Our lovely lady lumps go through a lot. Continually being pushed up, flattened down, wrestled in and out of constrictive, ill-fitting or unsupportive bras may be fine for youthful breasts that are still perky and pert, but after breastfeeding, an ill-fitting bra can easily become your worst enemy.
Finding the perfect bra isn’t easy and it’s hard to know where to start—push-up, t-shirt, balcony or bralette? Wire or no wire? Then there’s the sizing…while every brand is supposed to follow the same size guidelines, you can pretty much guarantee the same sized bra will feel different depending on the brand.
Faced with so many variables, women often stick to the same size they have always worn post-breastfeeding out of ease and habit despite the natural changes that happen to our breasts. In fact, a 2008 survey published in the journal Chiropractic & Osteopathy found that a staggering 80 percent of women are wearing a bra that is the wrong size and of these women, the majority (70 percent)
To put an end to uncomfortable bras and give your post-breastfeeding breast the support they need, here are a few pointers to help you get the right fit for your ‘new’ breasts.
Tips for a perfect fit
- The underwire should sit flat on your ribcage, not on the breast itself. If your breast sticks out from under the bra or is forming a ‘top bump’ out of the cup, or if your underwire sits atop the breast tissue below your armpit, you may need to go up a cup size.
- The top contour of the cup should lay along the natural shape of your breast. A gap between the bra and your chest may indicate you need to go down a cup size.
- The band should fit securely and comfortably on the largest setting. Most women will judge the band based on the tightest setting, but bras stretch over time and with washing. As they stretch you can tighten the band and prolong a good fit.
- Use the strap adjusters. They are there for a reason. Having the straps too loose means the band cannot support your breasts as it should.
- If you find your straps are digging into your shoulders, go down a band size. Most of the heavy lifting should be done by the band. If you are relying on the straps for support, the band may not be tight enough. If you wear a larger size and find the straps are constantly digging in despite wearing the correct sized band, you may need to invest in a bra with wider straps for the additional support.
If you have a larger bust, it’s even more important to ensure a proper fit as large breasts may be a contributing factor to changes in posture which can lead to musculoskeletal pain. Consulting a professional bra fitter will help bypass a lot of the hassle of finding your perfect bra, especially if you wear a size that is not well catered for.
However, if you find that your breasts still cause you to slump your shoulders or you continue to have back and neck pain despite wearing the correct size bra, you may need to consider other options such as physical therapy or even breast reduction surgery (like what’s performed at this breast reduction clinic in Melbourne).
Don’t ignore the signs of an ill-fitting bra and don’t put up with being uncomfortable. A properly fitted, supportive bra will ensure your lady lumps not only look, but feel lovely too!
