How to Find a Bra for Post-Baby Breasts
Any woman who's ventured into a Victoria's Secret post-partum (and post-nursing) knows the pain: suddenly your breasts have shifted. Top volume has been lost, bottom volume has increased, and the fitter thinks you're crazy for wanting a bigger cup size. Fear not. Try out these tips, and soon you'll look forward to lingerie shopping again.
Things You'll Need:
Tape measure
Courage
Variety of bras for fitting
Step
1
Find your bra size. Maddeningly, this is only an estimate, worse even than finding a jeans size. Stick the tape measure under your armpits and draw it across the very top of your chest. If it's odd, add 1"; that's your band size. If it's even, that's your band size.
Step
2
Figure out your cup size. Put on your best fitting (not terribly padded) bra and put the tape measure around the middle of your chest over the cups. Why wear a bra for this? If you're like most moms, gravity and childbirth has, um, lowered your center (and if it hasn't, why are you reading this?). Wearing a bra will give you a better sizing. Subtract the band size number from that number; if the difference is 1", your cup size is A. 2" is B, 3" C, 4" D, and so on.
Step
3
Find a bunch of bras that you like. Demi-bras and push-up bras often work nicely for post-partum chests. Because the demi-bra only holds the bottom half, it creates volume up on top. There are even full-coverage push-ups these days. Underwires have the best support. Regular bras are often loose in the upper cup after a baby. Get a selection, and don't forget to get a variety of sizes, because manufacturers vary. So if one 36D looks a little small in the cup, go ahead and try the DD. If it looks too big, try a size down. Nobody knows except you.
Step
4
Determine if the bra fits well. Nothing should gape; the band should sit straight across your back and front. If the band is going up in the back, go up a band size. A well-fitting bra should fit on the loosest hook; the band will stretch. The bra cups should not be cutting into your flesh, nor should there be any side-spillage-- go up a cup size if this is happening. Don't forget the breast tissue in the armpits; sometimes underwires cut in there.
Step
5
If there is loose material at the top of the breast but it fits fine at the bottom of your breast, try a different style rather than size. Remember, breasts come in all shapes and sizes, and not all bras can accommodate your uniqueness.
Step
6
Your nipple should be about halfway between your shoulder and your elbow. Adjust the straps to see if this bra will make that happen. If not, move on. Larger breasts often need wider straps for more support.
Step
7
Assess and reassess. Is the fabric comfy? Does it offer enough coverage? Are there seams in weird, itchy places? Put a shirt on over it; if you mainly wear T-shirts, will this bra be smooth enough?
Tips & Warnings
Buy at least three bras: one to wear, one to wash, and one on reserve.
If you lose or gain a few pounds, resize.
Buy the prettiest bra you can. It's a mood lifter even when you're picking up Cheerio crumbs.
If you're self-conscious about losing volume after your baby, try a gel bra. They look (and feel) great.
Don't settle! Never buy a bra just because it was on sale, or because it kind of fit, but you think it's really ugly. You'll never wear it anyway if you don't like it.
Tell the fitter to take a hike. Most fitters don't take the whole volume/shifting thing into consideration. If you find a fitter that does, tell them to wear a special badge so the rest of us can find them.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2101111_bra-postbaby-breasts.html
Any woman who's ventured into a Victoria's Secret post-partum (and post-nursing) knows the pain: suddenly your breasts have shifted. Top volume has been lost, bottom volume has increased, and the fitter thinks you're crazy for wanting a bigger cup size. Fear not. Try out these tips, and soon you'll look forward to lingerie shopping again.
Things You'll Need:
Tape measure
Courage
Variety of bras for fitting
Step
1
Find your bra size. Maddeningly, this is only an estimate, worse even than finding a jeans size. Stick the tape measure under your armpits and draw it across the very top of your chest. If it's odd, add 1"; that's your band size. If it's even, that's your band size.
Step
2
Figure out your cup size. Put on your best fitting (not terribly padded) bra and put the tape measure around the middle of your chest over the cups. Why wear a bra for this? If you're like most moms, gravity and childbirth has, um, lowered your center (and if it hasn't, why are you reading this?). Wearing a bra will give you a better sizing. Subtract the band size number from that number; if the difference is 1", your cup size is A. 2" is B, 3" C, 4" D, and so on.
Step
3
Find a bunch of bras that you like. Demi-bras and push-up bras often work nicely for post-partum chests. Because the demi-bra only holds the bottom half, it creates volume up on top. There are even full-coverage push-ups these days. Underwires have the best support. Regular bras are often loose in the upper cup after a baby. Get a selection, and don't forget to get a variety of sizes, because manufacturers vary. So if one 36D looks a little small in the cup, go ahead and try the DD. If it looks too big, try a size down. Nobody knows except you.
Step
4
Determine if the bra fits well. Nothing should gape; the band should sit straight across your back and front. If the band is going up in the back, go up a band size. A well-fitting bra should fit on the loosest hook; the band will stretch. The bra cups should not be cutting into your flesh, nor should there be any side-spillage-- go up a cup size if this is happening. Don't forget the breast tissue in the armpits; sometimes underwires cut in there.
Step
5
If there is loose material at the top of the breast but it fits fine at the bottom of your breast, try a different style rather than size. Remember, breasts come in all shapes and sizes, and not all bras can accommodate your uniqueness.
Step
6
Your nipple should be about halfway between your shoulder and your elbow. Adjust the straps to see if this bra will make that happen. If not, move on. Larger breasts often need wider straps for more support.
Step
7
Assess and reassess. Is the fabric comfy? Does it offer enough coverage? Are there seams in weird, itchy places? Put a shirt on over it; if you mainly wear T-shirts, will this bra be smooth enough?
Tips & Warnings
Buy at least three bras: one to wear, one to wash, and one on reserve.
If you lose or gain a few pounds, resize.
Buy the prettiest bra you can. It's a mood lifter even when you're picking up Cheerio crumbs.
If you're self-conscious about losing volume after your baby, try a gel bra. They look (and feel) great.
Don't settle! Never buy a bra just because it was on sale, or because it kind of fit, but you think it's really ugly. You'll never wear it anyway if you don't like it.
Tell the fitter to take a hike. Most fitters don't take the whole volume/shifting thing into consideration. If you find a fitter that does, tell them to wear a special badge so the rest of us can find them.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2101111_bra-postbaby-breasts.html
