a (light-ish hearted) pregnancy bra thread

[izchaz]

Ladies, I need help. I've always kept "on top" of my boobs as it were, and got measured regularly. I've spent most of my adult life hovering around a 30D, very occasionally a 32C when particularly muscular. Anyway, I now find myself knocking on 20 weeks pregnant, with ginormo knockers. So, off I went to get measured, 30FF if you please!
The wires on these bad boys are more than half the total circumference of the band. Whilst offering some relief from the dragging shoulder ache I was getting, I have to sit like a Victorian lady to avoid bruises (yes actual bruises) under my breasts where the wires sit against my rib cage. Even a slight relaxation in posture: (sitting down for example) causes excruciating pain across the front of my ribs and sternum.
My initial thoughts were that my back measurement had increased, but no, the measurer and I both agreed that my tiny ribcage is still tiny, and when I tried a 32 it instantly rode up at the back.
If it makes a difference I am a very slender size 6 (pre-pregnancy), have put on around 7 kilos, all of which has been breast and butt as far as my clothes tell me, so am now an 8 for comfort's sake. But I can still see the definition of every single rib, so there's not a huge amount of padding.

Be honest with me, must I strike out into the uni-boob world of soft bras? Am I doomed to a shelf chest?

I'm a bit further along that you and I've gone up to a 32FF. I've lived in 2 Freya bras with underwire. I couldn't do any if the soft cups I looked dreadful, even though the did fit properly. I'm panicking slightly about nursing bras as I can't find anywhere to go and try bras on in my likely size, so I'll have to order online. JL were really helpful, and the lady who helped me said I could pop in before I ordered anything online to measure me to give me a guide when I did order.

Really? The lady in John Lewis refused to even measure me, saying that if I wanted to wear underwires I'd have to go elsewhere. I was mortified and furious. Went to Debenhams in the end, and am equally unhappy with the end result - bras "fit" but are very uncomfortable within an hour - rubbing at armpit, bruising ribs and generally "stiff". Have washed and washed em and still no better.
Thanks for sharing your story, good to know it's not just me who's dreading getting bigger still...

It's a shame the service varies so much, I had terrible advice in both mothercare and M&S who were both keen to see me in a 36D.

This is what I've ended up with from JL,

m.johnlewis.com/mt/www.johnlewis.com/freya-lauren-underwired-padded-half-cup-bra/p240235?colour=White&un_jtt_v_pdp=yes&un_jtt_v_from_product=un_product_9

Ok it's not beautiful but it gives a really good shape and thanks to the pregnancy my boobs look really full for once! You can always order and try?
Good luck!

Many thanks, will chase that up. I've given up looking for interesting/pretty bras, just something that doesn't hurt and doesn't make it look like I've got a loaf of hovis up my top would be good at this stage!

I spent most of both my pregnancies in ShockAbsorber sports bras. Not particularly attractive but really, really comfortable!

Do you have a Bravissimo anywhere nearby? Debenhams fittings service can be variable at best. Its definitely ok to wear wires during pregnancy (I didn't surrender mine until 38 weeks when I stopped work) but they shouldn't be hurting as you describe

I seriously doubt at a size 6 you're a 30 back. I'm a size 16 and a 32 back!

bunty I'm a bit of a cheese-triangle shape - very narrow hipped and teeny waisted, but big hefty shoulders and lats because I climb a lot. Hence back measurement isn't daftly small, just laughably so!

crayola I do love my shock absorbers, but I'd like something I can wear under clothes and not show - mad colours and high necklines preclude wearing them under anything that isn't black and frankly puritanical in cut...

statistically I think there's one in my big city, fairly sure at least. Will go hunting :-)

I am currently in Royce Charlotte nursing bras (breastfeeding a 7 month old). They are NOT the most attractive things in the world, and require higher necklines than I would like to wear, but they do at least provide some separation, and there is reduced monoboob effect, for a non-wired bra. I'm in 32GGs, so not tiny. So if avoiding monoboob is important, give them a try on somewhere.

I tried underwired nursing bras, briefly, couldn't do it. Ouchy underneath, and very ouchy inbetween, couldn't get the fit right and didn't have the time, money or energy to keep ordering online and sending back.

Canalside - good to know there's a soft option that has a bit of shape to it, thank you :-)

Ladies, I have left the reservation, some clever soul suggested layering up croptop style soft bras. I've just done this and I may never wear anything else again. My boobs look odd, but I feel AMAZING.

I'm a size 6 outside pregnancy and my knockers have also increased fairly dramatically although not quite as much as yours! I'm currently about a 30E and have been wearing the Freya Deco soft cup bra which I think actually looks really good under clothes (and isn't hideous without them) and gives decent shape and support, probably because it's moulded cup. I think it comes slightly on the small size though so if you're interested I'd suggest you try a 32 back as well as a 30. I feel a bit battered by the end of the day when I take mine off so wish I'd sized up but for me it's much more comfortable than wearing underwires (currently 29 wks).

I am an underwire bra wearer - I would never not wear underwire bras in my normal life. However I found them unwearable when PG - I just couldn't' bear them on my skin.

Bravado body silk bras saved me - they are incredible. And I am usually an E/EE cup and they gave lots of support. They also accommodate your boobs going up & down in size on a daily/hourly basis when you are BF.

They are supremely comfortable too.

Statistically or anyone else who knows - are there any nursing bras where the gore in the middle sits flat on your chest?

I've tried Royce, Hot Milk and M&S nursing bras and all of them give me the monoboob look because although there is some separation it's not anywhere near what I'm used to with underwired bras (I usually wear Freya).

Or actually reading Canalside's post maybe the flat central gore is only achievable with underwires?

flat central gore needs wires-you could try the wired Anita

Yup, I can't get a flat central gore without wires. Sigh.