I am twenty-seven weeks pregnant with my second daughter. Lately my back hurts and I think it is my bra. I just went to a real maternity store (Destination Maternity) to be properly fitted. I think the woman was helpful but the bra I purchased still wasn't comfortable for long. I guess the baby is pushing on my rib cage. I don't want to waste anymore money on bras that aren't comfortable. I've tried going to Macy's but there was no salesperson to help fit me. I did try on a super-expensive bra for $55 but that's too much for a bra. It felt really comfortable trying it on with the memory foam cups but who knows if it really would be wearing to all day. I usually buy underwire bras for a much needed lift. The bra I purchased yesterday was wire free so I thought it would be better. Not so much. Any advice on finding a comfortable bra for the last few months of my pregnancy? Thank you.
Thanks Moms for all the advice on this subject. One piece of advice I took today was Diane's from Hicksville. I decided to try Georgettes in Hicksville again. I went there once before and thought it was alright. The women were helpful but I disagreed with them. Only because the baby is really either in an uncomfortable position when I wear a bra or I just wanted to try the bigger band. They told me I was a 40 C or D. I could go either way. But honestly I felt like I just bought a 40 C and D recently. They sell the same brands as Macy's! And for $40 a bra I could go there and use a coupon instead. Anyway, I bought a 42 B and it is not underwire. This is my last ditch effort because I am tired of trying on bras and don't want to spend $40 on bras that are uncomfortable. Thanks a lot for the advice!
Towards the end I gave up on bras altogether. I wore these camis with a built in shelf bra from old navy. Might work for you too.
Best,
F. B.
Destination Maternity (Motherhood) can't size properly. I am a 36F. They tried to fit me in a 40F when I went into their store. Their calculator on their website actually puts me in a 38D! Those are absolutely completely different sizes! Nothing alike in any way!
You are probably still wearing the wrong size bra even though they "fitted" you.
Enlist a helper and measure yourself. Lean just a little forward and measure under your breasts, around your rib cage. If it's an odd number round up 1 inch to the nearest even number. Lean forward slightly again and measure around the fullest part of your breasts. Subtract the number you got from the fullest part of your breasts from the number you got for under your breasts. No adding 4 inches or any of that nonsence. Use exactly what numbers you get on the measuring tape. Each inch difference is a cup size. So 1 inch is an A cup, 2 inches is B cup 3 inches is a C cup and so on. (DD is an E DDD is an F BTW) When you buy a bra buy the band size that is exactly what your underbust measurement was (unless you've had to add that inch to get to an even number so if you're 35 then you buy a 36). Buy the cup size you reach based on the inch difference you got.
An ill fitting bra can cause so much pain and discomfort, even more so when pregnant.
It is possible that you may change a lot.
I usually wear an underwire but also went with the more sports bra type-- I used the Bravado ones, which were also meant for nursing. (Which meant not buying other nursing bras later, or so I thought. I ended up getting bigger in cup size after my milk came in. I liked the elastic, didn't like the uni-boob look, but it's a small time in life to deal with tube boob, right? Try on several sizes and styles, take some deep breaths in them, bend over in them, etc. I did have the 'baby kicking my ribs and throat' thing going on (I'm short-waisted) but didn't have discomfort from the bra itself. (Oh, and I just checked on the Bravado bras--- they look like they actually have some separation on the cups now. )
You can also go to your nearest women's foundation garment store-- call ahead and ask if they carry nursing bras and if you need an appointment for a fitting. If they carry nursing bras, they likely carry more than one brand. Good luck!
Are you busty? I am, so I went to an "old fashioned' bra store. It's Georgette's in Hicksville. I got fitted and the bra was perfect! I also went back there to get my nursing bras. I don't think maternity stores or even Macy's cater to busty ladies. Good luck!!
I felt the same when I went to purchase bras during my first pregnancy. I spent money on maternity bras that ended up NOT being comfortable AT ALL!!!
This time around, I have been able to wear some of my pre-pregnancy bras - although I am sure they are now stretched out, but they were on the verge of needing replacement anyway. I have found comfort in sports bra types. But I have also found comfort in simply buying those extenders - the extenders allow me to wear the pre-preggo bras I am comfortable in and extend the band length a tad more so I can adjust when I feel like I need more ribcage room.
Bras are NOT fun to try and find good ones, ever. Good luck!!!
I made the mistake of buying nursing bras early in my pregnancy. I think the maternity shop just wanted to make a sale and weren't 100% honest with me. By chest got bigger and bigger by the week. I think I went through at least three different sizes in 9 months not counting the size I started at. And I never did wear the first ones I bought beyond the first month or so that I had them. I was never that size again. Second baby, I wore the old worn out nursing bras from my 1st baby. I didn't buy new ones until after baby was born and I had a better idea of what size I was going to be. By the way, it was a completely different size than I ever was before, during, or after my first pregnancy! I wouldn't spend much on bras until after baby is born. You might want to also look at just getting the nursing camis. They have enough support that I didn't need to wear a bra with them and they are really convenient for nursing. If I was using nursing pads I did wear at least a sleep bra under the cami just to help with holding the nursing pad in place.
I wore a nursing bra while I was pregnant, somewhere are 5 months along. I made sure that I clasped it on the tightest clip starting out, and by the time my milk came in, I was on the loosest one... It was great. In fact, I wore it for a while after I stopped nursing, I liked it so much.
I wouldn't get memory foam, though, if I were you. When you start leaking, it will be uncomfortable. As it is, you'll want to put nursing pads in your bra anyway. Even if you don't nurse, I'd do this...
I normally also wear underwire, but when I was prego I got nursing bras that looked more like sports bras then regular bras and I wore them throughout my pregnancy and while nursing. I am very busty (was an H cup before my reduction) and the bras still gave enough support while being comfortable and accommodating my fluctuating size.
http://www.amazon.com/Lamaze-Cotton-Spandex-Comfort-Nursi...
This is similar to what I used, but I can not remember the brand name of the ones I bought.
