To think mothercare bra fitters need proper training

[CaffeineBomb]

I was sorting through my dresser and found one of my pregnancy bras from last year after going to a lovely lady at m and s, 34GG really comfy, fit well and was like a dream after wearing underwire until
35 weeks. The only reason I went there is because mothercare didn't have the size they claimed I was in stock, anyone want to guess what mothercare thought I should be wearing? It was shockingly out and looking back I really should have complained

[Sparrowlegs248]

I was recently fitted in mother are. 36E. I was 34 b pre pregnancy. Currently bf an 8months. I said I didn't think it was right and shouldn't have bought them. Yes I have a bit of weight to lose but I don't have big boobs. At all. The bras give me dreadful back fat.

[Alexa444]

Only place I've been impressed by with fittings is Ann Summers. Much better than MnS they didn't have a clue.

[KatharinaRosalie]

I remember overhearing a Mothercare fitter asking a senior colleague for bra fitting advice. 'So the lady measures 31 and 39..' 'Yes, so she needs a 36C'
Oh no she doesn't.

[Heirhelp]

Thanks for the link. Why is there a bra alphabet? Why did bra manufacturers think the actual alphabet would not be good enough?

[toohardtothinkofaname]

YANBU!

They measured me as 34e. When I pointed out that was my pre-pregnancy size and my bras don't fit (36 weeks at the time) she just shrugged. Then when I pointed out the sign behind her said to add a cup size for breastfeeding she just stared at me blankly. Turns out I was a 36G...

[CaffeineBomb]

Thanks for the link, really helpful. Made me think I need to get re measured!

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Heirhelp I'm one of the bra ladies - have a look at this website

thebetterbracampaign.blogspot.co.uk/p/fitting-advice.html

[IamthepermedowlofVeronica]

Mothercare told me i was 42 d, tried it on and when I lifted my arms the whole bra came up too! Went back out and kept trying and in the end a 38c was perfect. I do find the mothercare nursing bra clips are nearly on my shoulders tho, cant wear a low cut top without everyone knowing what colour bra it is today!

[BertieBotts]

The issue is that once you get past D there is no one consistent sizing system. What is a J in one brand is a GG in another.

I'm sure the Bra gurus will be along to explain better soon! :)

[dementedpixie]

thebetterbracampaign.blogspot.co.uk/p/fitting-advice.html - statistically is a bra lady btw

[StatisticallyChallenged]

I think it's more a lack of knowledge with mothercare rather than deliberately using a different system. They tend to have very limited stock in stores so they rarely properly fit a bra. I genuinely wouldn't be surprised if the woman went "Hmm, 10" difference, that's A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J"



Thankfully the US sizing is fairly unusual. We tend to run in to it on the bra threads either with nursing bras or when we're trying to help people find quite big cup sizes (L/M/N type territory) as they come up in internet searches but of course are too bloody small!

[Heirhelp]

Statically I am really confused about how to measure myself now. I might have to ask the bra ladies on the style board.

[CaffeineBomb]

Shouldn't they make it clearer that's the sizing system they're using? Would mean vastly different sizes in different brands/shops I would never think to assume I'd been measured in US sizes

[Heirhelp]

Every day is a school day. Thanks. My boobs are much bigger than I thought!

[StatisticallyChallenged]

That was meant to sad C and D, fat fingers, but yes - each cup size is 1" bigger than the one before. The exception is AA, which means

[Heirhelp]

statically do you mean that the distance between A and a B is the same between DD and an E?

[dementedpixie]

Each cup size is a difference of 1 inch including the double cup sizes so the double cup sizes are a full cup size bigger not a half cup

[StatisticallyChallenged]

No, they're not heirhelp. They're full sizes. It's half way between a DD and an D, but the difference between a D and a D is the same as the difference between a D and a DD.

[Mousefinkle]

Yanbu. I'm so glad I'm not the only one. I was a 38 FF in my first pregnancy, she measured me as a 34 DD .

[Heirhelp]

Double cup sizes are half sizes. So DD is half way between a D and an E.

I have never been fitted correctly in M and S. I need to go and get fiited for a feeding bra and I would rather go to M and S or mothercare as they are closer but I think I will make the effort to go to Bravissimo so I know it fits properly and I know how to feeding bra should fit.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Yup, double letter are whole cup sizes and basically mean an inch difference from the previous size - they're not a half way house. Americans tend to do D, DD, DDD, F, G, H and so on. You don't get that many US sized bigger cup bras ( as they hardly make any!) but nursing bras seem to be the exception.

I suspect the Mothercare woman thought it went like the normal alphabet, some of them get lost at DD...

[CaffeineBomb]

It fit fine, I checked it the way they do in bravissimo. I just don't rate mothercare bras much anyway and don't see how you can do a bra fitting without giving someone a bra to try on

[CaffeineBomb]

I didn't think double letters were the equivalent of a whole cup size? Learn something new each day!

The back measurement was still too big though meaning that I had no support and the J came from her measuring my bust as they had no bras in that size to try

The woman in m and s looked at me like I was a loon when I asked for a 36 J

[unimaginative1979]

It's not that far out!

Your 34GG would have been comfy it may not of fitted correctly.

[Glitterkitten24]

Immediately prior to this pregnancy I was measured as 32e in bravissimo.

The maternity bras I have from mothercare from last pregnancy are 38b!
I dug them out this time around but they are fit for nothing except perhaps to sleep in. Dreadful fit!