Bras - help me out here people

[Mij]

I'm looking for normal bras that won't give my minimally-active boobs blocked ducts/mastitis. I don't need a nursing bra during the day any more, but I'm wearing them as they're the only ones I've got that give me sensible support (my old ones seem a bit bouncy now :-/). I'm not well endowed - a 34/36 b/c depending on the cut and make - and don't do lace.

Any tips on type? All the non-wired normal ones I've seen look like they're designed for pensioners. Which shop? ANY help gratefully received!

What are your actual under and over bust measurements Mij?

sorting out the size is crucial and could be causing the issues. measure under your busy in inches very firmly. then bra off lean forward so boobs are hanging at ninety degrees and measure round the biggest part. post measurements here

I have a similar question, am coming to the end of bf-ing so would like nice new bras that fit my now-saggy boobs
I've just measured and I'm 30" under bust and 34" across. Does this make me a 30D then? I was always a 34B before DC

I'm guessing I need to go back to underwired for a bit of support.

yes gad start with a 30d. you were probably never s 34b

Hi everyone

Sorry, stupid time to post, I was at work and then couldn't get back to the thread.

StatisticallyChallenged I will go and measure again, but tbh, despite repeat measurings by supposedly qualified bra fitters (NCT excepted) I've never had a comfy bra when I bought what I was told was right rather than what felt right iyswim. So now I just take a variety of sizes into the changing room and just keep on trying. Today, in John Lewis, I found 1 34C that was comfy and one that was agony, and similarly with 36Cs, except one was too big around the chest. The fabric makes a big difference - stretchy vs not. I also seem to have a weird issue with 'top boob' and always have done - you know when despite everything else being a perfect fit the top seam seems to dig in a little to create the attractive 4 boob look? If I go up a size it's way too big, so I tend to have to go for t-shirt bra-style, but I'm not that keen on padding.

OH WHY AM I SO FUSSY?!

I'll find that measuring tape...

that doesn't surprise me tbh as most in store fitters suck. from the issue you describe I am going to hazard a guess that you have breasts which are fuller on top which can cause quad boob very easily and you need to get the right shape of bra. I am like this so once we have an idea of size will suggest a few

Right, 34" under boobs. Found measuring over a trial with sticky out nips. When I measured leaning forwards I got 40, but standing upright 38. Was I supposed to be, well, pulling them in at all leaning over? I didn't, I just went with the dangle. Never measured like that before.

But Travelincolour how can I need a bigger size when one of the 34C was baggy at the side? Plus I only get quad boob with certain styles: the stiffer cupped ones don't so it but I'm not keen on the padding. Pft, I hate bra shopping even more than jeans shopping. Maybe try a bigger cup in the non-padded..?

mij, do you scoop when you put your bra on?

grab one of the 34cs. pop it on. Now, stand side on to a mirror and lean forward. see any lumps you have under the arm, over or under the back strap and around the straps-that all belongs in the cup. slide your right hand inside the left cup, reach round and quite forcefully pull it all in to the cups. The edge of the wire should be sitting on the firmest bit rather than on soft tissue. repeat on the other side-then have a look. If the bra actually fits you should be totally encased in the cup with no bulges in the centre, underarm, or back.

I kind of jiggle in, so I lean forward and jiggle bra and boobs so they're properly in as far as I can tell. But I'm trying not to wear wires, which means the shape tends to be more 'sidey' than 'fronty' - does that even make sense? - cos there's nothing firm to keep them in at the sides.

OK, avoiding wires will make it trickier but just jiggling probably isn't enough tbh. It certainly isn't for me - you do need to actually pull everything in. But with non wires that could well explain why you aren't getting the obvious quad boob you'd expect from wearing too small a cup as everything will be escaping side ways rather than front.

It might be worth trying wires bras in the size suggested. combine with scooping and you should see a huge difference. It's perfectly safe to wear wires when feeding - the reason it is sometimes advised against is that many women are wearing the wrong bra (too small a cup very common) and this means that the wire sits on breast tissue which can cause problems. If the wire is big enough and fully encasing then it's totally fine :)

I love the non-wired teen bra range in John Lewis. The cups are firm but comfortable. A revelation! I just can't see why we would choose to have metal rings in our clothes and expect it to be comfortable. As you can see, I have something of the zeal of a convert here, but am experiencing serious joy of bras!

Hmm. Need to do more trying on. Will also try the scoop. PMSL at 'escaping out the side'. I'm still finding it hard to believe I'm a d or e cos I'm really not in any way busty supported or unsupported. I do understand the placing of wires thing and I am wearing my old (36c) wired ones occasionally, but I'm just a bit suspicious of anything too stiff. Thanks for help everyone. Will try to do an M&S trip in lunch hour next week & report back. I'm sure you're all gripped...

Just don't let M&S fit you whatever you do!

I agree with stats! Been buying bras there for years and recently discovered they'd measured me wrong. I found debenhams are the best and have a good range of sizes.

Like I said, every time I've been measured by anyone, excluding NCT, I've left the shop with something uncomfortable that I've worn maybe twice. Which is why I'm a bit cynical about the measuring thing at all and just take a range of sizes and styles into the fitting room and just get what feels best, like I do with all clothes tbh.

Oh, didn't scoop today as happily bra free. Big meeting tomorrow though so will have to be supported

honestly until I discovered bravissimo that was me. my bras were like instruments of torture.

the issue I had was that the size I was being fitted as was so far off my real size that when I was trying things on I was doing sizes around the one I was fitted too. except when you are told you need a 36d -me at 19- and in reality you are a 30g my trials weren't even in the right ball park!

in my fairly large city there is only one shop-two if I get lucky with a good assistant-who will fit properly. The rest are all bloody useless

whilst I do think wires are better fit wise long term you could maybe try the Freya deco soft cup as an in between, it has quite a good reputation.

I promise I will try the bigger cup sizes. And I maybe need to steer clear of the t-shirt bras cos even the C cup looked like I was wearing a breast plate and I just felt silly. Really appreciate all the help, will report back