Help! I need bra advice, please!

CogDis · August 2014

I have a garbage neck and shoulders! I've had a few serious accidents resulting in breaks, sprains, whiplash and surgeries (3) to that area. Add to this I am very well endowed (about an E cup at least).

None of my bras fit anymore (how is that possible, when I haven't gained a pound yet???), even though I'm only 13.5 weeks in. Has this happened to any of you yet?

I've been wearing cheap stretchy sports bras but I've begun to realize that they're putting the weight of my chest on my neck, far too much, and not distributing the weight to my shoulders.

Can anyone who knows bras or is well endowed suggest a style and or brand of bra that I should buy? Or even warn me of what to avoid?

I'm clueless and too embarrassed to ask salespeople at specialty shops.

Also: I'm a FTM and I don't know what to expect to happen to my chest! Does anyone have any tips on how to avoid wasting money on bras throughout pregnancy? Will they keep growing?

CogDis · August 2014

Thank you, @gator26‌! I'm looking them up now!

apgruman · August 2014

When I'm just around the house I like my under armor work out tops and sports bras. They're comfortable, supportive, and most importantly they're durable. I'm a 34E and I never have issues with them. As far as regular bras go I don't even know where to start

Beth.1212 · August 2014

I wish I had some advice to offer on brand / style. I know it feels weird to go to a specialty shop and ask for help, but they'd be able to point you in the right direction. Maybe if you went with a girlfriend for support, you could go that route? I've gone to undergarment shops a few times (I like Lady Grace, if they're in your area - not at all geared towards the sex kitten crowd) and the salesladies have been very discrete and made me feel as comfortable as possible. They're pretty used to working with people on this seldom discussed topic!

I do expect that your chest will continue to grow throughout your pregnancy. (Sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear!)

HerHighness · August 2014

I would go someplace like Nordstroms and get measured. I know its embarassing but most of the ladies working those places are like your grandma and very nice. They can give you decent suggestions for your new size. Even if you need to go to a cheaper place to purchase the advice they give you is worth it,

Angeldcf · August 2014

Last pg, I got measured at Nordstroms. They know what they're doing (avoid Victoria's Secret). The bras were pricey ($50) but worth it.

sugarpeas79 · August 2014

I am in the same boat, I was a 32DD pre-pregnancy. I am popping out of all of my normal bras now, and my sports bras are skin-tight. I went to Motherhood Maternity to get measured and try on their goods. They measured me as a 32E at 10 weeks.

The advice the saleslady gave me was:

- stick with no underwire bras because the undersides of your breasts are going to get sensitive later on

- go up at least one more size from what you are in the late first trimester to accomodate milk coming in (boobs get bigger then) as well as pads in your bra to soak up leaking milk

- and rather than buying a 32F (which they supposedly do carry, but was not available in store *or* on their website), she suggested getting a 34E so you can wear the band on the tightest hook right off the bat to make it a "32E", and then let the band out as either boobs or your rib circumference (or both) get larger later on.

Hope this made sense. I can't verify that this is good advice as I have never actually made it past the first trimester - maybe a more experienced mama could chime in?

emilyz320 · August 2014

I am not as well endowed (D) so I don't have any advice on a great bra. But, the bands on my bra have started to get tight so I bought a bra extender at target. That has done the trick for me so far, as my cup size seems to be staying pretty steady for now. Hope that helps on saving some money (at least for now!)

krispy83 · August 2014

I agree with going to Nordstrom to get measured. That's what I did. I just broke out my bras from my last pregnancy and the difference in comfort is amazing! I haven't gained much, but in the last couple of weeks my bras have become very uncomfortable and I'm noticing some spillage lol

I got measured and then ordered from Kohls online, since they carry bigger sizes online but not in stores. Their return policy is amazing as well, which helped since it took me a couple of tries to find a brand/style that I liked, but overall I had really good luck with Maidenform.

@sugarpeas79 - I don't know that I necessarily agree with that advice, as my band size never changed but my cup size went up during pregnancy, then again when nursing (though I wore nursing bras, not regular ones until DS had weaned during the day) so a larger band size wouldn't have worked for me.

Beth.1212 · August 2014

@sugarpeas79 - I don't think that I necessarily agree. The undersides of my breasts never got sore, at least not as far as I remember. I used underwires for my entire previous pregnancy. Well, except when I was in sports bras, which were pretty comfy and gave more "growing room." Also, I pretty much lived in nursing bras after I delivered, so I never needed to use the large bras from my pregnancy after I delivered (though I may pull them out again this pregnancy).

I will say, avoid underwires after birth. They can mess up the milk flow and lead to blockages / infections in your breasts. Not fun!

Amaryllismagic · August 2014

I found three on a Kohls clearance rack this weekend! My normal size lately is a 36B, I'm in a 38D already :-S DH's reaction when I came out holding the ones that fit was "whoa. Those cups are big". There was a sticker on one, I think it is Werner's, that said "age defying lift." Not exactly what I was going for, but it has wide, cushioned straps and is very comfortable.

mommy510 · August 2014

I am not well endowed, but as far as changing sizes during pregnancy, I would recommend getting a couple of bras that fit you now, but expect to need to get a larger size later in pregnancy too.
If you are planning to BF, you will probably change sizes several times again. My breasts gradually increase in size throughout pregnancy and peak when I give birth. Then over the course of the next year, the gradually move back to their normal size. Everyone is different, but according to my Dr, most women's breasts go back to being pretty close to their original cup size. (I lost a cup size though and some of my friends gained almost a cup size, so take it with a grain of salt.)

camilu87 · August 2014

Can anyone well endowed recommend more places to shop from? Particularly online since I live in a small town. Prepregnancy, I was a 40F and I have spillage (not that the band is tight) already so in dire need of new bras.

CogDis · August 2014

You ladies are amazing! I'm going to muster the courage to go to a shop armed with all of this knowledge!

Thanks! $:\$ ">

lromeo1 · August 2014

Nordstrom is the place to go if you have large breasts. I wear Chantelle bras and am a 32 or 34G. They make great three way support full cup bras. They last forever. For sports bras, order from Bare Necessities. Try Panache (true to size) or Anita maximum control wirefree (runs small; order up one size in both band and cup).

Izzy0927 · August 2014

I'm a big fan of Soma. I have a very well endowed (very wealthy) friend who used to have her bras custom made who has switched to Soma entirely since discovering them. She raved about their bras, and I figured if they were good enough for her, they're good enough for me. The staff is always helpful, knowledgeable, and the quality is WAY better than bras from Victorias Secret/similar. They have a wide variety of sizes and styles. Give them a try!

modernfairytale8709 · August 2014

@camilu87‌

I do most if my bra shopping at Lane Bryant online. They carry Cacique intimates, and I love, love, love them. Pre-pregnancy, I'm a 42DDD.
They have loads of cute patterns and styles. My personal faves are the Balconette and French Full Coverage styles.

I was bummed that they stopped carrying nursing bras, though. I haven't worn another brand of bra for 8 years.

FlutterOfYoshis · August 2014

I found this Pinterest pin almost 2 years ago. Through it I learned to measure for myself and discovered that the reason I was so uncomfortable in my cheap 34B bras my whole life was because I was a ACTUALLY a freaking 32DD (here's the link to the explanation, and other links are embedded that tell you how to measure and recommend some online places to shop if you read user comments: https://www.epbot.com/2013/04/everything-you-never-knew-you-needed-to.html).

Since being pregnant, I've gone up 2 cup sizes but like OP also have gained no weight yet. Natori has been a great brand for me as well, and having 3 hooks now in the back instead of 2 has been much better in terms of support. I read somewhere that some recommend buying maternity bras in 2nd trimester since they don't have the underwire and can adjust to an extent for growing boobs? Has anyone else read/done this? I'm considering going for those next.

DronkeyGal · August 2014

Just go try a bunch on! I spent 2 hours in kohls yesterday and found two bras that fit me now. I'm sure they will change again but $40 is worth my boobs being comfortable even if just for a few weeks. I was a 34D before pregnancy and moved up to a 34DD. Planning on buying a hook expander if I grow width wise. Kohl's has a special $10 off $40 or more spent in intimates "INTIMATES10"

jrickard7 · August 2014

I wear a hard-to-find size (30F), and I love barenecessities.com and bravissimo.com. Bravissimo is a British company, but even with the unfavorable exchange rate between the USDollar and British Pound, their bras are often cheaper than most US companies.

kimmykaye · August 2014

You have some great suggestions here. I like the motherhood bras, personally, but wherever you go definitely get fitted and try before you buy. I had gone to Lane Bryant before Motherhood, and the lady said I was a 34B (so off the mark!). I am a 34F (but 36E works as well on the tightest hook). Found some great bras at motherhood while pg with dd3. I think they usually do a buy 3 get one free sale too.

cutlerr2 · August 2014

I am also well endowed. At 17. I was a 34G. Niw after 2 babies and one on the way. Im a 36J. (Yes its possible). And i 4 foot 11in to boot. I found that champion makes a jogging bra that is a double layer support/sports bra. That actually fits me. I had to go to a 40DDD. But because there is no underwire it fits suprisingly well. And the double support keeps me in place. It has ajustable clips in the back and ajustable straps to. So u dont have to pull it over ur head. Or sore breasts ad n my case. I hope this helps u. Here in SC. They run around 40.00. But ill probably use it my whole pregnancy bucause it has the extra play room in the back.

jh1219 · August 2014

I was a 36C and went up to a 38D. I found 3 Werner's perfect fit bras at Target that are doing the trick for now. I'm about 12 weeks so I didn't want to spend a fortune if I change cup sizes again.

schnitz9 · August 2014

Been following this post. I'm a 34H. Best brands for me are wachol and felina. Can get them at nordstrom. They have the best cup coverage. I've tried soma but the problem is I haven't found 34's and those are the ones that fit the best. Try those brands.

CogDis · August 2014

Thanks everyone! I thought, it being TMI Tuesday and all, I'd update to say my ladies are resting painlessly in their new cages! Thanks for your help! :-)

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