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Nursing bras for busty ladies: recommendations?

16 replies

RatBoggles · 09/11/2015 14:08

My friend's baby is due towards the end of the year. She's got a fabulous chest, but is really struggling to find maternity/ nursing bras in her size. She absolutely baulks at the idea of non-wire, which I can sympathise with. Does anyone have any recommendations for nursing bra retailers specialising in larger sizes? We're talking 40J before pregnancy.

OP posts:
Touchacat · 04/12/2015 10:22

I am sorry to say that there is very little out there. I really wanted an underwire nursing bra. The whole thing about it being bad for breast tissue etc is rubbish when you consider squashing boobs into a too-small non-wired bra. A well fitting wired bra should really do the trick.
I read on one website (but never tried myself) that you can create your own wired nursing bra by combining a nursing bra and a wired bra. Cut a hole round the nipple area in a wired bra, then cut up and use the nursing bra and clips to cover up the hole. Sounds great in principle but in reality, you'll probably cut up two half decent bras and end up with something very poor.
My only suggestion is try Optifit. Though not wired, it claims that wires are not needed because of the extra support their bras provide. They are made to measure so not cheap but cheaper than you'd expect for bespoke. I got one and although I would say it wasn't a miracle worker, at least I felt like I looked a bit better than in the awful Royce bras. Hot Milk is also great but sadly don't go up to the size I wanted. I still bought one though, I tried anything!
Hope that helps somewhat.

Touchacat · 04/12/2015 10:26

Just to add one tip - tell your friend to stretch her back out whenever possible. Big boobs plus hours of crouching over feeding baby and bad bras equals very painful back! I guess I was too tired but stretching really did help once I worked out that I could help myself a bit.
I love breastfeeding and don't want to stop but I can't wait to get back into normal bras again!

TomHaverford · 04/12/2015 10:35

Hi rat, where abouts are you based?

I also had similar issues finding bras and found a specialist shop in South London that you can only go to if you are bigger than a G cup! The ones they gave me were a Royce one which was very comfortable in the early days, and a Hotmilk one which is very supportive.

WiIdfire · 04/12/2015 10:52

Nursing bras go up to a 40 back. And that is that. Hotmilk, Bravissimo are good for larger sizes, but even they dont go big enough. There are very few exceptions, these are the ones I've found:

www.amplebosom.com/elomi-beatrice-nursing-bra-p1673.php

Or Elomi - www.elomilingerie.com - seach nursing bras

www.nctshop.co.uk/Nursing-Bras/products/309/

However, I ended up getting some 40J's and they really aren't very comfortable as they are too tight. For day to day wear I'm using soft sleep bras that just come in sizes (14/16/18 etc) and they do just fine. Tell your friend not to get her hopes up as I found it very frustrating to be disappointed every time I went to a shop.

WiIdfire · 04/12/2015 10:54

TomHaverford - what is that shop in London? Sounds like I might benefit from a visit there.

Joskar · 04/12/2015 10:57

Hotmilk bras. Not wired but very supportive. You wouldn't know. Think there's discount of 40%off just now. Well there was a couple of days ago.

WiIdfire · 04/12/2015 10:57

Also, forgot to say, a back extender might help.

RockCrushesLizard · 04/12/2015 11:00

Www.nursingbra-shop.co.uk do a service where they will convert your normal bra into a nursing bra (properly!).

It means you're not stuck in hideous Royce numbers that are evil. It is important to make sure you have plenty of room in your bra though and that its a good fit - if it's tight or digging anywhere (and you can easily vary a couple of cup sizes during the day when breastfeeding) it can cause blocked ducts/mastitis.

junemami · 04/12/2015 11:00

I have a padded underwired Freya nursing T-shirt bra, it was expensive but great. Needs Handwashing though

MummaGiles · 04/12/2015 11:09

I had some from Bravissimo - think they were Freya. Super comfortable. I got the same style in non-wired to wear when my bras got uncomfortable while I was still pregnant too.

FrinkingIt · 04/12/2015 11:15

Anita does underwired nursing bras up to 46 and a J cup. Might be worth a look? I lived in them, they are very supportive.

Lemonfizzypop · 04/12/2015 11:40

Another vote for Freya.

ALongTimeComing · 04/12/2015 11:41

Hot milk I think only goes up to an H cup I think but they are fantastic

TomHaverford · 04/12/2015 11:57

Wildfire Its the fitting studio in Forest Hill. The lady there really knows her stuff and also does non nursing bras too.

WiIdfire · 04/12/2015 16:02

Thanks

MrsRedK · 20/04/2016 20:55

I was reluctant to go for a non-wired bra too but actually if you get a well fitted bra, you don't really notice.
I went up to a 38HH in the 3rd trimester and really struggled with the baby sitting in my ribs but the next back size up was baggy in the cups so I used a bra back extender to tide me over until the baby came.
I really recommend Bravissimo - the staff were brilliant.

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