Bra intervention - have I got this right?

[Wenchelda]

Hi - I'm new, hope its ok to come straight on with a question....I Somehow stumbled across one of the bra intervention threads a couple of weeks ago and have been following them in amazement ever since.

I've always worn an A cup (32/34 pre pregnancy, currently 36A) - never been measured professionally but always done it myself based on the "add 4 or 5 inches" rule. I have pretty much constant back ache and neck pain but never ever imagined this could be caused by boobs as they really are so tiny!

But after reading your fascinating threads, I think I should be a 30/32D! My measurements are 31 under bust, 35 at fullest point when bending over to 90 degrees, and 34 above. Have I got that right? If so I am truly truly in shock that my almost-not-there boobs are a D!!

Thanks

Bleeeeeee! The dentist is so not my favourite place to be. Got anything stonger? Stiff vodka, perhaps?!

Annoyingly not - I had codeine on the go but couldn't sleep a wink on Friday for manically scratching my nose...guess it didn't agree with me.

I'm dental phobic so it was done under sedation at the dental hospital - except the sedation wore off half way through and they only wound up taking out 2 instead of al 4 so I have to go back again...

NOT happy!

Grim! I had two wisdom teeth out in the chair and two out under GA. I am a compete dental wimp despite having had major jaw surgery and braces!

Can I just check how to fit a soft cup maternity bra? I am trying some on from Debenhams and measured a 34FF, but was also recommended to try 34G. On both sizes I'm getting quite a hefty cleavage and the centre bit of the bra isn't flat against my breastbone. Should it be? Or is that only with underwire? I'm getting a proper cleavage line and the centre of the bra is hovering in between. Is that right? The 34FF is very comfy but I look like someone who is about to breastfeed a dozen babies!

You won't get the same fit and support with soft cups, no. Sure you even need one? I'm 37 weeks and have been wearing underwire without any problems.

Hi there
I have been through various sizes of non wire and wired bras over the past few years! After surgery I had to wear non wire and I agree with Hazlenutt, you never get the same fit and support with soft cups.
I am bit late coming in on this thread but I can't emphasise enough, a good professional fit is essential.
I though I had a fantastic fitting after implants but then went to Rigby and Peller, another league!! Ok so I had to spend some money but what a service! Do it, you wont regret it

After surgery non-wire is essential I agree - but otherwise I am just not a fan!

A good professional fit is ideal but unfortunately they're not actually that easy to get - so many places still doing it wrong.

Hi All - Me again! Hope you are feeling better Stat and your Hampsteads aren't giving you too much jip :)

Right - so i went to Debenhams and armed myself with lots of 36d bras. The plunge and t-shirt ones were awful. The balcony (or is it balconette? is there a difference?) styles fit best. The cups were fine - even my smaller boob sat right after a lot of hoiking. BBBUUUUUUT the back fat was awful. Some i could hardly breath in. I know i have got used to massive backs but I refuse to go out with such hideous back lumps. I looked like some old meat you'd see tied up in the butchers. I'd rather go bra-less than look so pudgy.

I am a little overweight (about 8lbs) and am a 14-16, but i'm 5ft 10, so not massively out of proportion. I admit i carry the pudge on my back and arms, so even when a size 12 i have back blubber.

Is this it? Nice boobs and fat back? or bad boobs and nice back? is that my choice forever

Did you try scooping the back fat like a demented possessed lady? This is normally the solution (have a look at the blog for proof!)

Don't get me wrong, I still have a little back fat but it's worse in a too big bra.

Oh..hang on...Debenhams...were the bad ones from the "gorgeous" range by any chance?

i did scoop, but the majority of the fat is right round the back so i can't scoop that far! Not sure on the ranges, i picked them up up all over the place. the tightest one was a Freya tho, i couldn't breath in it :(

OK, try going up to a 38, but I would also suggest trying a 36DD. Quite often when you aren't able to scoop more in it's because you've run out of cup room. It also makes the back fat worse - if the cup is a little neat (and it's not always immediately obvious) then it borrows fabric from the back making it feel tighter than it is.

if i go up to a 38 should i go down to a c? The d cups were still quite roomy even with all the scraping. I just can't see how it is possible to get fat from right round my back into my bra cup

What is the blog you mentioned? maybe i'm not doing it right.

Observe the scary backfat here

Scooping - the way I do it is:

Put the bra on by slipping my arms through the straps, leaning forward, dropping breasts in to the cups and then fastening at the back. Then:
Lean right forward. Take right hand, put it inside left cup and reach round as far as you can. Quite forcefully grab all soft tissue/fat that is hanging around both below and above the strap and drag it forward in to the cups. I do this standing side on to a mirror as it makes sure I get it all. Do the same with the other cup. You might need to do it again (as doing the second side dislodges the first a little) just to get any that slips back out.

Yes that's the way i scoop. i have looked at the backfat pics - wow. But my fat was between the straps too. The bras i wear atm are more like crop tops which fasten. so i think the wideness of the band holds it all in.

bravado

That is going to feel quite different. What about a longline bra? Would that help possibly? for example

Something to bare in mind is that most bras stretch quite a bit when new. However, it might be worth considering something like the curvy kate Showgirls (particularly tease me, thrill me, entice and fleurty) which are available at brastop. They have particularly soft stretchy backs and are balconettes so may suit you

I know :( i love feeling as tho i'm not even wearing a bra. But now i've stopped bfing and want to wear nicer clothes the front is far too high for all my tops.

I think i'm destined to be uncomfortable forever :(

I'll have a look at those you recommended, thanks for your patience.

The switch is going to feel very odd and take a while to get used to. We have had quite a few ladies who have gone through an intermediate size as the change from old size to new was too much for them to do in one go. If you think they might well be right in future then the other thing to consider is getting an extender (couple of pounds on ebay) to wear while the bras loosen off and you get used to it

thanks, yes i have loads of them and i wear them on my 38 & 40s . i'm such a baby, i can't do wearing shoes in either!

StatisticallyChallenged I think I love you.

Bra extenders! I have new bras and they are comfortable.

I didn't believe you at first - sorry . 34E dies fit not the 38B I was told by m&s. however, an E cup in m&s means a granny bra.

I want a nude plunge push-up. Not hugely expensive please. My boobs are very wide-set and balcony a never fit

Can anyone suggest a bra please?

Sorry for my garbled message. Was posting and making breakfast for kids. I am 34E as you all said. I am not 38B as m&s said.

M&S bras really aren't great for larger cups TBH.

are you after a T-shirt/smooth bra? If so, you could try the Freya Deco, the Wonderbra t-shirt bra (also called Wonderbra everyday), the Curvy Kate smoothie, Fantasie Rebecca or the Curvy Kate Daily Boost.

Not a smooth cup and more of an ivory but the Bravissimo Satine is a lovely bra.

These are a little more than an M&S bra - I think the Satine is £29 for example and only available from Bravissimo, but the others are sold in lots of places so you might be able to get them a little cheaper. Figleaves has 20% off everything just now which makes the Deco £24 for eg. so not much in it and there is a huge difference in quality

Gurus, are any of you also on the Reddit ABraThatFits?
www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits

The measuring system is more complicated, but the idea is the same. Thousands of women discovering there as well that they are, in fact, not 36AA like Victoria's Secret told them.

Oh and an interesting link here, if it has not been posted yet:
www.brabandproject.com/gallery/search?band=28&cup=G&age=&brand=&sister_sizes=0&search=Search

To counter all those "but that cup is huuuuge! I can't possibly be that cup!"

I'm over there occasionally - from what I have seen the multiple measurements doesn't seem to get them much closer and confuses people a wee bit but I could be wrong. I think the basic idea is the same though. I feel so sorry for the women on it trying to find big cup sizes in the US.

If you ever need to sell bras then the reddit braswap site pretty much chews your hand off