Calling the small-chested, do you mind if I ask...

[naturelover]

... do you wear padded or gel bras?

Are they comfortable?

Do they make you feel "better"?

What about swimwear?

Can you recommend any brands?

I've just come out of a looooooooooooong spell of being pregnant and breastfeeding, and am gutted to realise that I'm now going to be an AA cup again forever :( as I'm not planning any more babies. I used to hate being this small and am trying to reconcile myself to this once again. FYI I'm tall and big boned, so my small chest seems (to me) like it's disproportionate.

Please share your tips! BTW I have the Trinny & Susannah books and already try to emphasise my assets (long legs, toned arms) but I do feel inadequate in the chest area and always have done.

Thanks

i wear padded bras. teh gel ones always look, 'lump' to me when on so i avoid them.

the paded ones if fitting proper;y can feel fine but sometimes because tehy are a bit more moulded than normal ones they can look 'gappy' when lying down or sitting at an angle.

Are you definitely definitely an AA?

The reason that I asked was that I wore a 36A for 5 years after having DS. I was actually a 32C. Couldn't believe it, a C cup, me! But I am.....

Might it be worth measuring again.

but to answer your question, I wore gel bras for all of that time.

Padded and never wear swim wear.

check out www.maxcleavage.com/ lots of lovely bras/bikinis etc here have all sorts of padded/gel - I like the panache gel, not as lumpy as atlantis. make sure you order the correct size though else they will be gappy ( you may even have to go down a size).

I'm currently in love with my Wonderbra 2 sizes bigger bra - its a gel/air combination so isn't lumpy or heavy.

I don't bother in swimwear, but only wear it to swim iyswim.

Am also tall and big boned, and looked fab when breastfeeding and a 36e, rather than A

Like Ben, I was also a 36A for years and then got fitted properly, and was actually a 32C. Was VERY exciting.

Where is the best place to get "fitted properly"? I have a John Lewis nearby - any good?

Marks and Spencer are good for fitting. They run off and find you all sorts of bras to try so you could have a go at them all and see whats the most comfy. They're really knowledgeable about stuff like pregnancy and Bf and how it affects your boobs etc so they will probably be very helpful.

M&S are terrible at fitting imo. JL are OK, but my favoured option is finding a small lingerie shop - the ladies in those know their stock and how it fits so will find a bra that really fits you

I'm a 32B but, like some others here, wore the wrong size (a 34A in my case) for years.

I always wear an underwired bra (and swimwear), but I avoid anything with pads/gels - they somehow just make me feel worse! I suppose I have just tried to accept the fact that I'm "under-endowed" and to see its advantages (like for sport).

(That said, though, one of the most mortifying experiences of my life was when buying a sports bra. It was actually a replacement for one I had bought a year earlier and, as I couldn't find the right size on the shelf, I asked the shop assistant if there might be one in the store room. She promptly burst into a loud laugh and said she doubted any company would bother to waste its time making a sports bra for someone with nothing to put in it! I was mortified - the shop was full and a number of people turned round to look. But I suppose I ultimately had the last laugh as the assistant was overheard by her boss, who promptly told her that even someone wearing a 20AAA would clearly have more in her bra than the shop assistant had brains between her ears - and sacked her!)

John Lewis do some reasonably priced padded t-shirt bras - not wired and very comfy. They make me look like I've got lovely rounded boob under tops and look fab under knitwear.......it's just when I take them off and lie on my back that it looks like I've got fried eggs for breasts

I'm very, very flat chested. I wear Ann Summers bras - they make ones with the pads made out of beanbag stuff. With other, say Topshop bras - gel chicken fillets. They at least give me a lump there

Mine were an A straight after I stopped breastfeeding, but they slowly started filling out a bit more the year after.

I ended up being the same size I was pre babies (34C), might happen to you to.

I wear pre-shaped cups, but no serious padding or gel.

I LOVE calvin Klein (example on [ [ www.asos.com/Calvin-Klein/Calvin-Klein-Seductive-Comfort-Lace-Bra/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1244078&sgid=2602&cid=2505&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Wdb+Wild+Berry+(Deep+Purple), you can often find them at TKMaxx or in the sale (Figleaves, Asos etc.) for around £20 and they enhance, but in a subtle way IYSWIM, and last years and years.

I think small boobs that are perky looking (thanks to CK) can look as good as big bouncy ones.

I am also a fan of the CK swimwear.

hope I am not being Marie Antoinnettish and recommending you things way out of your budget (one of my fave CK bras is from TKMaxx though and cost 10 pounds only)

Chandon alas I was an AA before babies :(

I had hoped in vain that I would gain chest size, but it seems the gain was temporary!

Thanks everyone for your replies. I really appreciate the tips and recommendations.

I have been an AA all my adult life - I increased to a massive A cup when pregnant and breastfeeding .

Anyway, I wear M & S padded T-shirt bras as I find them a perfect fit. I also have an M & S swimsuit and bikini, both with a bit of padding in the bust area.

I guess the only advantage is that at 52 I still have perky boobs and not saggy sausages.

Same here as Ben10 and neolara wore 36a and now wear 32c...triumph do v pretty slightly padded lace bra in loads of colours that fits me perfectly and gives nice shape.

I wear 32 A, and yes I do wear gel bras which do work for me. After Eden have some good ones. I am tall and slightly pear shaped, so a bit of a boost up top balances my figure out nicely.

In swimwear I wear halter necked slightly padded bikini tops. Halter necks are apparently supposed to make you generally slightly wider on top and balance out hips - and padding, just because of my lack of actual boobs!

Would love to be a bit bigger, but it isn't going to happen without surgery. As others have said it means I can do sport without worrying (and I do a lot of fitness stuff) - and yes they are still pretty perky!

Agree with the others about trying lots of sizes.

I was- or thought i was- a 34A practically all my life- then walked into a small bra shop and the owner said - just by looking at me- that I was not a 34 back (I am an 8-10 dress size.)

So- started trying other sizes. I now wear a 32 C or 32D depending on the style. sometimes I go to a 34C if the back is very tight.

I wear M&S push up T shirt bras which have graduated padding- I find these give a better shape than the chicken fillet removal pads in some bras.
M&S also do a "2 sizes bigger" T shirt bra but it feels like strapping on a pair of falsies- you migh tlike it but I didn't.
John Lewis' own bras are also quite nice.

I share your post bf deflation! I got a nice push up bra from m n s recently. Has a big chunk of padding but is really comfortable. Agree with others to go in at a quiet time and have an assistant help.