Big boobs, back pain. Comfortable supportive bras needed.

[misspym]

I'm really desperate for some help in the bra department. I don't find any of my current bras comfortable but without a bra for even a few minutes I start to get horrible upper back pain.

I am a 36FF, possibly G cup depending on the bra.

I have very saggy boobs following 2 pregnancies, years of breastfeeding and a whopping case of pre and post natal depression during which I struggled to get dressed and often went for long periods without a bra which proved disastrous for my heavy boobs.

I am fairly confident in my size. Pre-intervention I was wearing a 40DD/38E which did nothing for me.

My best current bra is a Fantasie with side support. I think I need side support but the side boning in the the bra I have seems to be too long (I'm a short bodied 5'2)

I've tried Elomi but the bra I have from them is a huge heavy thing and not at all comfortable.

Has anyone any recommendations? I need some every day bras and possibly something to wear in bed.

Thanks

Can you tell us what your measurements are? I know you say you think your size is right BUT upper back pain is almost always due to the straps taking too much of the strain, which causes you to (unconsciously) hunch forward.

Maybe rather than side support (likely to be tricky for someone short bodied) a proper half cup/balconette with quite wide cups would work better - I'm think something like the Freya Patsy half cup, or Bravissimo own brand half cups.

Have you been and had a proper fitting OP? Even if your bras are technically the right size they just might not suit the shape of your boobs iykwim?

I've had good fitting experiences with Bravissimo, John Lewis and House of Fraser. Bravissimo are my favourite.

I'm 37 inches under bust and 44.5 inches over. I haven't done the leaning forward measurement because my tape isn't long enough!

I haven't been for a fitting. I'm not in the UK and there is no where around here I could go but I will get a chance to go in the next couple of months

I really need a couple of bras to tide me over til then though.

OK, in the absence of an overbust measurements, few checks on fit that might help narrow things down:

Pop your current bra on back to front then pull the band away from your body. How far does it stretch away from you?

Now, put it on the right way round - lean forward and drop your breasts in to the cup. Then take your right hand, put it inside the left cup and reach round towards your underarm and scoop/pull/yank forward all the soft tissue you find there. All of it. Repeat on other side.

Now, look at the fit:
-are the shoulder straps digging in? If so, loosen them off, you should be able to slide two fingers underneath them;
-is the central gore sitting flat between your breasts?

• do you have any overspill over the top of the cups?

-do you have "lumps" at your armpits? -how is the wire sitting relative to your breast tissue? It should run directly outside of your breast tissue - there shouldn't be boob-gap-wire but there also shouldn't be wire on boob! -How is the back sitting? Is it horizontal, riding up...?

Ah didn't realise you weren't in the UK. There are some good online fitting guides you could look at. Also Bravissimo customer services are very good at advising over the phone.

Hope you can get sorted. You sound so uncomfortable.

I don't understand this leaning forward measurement I keep seeing on here when measuring bra size?

Also it depends on the shop, you can know your size but I've found mine differs in each shop.

Why not go to a department store like John Lewis / Debenhams and try a few different ones on and ask advice there?

Thanks soul. I probably should have mentioned that in my first post.

Thanks Tulip. I can't get to a store at the moment so have to try online for now.

statistically I've done all that. Front gore is sitting well, no overspill, no armpit lumps. I have it fastened to second tightest at the moment and can pull away a couple of inches from body.

I think the fit of this bra is quite good it is just the side support sort of crumples and gets painful after a while.

I think I am guilty of not having the shoulder straps tight enough so I must pay more attention to that.

this is the side support one

I have this one too and although it is the same size as the other one I have I think the cups are a little small.[[http://www.figleaves.com/uk/product/FE-001022/Fantasie-Lois-Underwired-Bra-With-Side-Support/?size=&colour=Black]]

Frocks and Froufrou's latest blog post was about a bra style I've never seen before, Shapeez . They seem very expensive but I wonder if the wide back wouldn't be nice for someone who suffers from back pain.

I would say that Prima Donna are the most comfortable bra's around. I'm a 36GG and have tried a fair few bras in my time!. Deauville is their classic best seller, followed by the Madison which I prefer due to the rounder shape. They are not cheap at all, but I justify it on a cost per wear and comfort factor as totally worth it.

I wear this one during the day (just recommended it on another thread, can't rate it highly enough)

www.bravissimo.com/m/#products/lingerie/t-shirt-bras/smoothing-balconette-bra/nude/fa53nu/

And this one at night

www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/playtex-soft-cup-bra/QX484/product/details/show.action?pdBoUid=4146&ifpla:&ci_sku=QX48440&ci_src=18615224&ifdyn:&promo=6230&cm_mmc=Googlebase--Simplybe--Product%20Feeds-_-na&gclid=CL_K49yojswCFRSeGwod9kYOsg#colour:White,size:

Looks like that model has the big-boobed bra model market pretty much sewn up

Bravissimo own range have short boning in the sides! :D i get that problem too as i am only 4ft 11 and currently a 36GG lol I picked up this one www.bravissimo.com/products/lingerie/sensational-sets/alana-bra/white/au01wh/?colour=white-ivory-cream&brand=bravissimo the other day and that was what the assitant told me as the first one she tried (different brand same size) was poking me on the arm pit lol. i found it true to size :)

If they're at 2nd hook and you can pull them a few inches, you might get more support from a 34 band.

Have you tried Freya longline bras? They have a very wide bra band and are amazingly supportive.

Thanks for the replies.

I measure 37 inches under bust so can't get my head round sizing down to a 34 band. I am quite overweight and squishy on top so that's probably why I can stretch quite a bit.

I love the look of the Shapeez bras but the price and delivery cost and then probably custom charges would render them well out of my price range.

I like the look of the Bravissimo Alana. Might try one of those.

I will also investigate Freya and Prima Donna.

Looking at the existing styles you have and your shape description, I'd recommend trying a Bravissimo Melrose or Wild Rose over the Alana. You'll probably need it a couple of cups bigger than your Fantasie ones as their own brand styles are not anywhere near as generous but the support is great and the wires are short.

I am 36ff and swear by Freya balconette. Nice wide straps, side support nd actually pretty.