired bras were "minging"!!

Oh yes, the ladies in JL remind me of the first time I accepted I was bigger boobed - I commented that the D cup bras in Debenhams were not very pretty and she said "you just have to accept that's what you have to wear if you have bigger sizes"... at the age of 20!! I promptly went to Bravissimo and never looked back!

CuppaPimmsJanice · 06/07/2010 09:06

I wore underwired padded jelly bras throughout my pregnancy. If I'd changed to soft cups I would have looked like I had no boobs at all!

I wore soft cup nursing bras for a little while, although I would have much preferred padded underwired nursing bras ! Unfortunately I don't think they exist!

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