i was a 12DD from 8 weeks pregnant and for the first year of bf-ing. The only maternity bra that worked for me, was a Triumph really lacey number, that i hated the look of (so frumpy), but actually was the only bra that made my breasts and back stop hurting. So i ended up buying a few of those (resentfully, cos they looked gross on). but i begrudgingly had to admit the bra fitter was right, i was comfy in them.

As a 12DD, i had breastfeeding camisoles (shelf bras) for sleeping in.

As a 12DD, i didn't find that breastfeeding tops with so called "built in bras" helped me, i think they are for C's and B's. I much preferred to wear a proper maternity bra, then wear a bf-ing top (like Nuvo Maternity make), that open FROM THE BOTTOM (using double front, so your tum is still covered), rather than the ones that open FROM THE TOP (and expose more of you).

My LO is now 4yo, and i wish i had the money to replace all my mat. bras with normal bras. i'm still wearing the mat. bras, cos it's better than nothing. i'm wide set too.

i never thought i'd be able to produce milk, or breastfeed either. it was a complete miracle to me, that we were able to do it. having a midwife who was pro-bf-ing, and visited me for the first six weeks after bilby arrived, was such a help to that, having someone to show me what to do, spur me on when it all seemed too hard. other things went wrong with her arrival, but amazingly, in spite of all that other stuff, we managed the bf-ing. it was our silver lining. so i say, with stuff like this, you only really know, when you're in that exact situation. i wish you all the best of luck. Prepare for ANY eventuality LOL, cos with bubs, you never really know, until it's actually happening. all you can do, is try stuff. whatever works, you stick with, whatever doesn't work, you try something else. and there is support available.

1800 686 2 686 for free helpline (Australian Breastfeeding Association)
lactation consultants (there is a big difference in speaking to a private LC, i've met hospital LC's who get taught that bf-ing finishes at 3 months old!!!!!).
don't assume doctors know about bf-ing - it's not included in medical school.
the only people who actually are schooled up about breastfeeding, seem to be LC's and ABA people. (this shocked me).
i also good helpful bf-ing advice from private midwives

the stuff i got told by the midwives, on the labour ward (different ones every shift) - that was so confusing, so conflicting. i was glad i had ONE person i could turn to, one CONSISTENT person, my midwife. If all i had to go on was my GP, the labour ward middies, etc, i would have given up real fast.

bf-ing is a sharp learning curve
there are challenges
the difference is, most people you'll come into contact with at the time, will tell you to give up pretty quick
but the ABA, private LC's, don't tell you to give up, instead they tell you how normal it is, and provide you with things to try, to get over that challenge. Being given tools to work with e.g being shown how to hold your baby to facilitate easier latching, helped me so much. They were realistic, that it's a new skill, won't be learnt immed, takes practice.

i didn't assume i WOULD be breastfeeding. i just wanted to try it, just in case i could manage it. if you can, that's great. if you can't, your bub will still survive on formula. i figured, even if all i did, was give her the colustrum (first few days), even that would be a positive. All you can do is try, educate yourself as best you can whilst pregnant, so you know where to get help when you need it, ask for help when you need it and see what happens.