How to choose the correct maternity bra?

[Rmar]

Hi all,

My breasts seem to swell up as soon as I get pregnant and the start feeling very uncomfortable. Right now, I have them all at the loosest fitting possible and I can't imagine keeping it like that for more than a few weeks. I am wondering what are the best tips you have on finding the right maternity bra.

I want to buy some that will last me a long time and throughout breastfeeding while being correctly fitted and not impact on the functioning of my breasts.

Any tips on how to get fitted?
What is the easiest way you have found to wear them?
Any particular styles?
Should I steer clear of underwires all together or are they fine?
How easy is it to find maternity bras that don't look so bland?
Do you always buy them from a store or online?
How many did you buy and did you have to change sizes at all?

Thanks in advance for the answers. I don't mind if I spend the rest of my pregnancy in oversized t-shirts and stretchy pants but I want to get the bras right.

 

[meg79]

Up till now, there has been very little change to my breasts apart from getting fuller. When the time comes I will go somewhere that will professionally messure me and advise on styles etc. The maternity ward at my hospital offers this service so will be going there. Have you not got a lingerie store that offers a fitting service? If you get alot of big changes you will need to get fitted more often so don't go mad buying loads in one size. you will also find a big difference in your breast size before and after birth, so finding a bra that will last will be virtually impossible, especially if you are breastfeeding!

I am a small size so still love my underwires to give me shape. I know that once your breasts start really developing to avoid underwires as these can interfere with the development of milk ducts. However as long as the bra is well fitting and isn't too tight you should be fine.

I would aslo suggest getting fitted at each store you go to as I have found variations in sizing between stores. I suppose once you have got bras from a store that fit, there is no reason to get them from that store online.
HTH xx

 

[Farie]

If you have something fitted now there is no guarantee at all it will fit throughout your pregancy or onto BFing

For the time being you'd be better just heading to M&S or similar and getting fitted for a couple of non-wired bras, cheap and cheerful but without wire and tell them your preg so they fit them a little more generously than usual to allow for more growth. Don't be sucked into spending a fortune on maternity bras that in all likelyhood wont fit you in a couple of months!

For actual maternity bras your best to wait until much later on in pregnancy - middle/end of your 3rd Trimester to get fitted.
And again once your milk comes in.

 

[Crazy4Emily]

Maybe this is a dumb question, but why can't you have underwires? I'm a pretty big girl and was a full C before I got preggers, now I feel like the girls are going to explode! LOL Without a wire, gravity is not my friend. So how does that work if you are a bigger gal?? I can't imagine a sports type bra that smooshes you down being very comfortable right now. (eeek!)

 

[Farie]

Underwire can effect the development of your milk ducts apparently.

I was a D before getting preg and have quite a few bras that fit well - not 'quite' as suppportive, but not far off. Just get them fitted properly.

I think the most supportive I have are Triumph brand