Maternity bra or just a bigger size?

When did you get a maternity bra? Did you jump straight in or go up a size or two first?

I'm 15w3d and my girls have seemed to gain a life of their own over the past week or so :) Underwire and lace are definitely not my friends at the moment.

I went to the shops this afternoon and tried some mat bras at BnT and Mothercare... Nothing fit! It was so frustrating... I picked up my normal size and it was too tight around my back (no one likes back fat), bigger size was too big, cups were either too big or too small or none of the size I wanted in stock... I couldn't get the sales girls to help me, they were far more interested in discussing last weekends goings on. There was nothing wrong with the bras, I just couldn't find one to fit me!

I hit Big W and find some wire-free bras, just to get me through. Nope, normal size was too small and they had nothing in the next size up.

Cue tears in the changes room... Hmmm, hormonal much?

I'm not a weird size, a-what-I-thought-was-normal 12D.

I don't want to go out and spend a fortune if they are just going to keep growing ... And growing ... And growing :)

What did you do? Where can find something that fits?

I bought some Bravado ones - they cover a number of cup sizes in each size. (online through Blest bras - they have a good guide online too for picking the right size)

I think I ended up with L; maybe an XL. I started about 14DD before pg and when I got an strapless bra for the school formal last year I was an 18E :o

I wore maternity bras from 10 weeks cos I was so freaking uncomfortable. My boobs grew and they were so sore. I went to target and bought some bonds mat bras also wore sports bras a lot, but I'm a 16-18 D so bigger than you.

Best thing I ever did.. It was like 'Aaahhhhh' as soon as I put them on!!

Oh hun :) I hear you about Bras n things.. The girls that are in the shop that I went too would much rather have talked about how trashed they got on the weekend then get a decent sale.. So I went to a boutique bra shop where the lady was AMAZING!! I went in and got fitted for a couple of different brands of maternity bras, Ive been in the same ones since about 15 weeks.. Im going to have to look at getting some bigger ones soon as they seem to have taken on a life of their own...

Good luck... Shopping full stop brings me to tears lol

gah maternity boobs are so frustrating.
I seem to go up a back size about the time I get a BFP.
Mine didn't grow in size at all last time, but this time...hmmm. Up from 12D to 14D already at 18 weeks.

If you are going to get maternity bras I got great advice when being fitted the first time. Make sure you have at least 3 hooks (or the number of mnths left if less) and a bit of room in the top.

Target make quite a range of wirefree bras for quite cheap too.

:hug: tears in the change room are totally acceptable.

ETA I've splashed out (well DH has) on some Cake Lingerie bras this time round. They have a flexi underwire that sits off the breast, and they are seriously comfie. Even though I've spent the better part of 6 years in wire free bras, there's nothing like good support for bigger boobs.

Early on in my pregnancy, I just bought some cheap maternity ones from Target, as it progressed, I went and got fitted in Myer, which probably was a waste of time and money, as once breasfeeding had settled down slightly, I ended up going for another fitting as my boobs grew again. Its definately worth investing some $$'s in a decent couple of bra's - some of the ones I've bought in Target give me a double boob, so I never wear them, whereas the ones I've bought in Myer have lasted me both bubs (and I'm still wearing them :lol: )

I went to Triumph the other day, lucked out and got a lovely lady who was really helpful and gave me a proper fitting - she did say to give enough space to stick your hand in the cup to allow room for milk to come in as well. They also have a pretty decent range even in the larger cup sizes.

:hug: Bra shopping is a pain at the best of times, let alone when dealing with all those preggo hormones

What I would personally recommend... As your boobs are going to be changing size sooo much over the coming months(pregnancy, milk coming in, breastfeeding, milk settling down etc) I would go for the seamless maternity bras that allow room for your boobs to grow, that come in Small Medium Large type sizes. They are AMAZING for support and the only thing I wear - soo comfy. Brands I would recommend for that are Bravado (google it), new beginnings, and from mamawear (their seamless style). So much easier then constantly having to worry about particular bra sizes when this fits through all the changes. If you'd like the exact styles I swear by, PM me or reply on here and I'll post a link...


..... Oh, and I was somewhere between a 12d/e also

Good luck and happy shopping!


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Im subbingfor tips. i got fited before i was preg and am a 12E and today the one i had on killed. i find the wire digs in under my arms.. I still have a bit of space at the front but not on the side. (i must carry weird). im having a hard enough time finding bras now let alone when they grow more =(

*hugs* its so frustrating


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Oh sweet relief!!!!

I got a bf'ing singlet at Target in a 12D and a wireless sports bra in a 14 that will keep me going for a while.

I'm still going to try and find somewhere to get fitted properly - maybe Myer?? - but I'm happy not to be constantly rearranging myself at the moment.

(and yes, I did get changed in the toilet cubicle outside Target :))

I'm struggling to find bras...
I have 1 maternity one, but I hate it! I feel so unsupported and *feels like an old woman* I have to powder under my boobs cause i just get so hot and sweaty and sticky, I might as well not wear one! I'm sure its the lack of underwire because ive always had to have underwire.
I am now wearing my bikini top cause i feel more supported in it than my bras.

The only shop around here that actually sell maternity bras is bras n things, and I went back to them and said this is my problem what can I do, and the only tip she had was to buy a different style "but this is the only style we have" *face palm* great, I've been to big w, kmart, myers, baby shops, EVERYWHERE and none of them go past D's (aside from bras n things, and they only have the one style)

I'm searching online...

have you had anymore luck Elocin?

Teirae - I'm a 12F or even a G in some styles and can not handle wirefree. I have a couple of crop tops for sleeping in and even if I'm just at home during the day with no visitors...I really strongly recommend blest bras online - they have a range of flexiwire bras that are safe to use while BFing and WAY more supportive than wirefree for me. Not as much support as my normal underwire but pretty close. They're. not cheap but have been well worth the investment for me. I have 2 from Cake Lingerie and one of the seamless Anita bras and thats enough to rotate for me. HTH!

Teirae, sorry to hear you're so uncomfortable hun...

I've been lucky and been able to get all I need from Target.

There's a shop in Brisbane called Big Girls Don't Cry Anymore (google them for their website), I know they ship around Aust.

I haven't bought anything pretty - just plain colours - but have heard Hot Milk have a big range?

Teirae, same as what eutra said. My boobs need underwire, not because of their size (DD-E) but because f their shape. I bought a few mat bras when pregnant and I used them for months after I have birth and HATED them. They were Elle McPherson and a few other popular brands. They were horrible, frumpy shape, got a rash under my boobs. Best bra I've ever worn for feeding HANDS DOWN is the Cake Lingerie flexiwire range. I'd steer clear of the Hot Milk flexiwire, they were such a non event. The Cake bras I have are amazing. Cute styles and far superior quality to any other mat bra I've seen. Definitely give one a go. I also bought from Blest Bras. They're great an of you're not happy or it doesn't fit, you can send it back.

Thanks everyone!!! I'm checking out the cake flexi wires on blest bras. now to just work out if i should get the same size or not... cause they are exy for poor me.. =(

But, I might order one, see how it is, and then can get more later if need be.

I'm the same PZ, it seems to be my shape that causes me problems more than my size...

THANKYOU!! (sorry to hijack E)

I went to triumph on the weekend and got fitted as my target maternity bras weren't cutting it anymore. Found our why, I've gone from a 12C to a 16DD in the last 3 months! Yikes. My new bras were only $40 each and are soooooo comfy and have enough room for after bubs is here. Good luck!


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I was practically in tears at the end of my first maternity bra fitting trip at 15 weeks too. Got completely contradictory advice from Myer, DJs and a boutique store. Have gone from a 10 B to anything from a 10c to a 12D depending on who you believe. I'm also completely in-between cup sizes in Cake. Half the stores didnt even have most sizes or only one style in each size. Ended up just going with some cheapish bras that felt good to me. No idea if they'll last but they're a heck of a lot more comfy than my old ones.

I'm in love with the hot milk range, I find them comfy, sexy, and they also good for the breastfeeding side... (and they usually have nice matching undies to go with it)

Oh Maternity bras....
Tricky ha! Well I'm already large and during the last pregnancy the band around my body made me vioently ill so I didn't wear a bra.
So the girls are now sagy too. Ah well they have fed two babies and one on the way so who cares!

Avoid Bras and things like the plague. They are unhelpful and often fit me incorrectly. Can do and have done a better job on my own. I have also found that the M.bras they sell are all synthetic materials. I'm hot enough and swetty enough without making it worse.
I go to a little botique, was fitted correctly and the lady was LOVELY! I told her I wanted all cotton, no lace, and still room to grow.
She gave me a couple of triumph m.bras to try. Oh Heaven! All cotton, a little bit of lace around the band to pretty them up but not across the actual bust, there is still plenty of clips for growth and I like them. Sooooo much more comphy than ordinary bras.
If you don't have any independant botiques around try big department stores like Myre or David Jones, someone like that.
Also try Old lady shops....sounds crude sorry but the little botique I buy my bras from is a clothing store directed at older women for their outer ware. Normally I wouldn't shop at a place like that for myself but they are very good at fitting bras and actully listen to you and actully want to help you.
I lost my patience with Bras and things long ago and unfortunatly the only big bra shop in our town and surrounding towns. Sigh! Don't you just love it when they measure you incorrectly sell you the bra, the first time you wear it and settle in it you realise the cup is a size too big cause it's gaping, so you take it back and they won't give you, your money back or the smaller cup size.....I hate bras and things.

At about 8 weeks I bought 2 target cotton non underwire bras for $30 each. They have a wide elastic band under my bust and wide cotton straps and plenty of hooks. My normal size is a 16d and the berlei fitter that happened to be I store advised an 18 dd. I'm so glad I got them as I've now needed to use the looser hook and am almost filling the cup too.
I'll buy feeding bras later on but for most of my pg these will be just fine.