Think I've measured incorrectly for bra intervention, can anyone help please?

[StarsInTheNightSky]

After having DS I just can't find comfortable bras anymore. I tried to give the bra intervention a go, but I don't think I've done it correctly. I measured under my bust (36") and then bent forwards ninety degrees and measured around the fullest part, which gave me 46" with the tape measure pulled tight.

I'm currently wearing a 36d, but it's very uncomfortable, underwire cuts in, boobs spill out of cups, back fat and armpit fat etc. I've been putting off buying any new bras as I thought they would shrink after birth, but they haven't at all, if anything they're slightly bigger/plumper if that makes sense. I ff from birth and DS is now 5 months old, our GP told me last week that they wouldn't shrink now
Its difficult for me to go and be measured as DS will not go in his pushchair and likes to be in his mei tai sling all the time.

I told a friend about my measurements and she laughed and said no way was my bust that big. It seems pretty big to me, but now I'm not sure. Would anyone be able to tell me which bra size I should be wearing please?

With those measurements, try 36G or 36GG

OK that's great thanks, I got that in the measurements, but it seemed huge so I though I'd done something wrong! Thanks again

Sounds like your friend needs an intervention...

You're not supposed to pull the tape tight around the over bust measurement. If you did, you might need another cup size bigger. It's also worth trying the back size down as well, so try 36 G/GG/H and 34GG/H/HH, across various brands and styles.

pasta I have suggested it but she seems convinced that it's just a plot for smaller busted women to feel like they're got bigger boobs

Time oh rats, I knew I'd find something wrong! In that case the measurement comes out as 47.5".

Sorry, I should also have thanked everyone for the advice.

You'll want to try 36 H/HH and 34 HH/J as a starting point then.

That's brilliant thanks, I'll have a look online and see what's about. Thank you so much for your help, hopefully no more painful bras for me

It does sound from the description like your bra is several cups too small - overspill, armpit fat and backfat adds up to a good few extra cups needed normally. A single cup too small is actually very subtle -normally either a small bump under a t shirt or a little bit of armpit pudge depending on your shape. By the time you've got to the "spilling out of cups" stage, that is normally 2-3 cups too small at least. Plus armpits etc...

Your friend has probably been measured by somewhere like M&S so thinks a DD is massive and a G cup is Katie Price - it's very common. It'll be harder for her to argue once you have a new bra which encases your breasts fully but which clearly isn't empty!

Statistically the idea of being able to get rid of the backfat and armpit pudge and being comfortable just by wearing a different bra size is music to my ears . I always just thought that bras were supposed to be uncomfortable and that none of them fitted properly. I'm really hoping that they'll look a bit more shapely too, at the minute I seem to vary between looking like a nun or like Dolly Parton!

Yes, it think you're spot on there! I had a look at the real bra size link that was posted in a another thread and I was amazed, it completely changes your view! Thank you so much for your advice, I'm quite excited now .