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Pregnancy

Maternity bras - help! help!

30 replies

wwbuffydo · 29/07/2014 17:03

I am a 34GG - yes, you read that right and it is possible - normally. I am 14 weeks pregnant and sitting at my desk at work with the back of my bra undone and my pendulum like boobs swinging against the table as I type. The weight of my monster boobs is hurting my shoulder blades. I had to unstrap the megaboobs (causing a minor tsunami off the coast of Scotland) about 10 minutes ago because my bra was cutting me in half and I discovered scarlet welts under Godzilla boobs where my bra has been digging in.

Clearly, I have a bra fitting issue.

Inconceivably, my boobs are expanding. Last time I was pregnant I went to M and S to be fitted for a maternity bra and was told by the woman that they didn't do bras for the likes of me. I left crying. I HATE bra shopping and I hate non under-wired maternity bras because my ginormo boobs are about a stone each and are not designed for anything without serious structural support. Also, they merge into a hideous monoboob with associated boob sweat.

Can anyone please help me????? where can I get a bra for a properly big boobed women where they will be nice to me, they cost less than £200, prevent the dreaded monoboob and I will be happy and relatively comfortable (and crucially not sweaty) for the next 6 months?

Help help help!!!!

The irony is I couldn't breast feed without suffocating my DD last time round. If they are not suitable for their primary purpose what in God's name are they for????? Lifeboys? They are the size of 2 full grown human heads!!!! help!!!!!

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petitverdot · 29/07/2014 17:29

Bravissimo! They're the only place that have fitted my honkers properly. I can wear one of my bra cups as a hat.

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wwbuffydo · 29/07/2014 17:49

Most people get to donate their old bras to charity. Mine as used as weather balloons... :-) I'll try bravissimo!

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squizita · 29/07/2014 17:52

M&S is crap.
Bravissimo and Debenhams. :)

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mummybare · 29/07/2014 18:03

I'll echo Bravissimo - and House of Fraser or John Lewis are alright too. I won't let M&S anywhere near my bazongas!

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Mistyautumn · 29/07/2014 18:07

I second debenhams. Love their gorgeous range and I have 42DD which is depressing as hell when pregnant. Have bought some nursing bras as well from 'nursing bra shop' online as they have a good range in decent sizes. About £30 a bra but good service and I am wearing them and washing them through pregnancy.

I also find a little bit of baby powder under my boobs in the morning is a soothing godsend x

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TestingTestingWonTooFree · 29/07/2014 18:11

I started as a 34gg, bought 34hh after fitting in bravissimo at about 14 weeks (and bought some cheaper ones online at amazon and brastop), by 20ish weeks I was a 34jj. I'm still wearing 34jj at 35 weeks but have added bra extenders (from eBay) as I'm probably now a 36jj ish. When I get home from work I'm wearing either a bravissimo pyjama top or a (not incredibly supportive) cheap yoga top from eBay.

So my tips would be

  1. Don't spend too much, you might go up again
  2. Get bra extenders online, they're really cheap
  3. Get fitted at bravissimo then maybe buy elsewhere (I don't use them like a library, but I tend to buy one from them)
  4. Brastop have special offers on now
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Redorwhitejusthaveboth · 29/07/2014 18:13

Just wear normal bras - don't bother with maternity- the non wired stuff is rubbish

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wwbuffydo · 29/07/2014 18:14

Most people get to donate their old bras to charity. Mine as used as weather balloons... :-) I'll try bravissimo!

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yellowsnownoteatwillyou · 29/07/2014 18:32

Bravissimo for normal bras, or debenhams online 36gg before pregnant upto a 40k when breast feeding Shock had to get a feeding bra online from "Royce" as I couldn't leave the house as nothing fitted. An it was really expensive and not very pretty Hmm
The stretchy ahh bra type things are good in the house for just after having the baby.

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Tonicandgin · 29/07/2014 18:36

Hot milk go up to a H cup and do under wired maternity and nursing bras. Meant to be amazing

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AntoinetteCosway · 29/07/2014 18:40

I am a similar size to you OP and have gone up to a 36J in the course of this pregnancy. Which is not fun. I can HEARTILY recommend Anita underwired maternity/nursing bras. They have saved my back without a doubt.

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AntoinetteCosway · 29/07/2014 18:42

Anita it isn't pretty but it's comfortable!

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PragmaticWench · 29/07/2014 18:49

Cake. The lingerie not the food! They have gorgeous nursing bras with a flexi underwire suitable for lactating breasts. They are also much, much more attractive than other types!

I second the suggestion to stick to normal underwired whilst you're pregnant though, maternity bras are a con,you just need to be fitted properly with the wire flat against your ribcage rather than on your breast tissue.

M&S are rubbish, it's totally worth travelling a fistance to get to bravissmo and then using their dize fitting to buy online.

Figleaves also sell some decent nursing bras for after the baby arrives.

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PragmaticWench · 29/07/2014 18:50

Distance even...

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flipflopsonfifthavenue · 29/07/2014 19:09

bravissimo, debenhams, figleaves.com, hot milk - all to H and beyond.

I am 30FF pre-pregnancy, ended first pregnancy 34H, am now 25wks pg with DC2 and am bursting out of the back of 36H so off to order a 38GG.....

And I still have 3 months to go, AND my milk hasn't come in....

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frannie2013 · 29/07/2014 19:16

yep same here! i've just gone up in my usual style (freya) but going to have to buy those expander things shortly.
if you are near london then i can recommend the bra fitting service in Selfridges. it sounds like it might be pricey - and some of the bras there are ridiculous (but they tend to be the tiny flimsy styles i couldn't have fitted in when i was 14 never mind now!) but they also sell all the usual bra options and the women in there are amazing and so helpful. i never go anywhere else now.
good luck - and thanks to the other posters - will have a look see on line for new ones!!

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wwbuffydo · 29/07/2014 20:27

Thank you everyone! I was having a minor panic attack at work there. Am now home, blissfully braless (although I discovered that a bus journey home without a bra is a tad uncomfortable) and off to do a bit of on line shopping....I have a genuine phobia of bra fitters and I can't get to bravissimo for ages.
I still think it is totally unfair that I can't go into work in tracksuit bums and hoodies. Or pajamas. Or a dressing gown. That would solve the whole problem!

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Jaffakake · 29/07/2014 21:12

If you're in the Manchester area there's a fantastic independent shop called Betty & Belle in Altrincham.

You don't have to forgo underwires but you have to ensure that they fit really well to stop problems developing. I'm a 36C and will not be giving up my underwired t-shirt bras this time as it depressed me too much last time! But I can buy cheap ones off the pegs.

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mummybare · 29/07/2014 21:18

Have you measured using the mn bra intervention method, OP? Obviously, getting properly fitted in Bravissimo is preferable, but if you can't get there it could give you a good starting point...

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notkatemiddleton · 29/07/2014 21:39

Thank you for posting this!!!!! I'm a 34G and whilst my back hasn't expanded, my cup size has. I'm living in a triumph bra at the moment.

I won't be wearing maternity bras they are absolute crap when you are this big.

M&S are bobbins. They tried to measure me with my bra on....what's all that about?

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AntoinetteCosway · 29/07/2014 22:50

notkate try the Anita ones. They're the only maternity bras I've found with wires that fit big breasts properly. I almost cried with relief when I first tried them on.

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Itscurtainsforyou · 29/07/2014 22:56

I was a 34gg before being pregnant and went up quite a few cup sizes. The only maternity/nursing bras I found to give enough support was Royce bras.

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wwbuffydo · 30/07/2014 20:00

Oh. My. God.

I tried the Mumsnet bra intervention system thingie.

I am a 36KK.

HOW is this possible???? How?

Am the stuff of comedy sketches.

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HazleNutt · 30/07/2014 20:17

no wonder your 34GG is digging in!

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wwbuffydo · 30/07/2014 20:23

I feel like a freak of nature Sad

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