measuring your own maternity bra?

[sunshinefalls]

hi i decided to measure my bra size and done it via midwivesonline bra fitting guide

according to that im 40 b ??? well i was 34-36 c before pregnancy so how can this be right?

 

[kat2504]

Loads of these sites still have the outdated guidance to add 4 or 5 inches to your ribcage measurement. This doesn't apply to most bra makes anymore, and hasn't really since the invention of elastic.

You need to look at what is wrong with your current bra and change the size accordingly. For example if the cup is too small, go up to a D. Go up a ribcage measurement to a 36 if you are finding your bra too tight, and wear it on the tightest hook until you expand more.

Really the best thing to do is trial and error in a shop until you hit on a comfy size. Or get measured, but NOT in Marks and Spencer as they are crap at bra fitting and will also insist you are a 40b when you clearly are not.

 

[I-want-1-2]

I went into Mothercare to be measured and the woman was rubbish - I'm usually a 34D and she put me in a 38B which was completely wrong for my shape and didn't fit at all - when I questiond her, she spent 5 mins telling me how well it fitted! I went to Mamas and Papas instead, and was measured 36DD - my underwires were cutting into me, so I knew I needed to go up a cup size, and wanted to be able to close the maternity bra tighter at the back, as poster above said you need to be able to close it on the tightest fitting so you can expand (otherwise 34 would've been fine for a while longer) - no point buying a bra that will be tight in a few weeks. My tip is definately trial and error - unless you have gone much bigger, try the next cup and back size up and see where you go from there.

 

[kat2504]

Basically anywhere where they do bra-fitting with the tape measure and the old fashioned chart system will be giving you a crap fit. those fit charts just don't correspond to what the manufacturers are making any more.

I go to bravissimo and their fitters are excellent. Then I buy one bra from them and order cheaper online once I know my new size. They only really do D+ sizes though so not much use if you are a smaller person. John Lewis are not bad in my experience either.