Is increasing band size normal?

[Elephant768]

I’m 23 weeks and only got round to getting measured for maternity bras.

I was a 30 C pre-pregnancy and to my surprise I’m now a 34C! I was more surprised that my cup size hadn’t increased.

I’ve googled , and I think it is normal to increase band size as my rib cage is expanding etc but just wondering if anyone else has experienced the same thing and whether their ribcage returned to normal size. If so, did it affect your clothes as well as bra?

I just feel shocked because I’ve always been so small. And I feel like I’ve excessively gained weight. I know it’s normal and everyone’s different but my legs and arms and back and bum are the fattest they’ve ever been (obviously my belly too) but I just feel soft and swollen.

anyway, I know I’m creating this wonderful life and can’t wait to meet him but I’m just curious as to whether I’ll ever look vaguely similar again - I’ve always naturally been small so naturally.

Yes it is normal! When I was pregnant with my son mine increased to a 38c from being a 32c pre pregnancy!! 😱 You do go back to your normal size afterwards don't worry x

It can be normal depending on where you gain weight. Is your midwife happy with your weight gain? Unless there are any issues and you are eating healthily and staying active, I wouldn’t worry. You can lose weight after the pregnancy.

I went up a band size with my second pregnancy but went back to my pre pregnancy band size within a couple of months. My hips stayed bigger though, even when I went back to my pre pregnancy weight and lighter.

I’m not sure because I’ve never really gained weight apart from pregnancy - I would say at Christmas if I’ve had a lot to eat I would say I feel it more in my thighs and bum… but I’ve always had a very small frame so the 34 shocked me but I am 5ft 1 so maybe there’s not much room for my ribs to go other than outward.

The midwife hasn’t even asked to see my weight actually but I have my appointment next week so will ask her

I've went up and it didn't come down, despite not gaining much weight

Everything increasing is normal in pregnancy.

Totally! Your ribs rise and expand to accomodate the baby, and I put on quite a lot of back fat. I wouldn't bother buying expensive bras until a few weeks PP when things have settled down. Buy some cheap stretchy ones in the meantime. I really like the Bonprix ones and they've got a good range

I don’t think my ribs have ever gone back to pre pregnancy size. I am only 5ft 1 and was a small size 4 pre baby. In good news bras are much easier to find in a 30 back than 28! I am probably around 3-4kg heavier (not sure as I don’t own scales). My youngest is 2 now.

I was a 32, and at 20 weeks finally bought some labelled 36 because I was in agony. Just a cheap set of Lucky Brands. Best thing I ever did.

I haven't really gained much weight, but my ribcage is bigger, and my cup size is, too.

Yes I went up 2 band sizes and it also has never come down.
True I was a bit heavier post pregnancy but not enough to justify going up 2 band sizes.
I think my ribs have shifted/opened and never went back.

My ribs did not go back. Pre pregnancy I was size 12, afterwards I went down to size 10, but still had a bigger chest despite there being less fat on it.
I think some people's ribcages do go back though.

If your band size went up and your cup size stayed a C, then that means they also increased in size.

You are building a whole human from
scratch.

Yes it will change the shape of your body. For some people there are permanent changes (it’s quite common for feet/boobs/hips to be larger than before pregnancy. And some people go back to without any change.

Bear in mind it takes 9 months to build the baby, you won’t go back to how you were before immediately, it’s a gradual thing.

thanks all - I’m not sure I’m familiar with the physiology of it all. But even if I lose all my weight PP and my ribs stay the same, what does that actually mean? Do I look broader or will I just have flared out ribs? I can’t quite imagine it.

very sorry to sound so vein. I’m embarrassed that sometimes I worry about the body changes, and I often remind myself how lucky I am!!

You will look perfectly normal after you have your baby (well not immediately after but eventually 😆)

You’ll look normal but possibly a wee bit different to pre-pregnancy . But the changes are very small and probably you’ll be the only one who notices any change.

If you've gone from 30C to 34C then your cup size has increased as the cup size is relative to the back size and a C cup on a 34 back is larger than a C on a 30 back.

If you relate it to your 30 back then a 34C = 32D = 30DD so you have gone up in both the back and cup size

Where did you get measured and are you sure they didnt add extra inches to your actual under bust measurement?

M&S! I think she said the measurement was 31 and that she has to add 4 but because it landed on an odd number she gave me 34’s to try which felt comfortable.

i don’t remember the woman at M&S adding anything on back in May when i got fitted just before i was pregnant (when i was a 30).

I was told by a midwife that it would happen because your lungs expand.
Mine went back down afterwards.

I have a hunch that if you're short and small this is more noticeable because the baby has nowhere to go but out. I didn't really put on any noticeable weight. I could only wear bras 3 band sizes larger by 8mo and didn't wear any in the last month because the top of my ribcage was so tender! I got some nerve pain there - tingling pins and needles sort of thing - went away as soon as baby was born.

I did go right back down to my original bra size a few months after.

Don't forget your cup size HAS gone up. A sister size to 30C would be 34A (I think).

Normal! I don’t think my ribs ever went fullly back to pre baby (I’ve had 3). Your torso can just remain slightly bigger always (eg I’m a 10 and don’t think lll ever be an 8 again)

Yes I think so. My bump never really looked ‘cute’ because I’m so short it kind of just engulfs all of me lol! But that is reassuring to know - thankfully no rib pain yet but I’m sure that’s soon to come!

Might have known it was M&S! They are notorious for measuring badly. If you measure 31 underneath then you are only 1 inch bigger under bust, not 4 inches. You aren't supposed to add extra inches so a 30 or 32 back might be more appropriate. Maybe 32 if your ribs may expand more

I agree with this. The 4 inches thing is so outdated - can't believe they are still saying it!

You're rib cage is 1 inch bigger then OP. This will make no difference to your life whatsoever, unless you have any clothes with a very tight unstretchy waistband which sits on your ribs. Afraid to say they may never fit again (or they might, if your ribs go back).

I went from a 34b to a 38b (c when breastfeeding)
I had the most excruciating rib pain in the last trimester with Dd1, I couldn’t sit at a table or lean over in any way without a dull constant ache.
Afterwards I did go back down to a 36 band and have stayed that way ever since, 25 years later despite weighing the same as I always did.