Any tips from the bra intervention ladies for the newly pg?

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I'm just over 6 weeks pg and already at 4 boob stage. I'm a Bravissimo convert so fairly sure my pre-pregnancy size of 30F or FF was correct and this generally means expensive bras. I have awful visions of buying new bras every 2 weeks for next 9 months! Any tips on what stages to expect growth spurts in that area and also what types of bra might be most forgiving so that I don't have to keep changing would be good. Also, I realise back size changes too, anyone know when that happens? Thanks in advance!

Everyone is different (sorry!)

For me - I grew a bit fairly quickly, went to Bravissimo at that point (maybe 8 weeks or so - pretty early) and bought a couple of bras. This was the one occasion when I bought bras to fit on the tightest hook rather than the loosest to account for some ribcage expansion. From what I remember, I'd just gone down to a 28 when I fell pregnant, and these bras were a 30 and I think one letter higher (so two cups bigger in volume terms)

These lasted me through until pretty late in pregnancy - I think I was about 8 months before I expanded more in the ribs and bought a solo 32 band to see me through to the end.

There is no point in getting bras which are much too big - comfort is crucial - but I allowed a little room for growing. I stayed in underwires until I stopped working at 38 weeks - it is absolutely fine to wear wires in pregnancy so long as they FIT. The reason they have a bad rep is because so many people wear the wrong size, meaning the wire is resting on breast tissue which can cause issues. As long as the wire is encasing boob not resting on it, you're fine!

I'd maybe look for styles which are either a slightly stretchy material in the cups or a quite open design at the top just to give you the maximum use from them before you spill!

I can't add anything to our resident expert's post above, bat my own experience!

I was refitted at 8/9 weeks as I'd grown a lot early on - 32g to 34hh IIRC. Those bras started to get uncomfortable so I was refitted at 27/28 weeks (34j), and those bras are still fine at almost 36 weeks. In fact, some days the cups feel a little big, but I think that depends on how high/low the baby is sitting and how big my ribs are.

I'm going back in about a fortnight to be fitted for a nursing bra.

I bought two bras at each fitting, and hope I shrink back through them ...

Also, if you're sore at night, bravado do some great crop top style nursing bras which are comfy for sleeping in.

Congratulations!

Thanks both. I didn't realise I might need a bigger back size as soon as that! However, reassuring to know that you have both managed to get through pg (or at least most of it) using just a couple of sizes so sounds like my boobs won't keep expanding at their current rate, thankfully! I might see if I can manage with current bras for another couple of weeks and then head to Bravissimo. Statistically, that's a good tip re underwire - did you just buy your usual style in a bigger size?

I did, I'm slightly full on top anyway so I tend to wear styles which have the space to accommodate that anyway. You will probably find that when they are getting bigger it's quite a sort of firm roundness (at least mine were ) so if you normally wear certain bras which have quite a tight top section then they might not suit

Hmm, my favourite every day bra for years has been Panache Porcelain. It isn't very forgiving on any boob expansion (I had to buy a different size for during my period) so I will have to look at quite a few different styles to find something that is more likely to last I think. I do like tshirt bras, but suspect I would be better with non padded since they are likely to be more stretchy...

It could be worth looking at the Cleo Juna or the deco, they are both relatively forgiving I think

Great, will have a look at those thanks

You won't be thinking of nursing bras just yet OP (congratulations btw!) but if and when you do, bear in mind that you can convert normal bras to nursing bras with some relatively cheap kits (around a fiver, on Ebay and elsewhere) and very little sewing skill! Am sharing this because with a back size of 30 you might struggle to find decent structured nursing bras - I'm a 28 or 30 and found that a lot of ranges seem to start at 32 or 34 - and in any case converting your own gives you much greater choice (and can be cheaper too).

Thanks, nursing bras seem soooo far in the future just now but no doubt will come round sooner than I think!