Maternity Bras for Bigger Boobs

What?

As if all the stuff you need to get for the baby wasn’t enough, you also need to think about your changing shape as your pregnancy progresses. Most women think about maternity clothes and what they might wear as they get bigger, but it’s not just your tummy that’s likely to grow!

General advice is that women gain one to two cup sizes during pregnancy, but if your breasts are on the large size to begin with, you may find this a woeful underestimate. Let’s not beat around the bush, if you didn’t have melons before, it’s fairly likely that you soon will have!

You may find that you need a larger bra in the early stages of pregnancy, a larger bra still as your pregnancy progresses, a larger bra when you milk ‘comes in’ (a few days after birth), and an even larger bra as your baby’s appetite increases and your mammaries respond to that demand!

Why?

The hormones oestrogen and progesterone released during pregnancy prompt the milk ducts to mature and grow in order to produce milk to nourish your baby, and the breasts grow to accommodate that. It stands to reason that if a woman’s breasts grow by, say 10%, that where that extra 10% may only be a cup larger in the average-sized woman, that 10% can add up to quite a few cups when the boobs were significantly larger to start with!

Some women notice a tingling sensation during this process, others find that their breasts and especially the nipples become very tender. The breast tissue can also feel denser, firmer, and heavier, particularly as the pregnancy progresses. These changes begin to happen very early in pregnancy, and are often the first signs to make a woman realise she is pregnant.

Because of the increased sensitivity, many women find that bras, particularly underwired ones, are no longer an option. There is no medical reason to support abandoning your underwired bras, so if you’re comfortable, it’s fine to keep wearing them, but if you aren’t it might be time to do some shopping! You may even find that you’re particularly uncomfortable at night, in which case wearing a bra to sleep in helps provide some support, and ultimately comfort, for a lot of women.

It is for this reason that a number of manufacturers make ‘Maternity Bras’. Different to ‘Nursing Bras’, which offer easy access to the breast by means of clips and panels, maternity bras are in essence just a comfortable bra, a bit like a sports bra. Usually they will offer good support, with generally more scope for expansion (more hooks and eyes at the back), no wires, wider straps, and often no seams across the cups (which is where they tend to differ from sports bras) as some women find seams chafe and irritate sore nipples.

Where?

If you struggled to find decent over-the-shoulder-boulder-holders before you were pregnant, it probably won’t surprise you that your choice if you’re looking for a maternity bra is likely to be limited.

Just be aware that you are asking for an architectural miracle – a supportive, comfortable bra for heavy breasts with no underwires?! Add in an expectation of attractiveness and you’re searching for the holy grail! But strictly speaking, you don’t need a specialist maternity bra when pregnant, any comfortable bra will do. Many women have no problem with seams or wires, and there’s no truth in the oft-toted rumour that it’s unsafe for your breasts to wear an underwired bra, it’s purely down to personal comfort.

Bra fitting in pregnancy guide – Bravissimo

Helpful (if a bit cringey) instructional video on how to fit bras here:

If your back is expanding, but your cups haven’t (yet) you might be able to make a favourite bra last a little longer with bra extender straps, which come in 2 or 3 hook varieties, and generally in white, nude or black (these from Debenhams come in a pack of 3 in white, or a selection pack of all three colours for £5). Of course, there’s not much to them, so if you’re handy at sewing, you could probably easily make your own, but at that price it hardly seems worth the bother.

Many stores offer a measuring service, but you may find once measured that the store cannot actually cater for you with in stock items. You may strike lucky in a trawl around the shops, but your likely best bet for the greatest choice is online. It’s not as convenient as being able to pick up, feel, and try on the bras before buying them, but you do at least get a wider range to choose from and can try them on in the comfort of your own home.

Online stores with UK shops where you can potentially get measured

(check with your local store to see if they offer a measuring service)

Bravissimo

– underwired bras up to back size 40 and cup size L

– non-wired bras up to back size 40 and cup size K

– maternity bras up to back size 42 and cup size L

Marks & Spencer

– underwired bras up to back size 2 and cup size J

– non-wired bras up to back size 46 and cup size K (but not seam-free)

– maternity bras up to back size 42 and cup size G

Evans

– underwired bras up to back size 50 and cup size G (or back size 48 and cup size H)

– non-wired bras up to back size 42 and cup size K (or back size 44 and cup size DD)

– no ‘maternity bra’ section, but seam-free, wire-free bra up to 48F

Bon Marché

– underwired bras up to back size 44 and cup size DD

– non-wired bras up to back size 46 and cup size DD

– no ‘maternity bra’ section, but seam-free, wire-free bra up to 44D

Online retailers (or retailers who don’t offer a fitting service)

Ample Bosom

– underwired bras up to back size 48 and cup size L

– non-wired bras up to back size 58 and cup size J (or back size 50 and cup size N) (not seam-free)

– no ‘maternity bra’ section (several nursing bras), but seam-free, wire-free bra up to 42H

Cake Maternity

– underwired bras up to back size 42 and cup size JJ

– non-wired bras up to back size 44 and cup size J

– maternity bras up to back size 44 and cup size J

Debenhams

– underwired bras up to back size 50 and cup size J

– non-wired bras up to back size 50 and cup size J (but not seam-free)

– no maternity bras but seamfree up to back size 48 and cup size G

Simply Be

– underwired bras up to back size 50 and cup size F (or back size 42 and cup size L)

– non-wired bras up to back size 58 and cup size J (or back size 48 and cup size L)

– no ‘maternity bra’ section (several nursing bras), but seam-free, wire-free bra up to 58 J

En Vie

– underwired bras up to back size 44 and cup size F (or back size 42 and cup size J)

– non-wired bras up to back size 52 and cup size F

– maternity bras up to back size 46 and cup size F.

Brastop

– bras up to back size 48 and cup size DD (or back size 40 and cup size K)

– lots of sales and offers, but odd smattering of sizes in each bra – but you can search by size only.

– a small selection of maternity bras

Curvy Kate

– underwired bras up to back size 40 and cup size JJ

– non-wired bras up to back size 40 and cup size JJ

Curvy Kate Unwind Black Bralette

£25

Curvy Kate – up to 40JJ

Bon Prix

– underwired bras up to back size 48 and cup size F

– non-wired bras up to back size 48 and cup size F

– no ‘maternity bra’ section (several nursing bras), but seam-free, wire-free bra up to 48 F

Yours

– underwired bras up to back size 46 and cup size G

– non-wired bras up to back size 50 and cup size J

– no ‘maternity bra’ section, but seam-free, wire-free bra up to 48 F (or 46G)

Pour Moi

– underwired bras up to back size 44 and cup size J

– non-wired bras up to back size 44 and cup size G

– no ‘maternity bra’ section, but seam-free, wire-free bra up to 38G

The following sites seem to sell the same stock as elsewhere (Bravado, Royce, Panache etc), but might be worth a look.

Very

Fashionworld

Nursingbra-shop.co.uk

Bras 4 Mums

and of course, there’s always

Amazon and

eBay

References

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