When is it time for a maternity bra?

[S'rose]

Okay ladies...
Here's the scenario, I am finally starting to get sore bb's and am finding the underwire bras sit right where they are sore. However, they really haven't outgrown my current bra's either.

How do you know when to buy the generally ugly yet practical maternity bra's?

Is it worth spending the money and getting them now, despite having no idea how much these babies will grow some time in the future?
Are they more comfortable?
How many did you get, and did you have to upsize through the pregnancy??

I am lost in the dark on this one for sure!!

TIA.

[deletedit]

I got them when I outgrew my usual size, since at that point you need a new bra that fits anyway, so why not go maternity? They have far more hooks in the back than regular bras and are more comfortable, but they don't exactly perk you into a flattering shape.

Then I grew more and got more, more, more more and more and now have every cup size from D to I. And I'm not kidding. I have at most 2 of any size but that's just because in the larger sizes they cost around $100 so its a budget thing.

[~*Kat*~]

I got my first 1 a couple of weeks ago, and I will get fitted properly for another soon but with my first pregnancy I didn't change for quiet a while
The important thing I read up on last night is to get fitted properly as ur cup size can up up to 2 sizes bigger than what u were (well that was in a bookelt from the hospital anyway)

[Glamourcide]

If an underwire is getting uncomfy, you could always try getting a couple of cheap wire-free bras to get you through? Maternity bras are pretty well-designed these days, the ones I bought were made to wear from conception through to birth and then all the way to the end of BFing as your boobs grow and then deflate with BFing Hot Milk makes some really gorgeous maternity bras that are all lacy and girlie but give you all the right support you need, check out their site and see if you have any local stockists
I didn't swell *too* much while pg and found underwired, padded push-up bras pretty comfortable right up until my milk came in, but I still wear my maternity bras to bed to combat the sag factor lol. I just got a couple of cheapies from Kmart that look like sports bras but have the clip-down cups for feeding, and they've lasted me nearly 3 years!

I've found that maternity bras are well worth the investment no matter what stage of pregnancy you're at, because instead of 3 hook-and-eye closures, they have nine or ten, allowing for much more expansion of your breasts, and then you can tighten them up again when your supply settles and your boobs go back to normal a bit. Good luck finding the right ones for you, can't hurt to go shopping now and see what's on offer HTH

[boobaloo]

i got some wireless bras as soon as i found out i was pregnant, then when i got into about the 7th month, got some maternity bras, myer does fittings, and the ladies will generally tell you what size you need to accomodate boobie growth..

[deletedit]

ur cup size can up to 2 sizes bigger than what u were

hahahahahahaha *wipes tear away*

I think they mean anything from no cup size change at all to anything over 5 cup sizes bigger. I got 7 cup sizes bigger last time. Up to 2, eh?

[Cassius2]

Hot Milk makes some really gorgeous maternity bras that are all lacy and girlie but give you all the right support you need, check out their site and see if you have any local stockists

I've found that maternity bras are well worth the investment no matter what stage of pregnancy you're at, because instead of 3 hook-and-eye closures, they have nine or ten, allowing for much more expansion of your breasts, and then you can tighten them up again when your supply settles and your boobs go back to normal a bit. Good luck finding the right ones for you, can't hurt to go shopping now and see what's on offer HTH

totally agree with this (as i sit in my sexy red lace hot milk bra lol! i got mine fitted this time at around 12 weeks cause i just couldnt stand the underwire. the good thing with the Hot Milk ones i have found is that they have a generous stretch in the cup and like Glam mentioned they have heaps of hooks to allow for the expansion as your ribs decide to go east-west.

if you do feel a bit iffy about buying/spending the $$ on a bra like Hot Milk in case it stops fitting (although if you go to a proper bra store they should be able to fit you accurately for the maternity growth ITMS) then i would go a couple of cheaper ones...also a great idea for ease and numbers of bras when you start BF. i've had pretty good comfort from simple ones like lovable...(i did this last time as well when my milk came in as they can get REALLY big for a couple of weeks there before they settle back down...).

HTH!!

also check out 'cake'...they seem really nice and girly too, but havent tried them...

[Jennifer13]

S'rose I managed with some sports bras for a while until I got into my third tri. Then I got maternity bras. Then I got more again once the baby was born and my breasts near on doubled (yet again) overnight. Then we went back down the maternity bra sizings every three months or so until, voila, at some point after 12 mths I was back to my pre-pg size (and still bfing, so yet another lot of maternity bras...).

And you've seen me, so you know I'm not a particularly big-bosomed lady, but seriously, if you went through my underwear drawer you'd wonder why on earth I have my mothers' bras amongst the stash! My problem was not so much the allowance around the back for expansion, but the cup size, so the extra hooks didn't do me any good at all.

I'd save spending the $$ for the really gorgeous ones until about six weeks post-birth, when things have settled to a size you'll be in for a while.

[STARRYSKY]

While I was PG I lived in the bonds maternity singlets, they have a built in bra bit with clip down cups, I think I own one in almost every colour! LOL!
The first one I bought was a 14 c which was my cup size at the time, but then when about 30 wks I bought a 14 D, which still fits now even though, when properly fitted by Intimo for a pretty maternity bra (sexy black lace and diamontes!) I am now a 14 E!!
The singlets were about $30 each, but I think they were on special at the time...

[S'rose]

Thank you all so much... I have now popped into my local maternity store and bought two wireless hot milk maternity bras which are very pretty, and not much more expensive than my regular ones so I am excited. Although I was pretty disappointed there were no matching G-strings! I am normally a 10DD/12D and she gave me 14D which has heaps of expansion room at the back and there will be some room for growth I am sure... I figure I can survive with 2 for the short term, until I figure out where they are going to go from here. At least they are pretty and more importantly much more comfy.
It was also reassuring that the pain under my arm pits is bb growth and that's normal.

I will have to look into the Mat singlets though, they would be super for weekends etc...

[deletedit]

If you're a 12/14 you'll probably be fine, my problem is I'm normally a small 10 and trying to find anything in a 10 over an E cup is virtually impossible. 12 just doesn't cut it unless I actually unpick the straps and resew them to be smaller, and even then it is hard to get over a 12F.

I bought from Bravissimo, a UK website. Had to convert sizings and currency, but it worked for me. There's also an online store based in QLD called big girls don't cry anymore that has a nice range, cheaper than in the shops and if things don't fit you can return them.

[Cassius2]

I will have to look into the Mat singlets though, they would be super for weekends etc...

the mat singlets are also a big winner here! i have some 'fertile mind' ones, and i *think* they are pretty much the same as the bonds ones. really good for the cooler weather too as you can put them under a normal top and keep your belly covered from draughts when feeding. i also sleep in mine and can come in handy for the midnight feeds (for comfort reasons mostly). i've got about 5 of 'em lol! they are great.

[AndiE]

Sigh ... I've forgotten what an underwire bra is cos I've been wearing maternity bras since half way through my pg with DS1 - about Sept 2007 Guess that's what happens when you conceive before you stop BFing!

I'd advise you to get fitted properly by someone who understands what happens to a woman's boobs when she's expecting. I was fitted at myer by a lady who was fantastic. Think I got new bras prob in my fourth month pg with DS2. The fitter correctly told me I'd get to an E (who woulda thought that three years ago I was a 14C - now a 16E!!!!). If I'd got a bra myself I would have bought a D - but I really did need the E once bub arrived. She knew her business.

[deletedit]

Myer in Adelaide has a terrible range.

They keep their maternity bras in a dim, dark corner behind the enormous tummy control knickers and they are all black, beige or grey and look terrible. And of course none come in my size so I can't shop there. ****es me off no end because they *used* to have a better range and were the best place to go and now I don't know any brick and mortar stores to get bras from - Internet and pot luck it is