To think my fried eggs can't be a 30D

[surelynot30D]

When the great creator was giving out breasts I was stood at the back of the line. I have always had what looks like an A cup (apart from a stint of breastfeeding when I had actual bosoms for a while). They have grown a bit now I am in my early 40s, maybe due to some hormonal changes but nobody in their right mind would call them anything but small. At a push they could be what I would consider a B. I have tended to go for the widest band sizing (up to a 36) with the smallest cup because I find it hard to tolerate the feeling of a tight band around my ribs and can't bear the feel of a wire.
Anyway, being aware that as a petite size 8 I am most likely not truly a 36A I just measured (and remeasured) myself following the accepted instructions online and I have come out as.... a 30D.
AIBU to think WTAF?! Does such a bra even exist and would it not be some kind of freakish looking thing. And how could my small handfuls be anything close to a D?
I know I should go and see one of the nice ladies in marks and spencer and get measured but I've never felt entirely deserving of even being in the bra section if you know what I mean.

I'm always interested to see this referred to as the 'new' way of measuring. I'm in my 40s and have never measured or been measured any other way. I checked with my mum, who is in her 80s, and she has never been measured any other way either.

I've concluded that it's possibly because I grew up somewhere that M&S had not reached. The only shops that sold bras at all when I was younger were independent lingerie shops.

The only women who should go up on the band size are skinny women as they don't have the fat deposits to make a tight band comfortable, go up a band size and down a cup (from your be measurements) and see how that feels. I'm a size 14 and wear a 34FF. I have big boobs that go around the sides (under armpits). Triumph measured me, and also Playtex. Never M&S they said I was 40 band! Dicks!

I had breast pain when I was younger and was referred by my GP to get it checked out. Part of the investigations including being measured properly and I was told I needed to wear 34D or 34DD! I’d been wearing 36B as I consider myself to be relatively flat chested and didn’t like the band being too tight. It does feel weird to wear a tighter band, but it did get rid of the breast pain. Balcony bras with extra support at the front are supposed to be better too.

Yep stay the hell away from m and s.

I’m a petite size 8, about 8.5 stone so similar. Boobs are what I would call small but not fried eggs. A handful for me but then I have quite small hands .

Anyway I am a 30D or 30DD depending on brand. (Some people would put me in 28 but I find that uncomfy). I know D or DD sounds large but it isn’t, it’s all about the difference between rib and boob circumference so if you have a very small ribcage it doesn’t take much boob to end up with a large cup size.

If I wore a 34 or 36 it would creep up my torso all the time, doesn’t it on you?

Go to Bravissimo and get fitted. I'm a 30D usually (post pregnancy more of a 30E) and also an 8-10. M&S useless for fittings.

I’m a 36 k. And no I can’t size up or down the back because the band for me carries most of my weight. It sucks.
I can believe it. Get yourself to a proper fitter (cannot recommend bravissimo enough) and try some on in a proper size - you’ll be amazed at the difference

Oh and m&s, Debenhams, Ann summers, Victoria’s Secret basically any high street store which stocks bras are generally rubbish and cannot fit you correctly.

I measured a 32 Dd in a bra shop recently the lady who measured me has been fitting for years and years she was very stern and no nonsense about it and said my dear that is what you are . I had been weari g 34b forever.

Last time I got fitted I first went to M and S who measured me and did the add on so many inches. I tried a few bras on, they didn't fit.

So I then went to John Lewis. The woman there didn't add on anything (and was gobsmacked when I asked her about it, as why would she?) and then spent ages getting me differently styled bras until she was happy with the fit. I then bought 2, fairly expensive ones but they fit me just fine.

I'd honestly recommend going to JL and seeing what they say. They're used to seeing boobs so there's no need to be embarrassed, and you might just prove to yourself you really do have a cleavage!

I'm a 30 band size and am two stone heavier and two dress sizes bigger than you! You'll feel like a new woman once you wear a bra that fits!

Any suggestions where to get measured?

I’m another 36A-er but the thing is they’re really comfy. I’ve never had the feeling of wanting to take off my bra at the end of the day. Also whenever I’ve tried to go down a size I get back fat. A controversial post I know!

Honestly I find the best bet is to use an online calculator to get a vague idea of your size and then go and try on multiple different sizes around that mark. So I “ought” to be a 30D but I always try eg 28E, 30DD, 30D, 30C, 32C, if available - because brands and styles vary so much. It’s usually pretty clear which one fits and looks best once you try them on.

I went into the wonderbra shop wearing a 34b and came out sporting a full 30DD. I have DD boobs and never knew it.

Thank you all for your replies, I am clearly not alone! I also have an update. I went into m&s after work (it's the only shop in my smallish town with a largeish lingerie section so thought I would just start there). I tried on quite a few bras that were 30D or 32C. For the most part they DID fit me and in fact I can see that the cups are not that different to what I have now. I was really disappointed in the quality though. They had no proper stretch on the band and mostly seemed like cheap and nasty material, no different to what I would get in primark but with a hefty pricetag. I am going to take the advice above and try to get measured in an actual lingerie shop. I am also going to try on a proper brand like bravissimo. I am going to the nearest city this weekend so will have access to much better department stores and a bigger range. So the search continues! Thank you all again for sharing your experiences.

ToffeePennie Debenhams do proper fitting and usually have a good range of sizes in.

MarkleSparkle you get back fat because the cup size is too small. A properly fitted bra will be much more flattering. I never had cleavage before getting a proper fit.

@cushellekoala i have similar problems with my tween DD. I measured her as 26D - not a hope! She's currently wearing Next 30B which isn't too bad as the band isn't super stretchy.

I used to wear a 42DD as I am both board of back and large of nork. On reassessing this, I now have lovely comfy 38GG bras that fit well, don’t ride up at the back, and make my bosoms looks much better. Try a smaller back size. You’ll be amazed!

Short "I'm size 10, 5ft and a 32G

NHS gave me a blazing no way to a breast reduction.

Embrace your smaller bust. I wish I'd been at the back of a bosom line when great creator was giving them out. I must have been waiting outside the gate at 6am"

I must have been camped outside the night before then!

Definitely give somewhere like Bravissimo or Rigby & Pellet a go. Once you've sussed your approximate size and what style of bra suits your boob shape, online bra shops are a good bet too.

Before I went to Bravissimo (pre-children, so I was still big but not as big as now), I was in the too big a band, too small a cup camp. My bras were comfortable, except for the straps slipping down, but pretty much ineffective as my boobs were kind of flopping on to my stomach. It did take a couple of days to get used to a firmer band, but the difference in support and shape was immense.

Rigby and Peller Stupid autocorrect

Band size should be almost unrelated to your dress size - it should be what is taking most of the weight of your boobs and grip your ribs snugly.
You should be able to do up a new bra on the loosest hooks but not the tightest - that way when the material starts to sag a bit from use, you can use the tighter hooks.

I was a 34 band briefly in my teen anorexic days when I was a size 12, but from sizes 14-20 I've stayed a 36 - the cup however has gone from a B at 12 to an FF at 20!

Cups are a bit smaller proportionate to back size - while bfing I was measured properly by assistants in lingerie shop at 30C, though I didn't feel like more than an A cup (NB, never considered my usually As 'fried eggs', they are small but definitely there!) Think I'm back to about 32A now.