Can anyone who understands bra fittings come and tell me where I'm going wrong.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Quite a few of my bras are past their best. I've also put on a few pounds and think my boobs have got bigger and with some of my bras was getting a bit of a four boob effect which I presume is caused by a too small cup size.

So I went to m&s yesterday, tried some on was told I now needed a 38d rather than usual 38c. Tried some on, they felt fine and looked ok.

But today I've been moving some furniture nd when I bend down my boobs fall out the top. So does that mean the cup size is too big. I tucked them back in and tightened the shoulder straps a bit but then seemed to get a bit of a four boob effect again.

They are a plunge style type bra and the inner, middle sides of my boobs isn't covered up by the cup. So I don't know if I need a bigger cup size or a smaller one. Can your boobs fall out if the cup size is too small? Or might it just be the plunge style which doesn't suit.

Aura 30E or F sounds right as a starting point (it's easy to forget the DD when counting). No way can a 38 be right if you're slim, most women who need a 38 are at least a 14, if not a 16 or 18...

38D has the same cup as a 30G.

Hetty you're a miracle and a superstar! Do you know what might happen to my boobage when my baby's born (I'm 32 wks). I'm trying to buy nursing bras, but just don't know what to do. I'm usually a 34aa, have gone to 34b now I'm pg (although my band is tight and I'm trying to find a tape measure in the house!)
Or is it just a case of see what happens when my milk comes in?

JenniL - it's guess work with nursing bras before you're actually nursing TBH. If you're in a 34B at 32 weeks I'd expect you to be in a 36B or C by 40 weeks. The ribcage expands in late pregnancy and weight gain accelerates too.

You can expect to go up 2 or 3 cup sizes once your milk comes in and then down one or two once the engorgement settles. Then down again between 4 and 6 months (band size can be back to normal at this stage too, depends) and back to normal cup size between 6 and 10 months. I usually advise women to buy nursing bras all through pregnancy as they'll all fit at some stage during feeding.

So, as a somewhat random but educated guess, I'd say, you'll need two very soft and stretchy 36D or E. BUT, wait as late as you can, everything might change.

All this is assuming that the size you started off (34AA?) was right, were you +/- totally flat chested?

Don't let mothercare fit you - they are the nursing bra equivalent of M&S.

Jenni, I went from a 34GG during the last 6 weeks of pregnancy to a 34H after giving birth. I'm now a 32H after 9 months but I can't find suitable bras anywhere! My 34s are getting big around the ribcage but I'm reluctant to buy new ones when they're all like slings (you won't have this problem I imagine at your size) and I'll probably decrease in size in a couple of months.

Thanks Hetty and aswell I thought as much, I'll just wait as long as I can. It's just sending DH out to try and buy me nursing bras will be a hiding to nothing I think :)
Pretty sure the 34aa is/was correct - it's like looking at 2 aspirins on an ironing board and tbh I wore that much padding in my bras (and had the luxury of being able to wear cheap H&M stuff!) to try and give me just a little bit of shape before that this whole having to actually get fitted and think about proper support is bewildering! Desperately hoping I'm one of those people who keep the norks after being pg (DH would like it too, methinks!)
Had heard that about Mothercare, won't let them anywhere near me, thanks again.

I'm hoping I keep most of my extra boob size too-I was a 34DD before. They'll look like elephant's ears if I don't! My sister tells me I can just roll them up into my bra if they shrink back down.

I always goes to John Lewis to be fitted - I am a 34E. The last two women there who have helped me have refused to bring me plunge/balcony style bras, as they said that such a style will never provide enough support for someone with a larger cup size. I got the lady to bring me a plunge style in my size last time anyway, and she was vindicated - even though the bra was my size it gave me no support and was super uncomfortable. As a larger-boobed lady, you just need to resign yourself to "full coverage" I think!

aswell - you can buy adapters to turn normal bras into nursing bras, saves a fortune and gives a lot more choice (obviously). After 9 months you should be fine with underwires, as long as they fit well and don't compress any breast tissue.

I'd heard of these adapters but I don't think I'd ever get round to doing it or know what I was doing when I got there. I bought a deep plunge underwired bra about 6 weeks ago thinking I would just pull my boob out to feed but I found it really awkward to do in public! I suppose I could attempt it on that bra. Do you know where you can get them from?

TBH I gave up on feeding bras after about 6 months with DC2, just used to pull my breast out of a stretchy full cup bra. I found the extra support made feeding in public easier.

The adapters are really easy to put on, I'll see if I can find a link. You can always use the ones from knackered nursing bras you already have.

I got mine here

That site has shut down. I'll have to find one of my most rubbish nursing bras and cut it up. Thanks for the kick up the bum to do it!

I have just been bra shopping. Unfortunatly matalan do not have a huge range of sizes nothing in a 30d/30dd (30c was too small). I found that 32d was ok, but still not many styles in that size. I shall go into town next week and try some 30dd.

But I have a black and a white bra in 32d, and they feels great.

I spent my life in 34As.

I measure 30 inches under the bust and 34-35 round the perky puppies.

I now buy a 32 C or 32D- prefer underwired push ups or balcony style.

Although I should be able to fit into a 30 band they are really too tight.

you do need to allow for manufactuers differences. I found J Lewis very generous- a 32 back is quite roomy whereas la Senza are small fitting both in band size and cup size. ( maybe a marketing ploy?)

Ha! Bloody hell does this mean I can go and buy something lovely with wires now at 9+months on? Oh goody

I was last measured at Bravissimo a few weeks after giving birth. Hetty your advice is a revelation. Thank you. I now realise I should be (probably) a 34ff instead of a 36f

Pashaelina, underwires shouldn't be a problem as long as the bra actually fits properly and doesn't lie on any breast tissue. I wore underwires until I gave birth and I'd have bought underwired nursing bras from day one if they existed in my size.

I have managed to get back on and thanks hetty.

At the mo I am in a 36H but feel it's tight on me and measure 35.5 under bust and 41,round the fullest part. So I am asuming the lassies are rounding the figures up. All from debehams I might add. I was wearing asda ones in a 36G and where can I buy these none wired ones in my size folks talk of as I think thats what annoying me in the bra.

Certainly is an eye opener on the how to.

Strawberryjelly, I am going to do what you have done -- same measurements, never seemed to be fitting right in 34s.

I went from a 36a (with mega gel) to 32C and my boobs look so much bigger with no gel in the correct sized bra than they ever did with the gel....and I love being a C-cup!

Jenni I would reccommend Bravado's standard nursing bra - it will fit when your boobs start to get pretty big in late pregnancy, as well as be comfy, then when the milk comes in (I felt like Joan from Mad men, walking around like a fembot, and was only a B cup previously) and you have a few days of enormous rock-hard scaryboobs, followed by settling down but still constantly fluctuating.....it will always fit and be comfy!

I have been alternating between the two I have for a year and they are now saggy and revolting, but still comfy. I wasted money on quite a few proper bras (ie with regular bra sizes) and it was totally pointless due to the aforementioned drastic fluctuations in size you will likely experience.

They are so good, at least for the first few months until your boobs settle down...then you can get something in a size with a more structured shape maybe. The racer back is annoying though. HTH

Bravado Bras

I think this is where I got mine, the actual Bravado site is a bit .

You might also consider having a BraLady come and do a home fitting for you. You can find the one nearest you at www.bralady.co.uk.
They are very approachable and discreet. I have put a blog up about what to expect from a bra fitting here: bit.ly/knmITV

Hetty you're amazing. Only I have lost my tape measure and DH's B&Q type one only works on square norks!

hetty, that is amazingly useful information. have trouble finding bras to fit as i measure a 34d but don't always fit into a d cup due to scaring on one breast (from having a cyst removed). i find i prefer what they call full cup bras as opposed to plunge or balcony types as it covers the scar.

This thread is brilliant, Hetty you're a genius!

I've just measured myself and I need a 28F! No wonder I was falling out/ 4 boobing / majorly uncomfortable, I've been wearing 32C