Pls help! Hypermesis, need bra/clothes to hide fact I can't wear one

[namechangemarch21]

I'm 8 weeks pregnant and have had severe morning sickness/HG since week 5. I'm now on two types of medication that is holding it at bay, but if I wear a bra its like it presses into my stomach and makes me queasy. I was a 30G before my first pregnancy, and about a 32GG/H in the most recent nursing bra I wore.

I'm convinced that something happens to me in pregnancy to shift my internal organs around but basically I feel like my 'bump' on last pregnancy started up between my boobs, and the hardest part of that pregnancy was the social pressure to wear bras. (I obviously had no morning sickness at all that pregnancy, but my boobs were incredibly uncomfortable). I'm obvs not small-chested, though I've a reasonably small frame, and I tried so many crop tops/unwired tops/etc etc but always ended up uncomfortable, and ripping them off as soon as I walked in the door from work. When I'm not pregnant, I don't have these issues.

Since I am now WFH due to covid, I just stopped wearing bras at 4 weeks pregnant this time, angled the zoom camera to point at my face and I still wear a v big coat out, but my boobs are too pendulous for this to be socially acceptable in the summer time when I'll be wearing loose dresses. I either need some kind of crop top that is workable, or clothes that can convincingly hide the fact my boobs are around my waist that I won't melt in.

So.... I need a magical unicorn crop top. I think the main issue is finding something stretchy enough to fit my boobs, but with a thin enough band of fabric at the bottom to not put pressure on my stomach. I tried molke when postpartum and literally couldn't get it over my boobs, I recently tried this bralette www.bravissimo.com/products/impression-bralette-fa213/#beige-fa213bge but the band digs in and this bra www.bravissimo.com/products/nova-lounge-bra-ln764/ which seems to have the same issues - both also feel like the straps are too thin.

Does anyone have any advice? It will have to be mail order unfortunately, but I feel like I can't be the only one in this situation and would be incredibly grateful for the ability to have some kind of support that didn't make me vomit.

I have heard good things about the Sainsbury's bralettes, let me see if I can find a link.

Maybe try posting on 'Can i breastfeed in it?' On FB? It's not strictly a bf question but you should get some good advice

I've got a sainsburys crop top, quite supportive though not tight at all, every other bra I own causes me discomfort in some way so having them nearly in the right place but barely feeling it all day is a good compromise.

Would something like this work??

depending on your band size, the pull-on bras from Big Bloomers might be just the thing? They start at 38B (as the name suggests it's all plus size stuff for the more generously-padded of us!) so might be too big round, but if they might work for you they are very, very comfortable.

If you can track one down, the M&S DD bralettes were a lifesaver for me in pregnancy. I think there was a day around 14 weeks pregnant where I just went ‘no, this underwire is trying to kill me’ and I walked out of the office and bought about 6. Baby is 8 months old, I stopped bf at 3 months and I’m still in them enough support for me not to give myself a black eye but suitable for bigger boobs (I’m 34F at the moment and the size 14 did me perfectly)

www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-anya-padded-seam-free-bra/almond/p3987392

I have something like this from Sainsbury’s ( I’m a G cup) but it’s only just supportive enough. It’s more a lounging around bra than a going out bra. I do have the M&S one shown above and it’s ok but I don’t find myself reaching for it. I’m wondering about those vest tops with the built in bras which may not dig in your stomach or something like Sloggi who do a couple of comfortable looking soft cup, wireless bras.

Try something like this - www.prettylittlething.com/nude-bandeau-bikini-top.html

I cannot stand bras with bands, underwires or whatever, but this is pretty ok.

Anything here?
https://www.reign-studio.com/collections/bralette-sets

Ah OP I have a similar issue to you during pregnancy. Normally I wear well fitting bras and it's all fine but during pregnancy I always struggle to feel comfortable in bras and I also always get HG for the first half of my pregnancy which makes it even worse. I am a smaller size than you so not sure if these suggestions will work for you but I'm currently wearing a lot of Emma Jane sleep bras, and a Cake maternity bra. I think avoiding underwire is the key issue really. If you are well enough, I'd recommend a fitting at Bravissimo, they were so great in my last pregnancy, spent absolutely ages with me to find things I could tolerate.

Sounds horrible OP

What about one of the Uniqlo bra tops or soft sports bras? I'm also a 30" band and find the medium quite loose and comfy for wearing at night. You could try the large. It wouldn't give loads of support but maybe enough for a bit of shape/coverage.

These are lovely and soft OP

www.marksandspencer.com/louisa-lace-longline-dd-bralet/p/clp60270928#P60269067#Matching_Item

My sympathies with HG .

Bit of an odd one, but if it’s the band you can’t stand, maybe some of those stick on bunny ear things?

www.amazon.co.uk/Lemef-3-Pack-Seamless-Wirefree-Removable/dp/B075L68RND/ref=asc_df_B075L68RND/?hvlocphy=9045909&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=345354247634&hvpone&hvlocint&hvpos&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-682269463659&hvrand=4833321269612104331

I wonder if these would work for you? They don't officially do your size but that's why they could work - in order to fit over your boobs you will need to order a size much larger than your frame, meaning that the underband will not be at all tight. I'm a 32ff and after looking at the size chart I got XL. They're not especially supportive due to the underband being too large but they're super comfy and easy to get on & off (I wanted them for quick changes after swimming).

Manners London. A bit £££ but amazing quality and whole range of tops and dresses you can wear bra less:
www.mannersldn.com/

@absolutehush

Would something like this work??

I have this and the band is tight OP . Great though for non-wired .

I would get some sort of stick on bra that basically covers your nipples and wear very floaty dresses not jersey.

In exactly the same situation OP, I had this very soft and stretchy maternity bra.
Good luck going forward with the HG, it’s utterly grim.

@BikeRunSki

In exactly the same situation OP, I had this very soft and stretchy maternity bra. Good luck going forward with the HG, it’s utterly grim.

Hi Bike, sorry to see another one of us, hope you're soon feeling better. Can I ask what bra size you are and what size you got in this one? I'm a 28F atm not sure if I'd be a small or medium?

I can’t help with summer clothes apart from to wear a fitted vest top which at least stops them wandering about. When it’s cold though you can get away with a hoodie with a thickish front and a large pocket most of the time. It’s shit though isn’t it, I feel for you .

I think you need these
www.johnlewis.com/bravado-body-silk-seamless-nursing-bra/black/p4857035

I lived in them during pregnancy/breastfeeding. They are brilliant and accommodate multiple sizes so don't need changing as your shape changes

Thank you so much, lots of ideas I haven't thought of, and a few I have tried and forgotten about, like the M&S bralettes - the ones I tried only came up to a size 18, 20, and didn't really work but that was a while ago.

I think the big issue with a lot I have tried is getting the difference between cup and back right. When my milk came in, I was a 32 JJ and I literally couldn't find a cup size big enough that didn't come with a back too loose to offer any support. I can see with a few of the examples that come in, say, 'L' "M" "XL" sizing that I'll struggle because I've a small enough frame compared to my boobs, esp at the moment. I'm nowhere near a Sainsburys but will look into what they have online.

Intrigued by the idea of stick on bras, I had some to wear with an evening dress years ago but hopefully the technology has come on!

@MeadowHay, I really can’t remember... my youngest is 9! I got mine via the NCT home bra fitting service. Not sure if I was together enough to even know what size it was even then. Not sure if they are operating at the moment.

I can see with a few of the examples that come in, say, 'L' "M" "XL" sizing that I'll struggle because I've a small enough frame compared to my boobs
I'm usually a 30E and went up to a 32H while feeding and I think I got a small which was fine. They are the business, seriously

In the bravado one I mean