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Is measuring your breast important?

#1

Is measuring your breast important?
January 19 2007 at 10:52 AM The eyes have it (no login)

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To me it seems an unnecessary subject, you know whether you have a handful, more than a handful, whatever. Why measure?



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diana
(Login Diana1978)
SENIOR MEMBER hi January 21 2007, 3:41 PM


For a couple of reasons. To get a correctly fitting bra and to document any increase or decrease in size. Hope this helps.


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Vicky A
(Login VickyA) Re: Is measuring your breast important? January 22 2007, 8:25 PM


It's commonly said that most women are wearing the wrong bra size, even as many as 70%. If that's true, most women would be a lot better off if they measured accurately, so yes it can be very useful to measure.


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TGL
(no login) Important For All Women - " Right Bra Size " September 12 2008, 6:36 AM


Did you know that 70-85% of women wear the wrong size bra? Did you also know that wearing the right bra can immediately make you look like you’ve lost 10 pounds and had an increase in bust size? To make sure you’re not one of the 70-85% of women making this major fashion fau-paux, read on to learn how to pick the right bra for you!

Typically, in order to find your bra size you take into consideration two measurements, band size and cup size. For most bra sizing that is it. The problem with this type of standardized measuring is that doesn’t account for atypical women. What if your sizing measurements don’t fit into the standardized chart? Or heaven forbid, you fall between sizes…now what do you do? The other hidden truth is the misconception that band size and cup size are independent of each other. Most women just go with band size first, (ie 32, 34, etc0, then pull several cup sizes in that number and begin trying on. The one with the “best” cup fit usually wins and off to the checkout counter we go

Finding the right size bra is often a trouble for many women; estimates are that about 80% of women wear the wrong size bra. This is not healthy for your breasts - especially if breasts are in too tight a bra.

Let your breasts have free time from bras daily - it's best to have spend more than 12 hours of your day bra-free. This will help the lymph flow inside your breasts. And when choosing a bra, try get yourself fitted by a professional.

A part of these bra fitting tips below have been submitted to us by a professional bra fitter.

What to know about getting a bra fitting:
The band size (or chest size) is the number part of your bra size. The cup size is the letter part. EX: if you are in a 36 B, then 36 is the band and B is the cup.
You are not going to get as good of a measurement as someone else would by measuring yourself. Let someone else measure you.
A measurement CAN be done over the bra you are wearing AND over your T-shirt. If you plan on getting fitted, don't wear a thick shirt like a sweatshirt or sweater.
If you have large and/or sagging breasts, then when the person is taking your band measurement, you should pull up on your bra's shoulder straps so that she can get the measuring tape under your breast for an accurate measurement.
EX: I had 2 different sale ladies "fit" me a year ago. One did not have me pull up on my straps and told me I was a 44DD. The size seemed to work but I was messing with my bra all day long and the wire kept poking me. I went back and a second lady "fitted" me and had me pull up on my straps and came out with a 40 DDD, which turned out to be my "true" size. The wire stopped hurting me and I stopped messing with my bra while I wore it.
If you wear a bra with padding or stuff your bra, then you are not going to get an accurate measurement. If you plan on getting fitted, wear a bra without padding.
Not all fittings will tell you the "right" size, but will give you a good place to start at usually.
Try on different styles of bras. Every style fits and feels different and can "shape" your breast differently.
Don't rush trying on bras. Really pay attention to how they fit and feel. Go bra shopping when you know you have the TIME for it. Many women have had to take up to an hour or more trying on several different sizes and styles to find the bra that gave them the fit and feel they wanted.
If your bra fits correctly, it should NOT be painful or uncomfortable to wear.
Finding the band size
There is NO consensus in these measurement methods (unfortunately). Different opinions exist. So no matter what measuring system you use, you still need to try the garment on to be sure it actually fits.

Have someone measure around your chest with a tape measure, just under your breasts, and around the back. Make sure the tape measure rests flat on the skin and goes straight across your back. The most common advice is to add 5 inches to this measurement - and then that is your band size (also called chest size).

BUT adding only 2-3 inches (instead of 5) can work better for many women - if you need the support to come more from below, rather than hanging off the shoulders. The above breast chest measure can also be a guide.

If you end up with an odd number, go up to the next even number, since bras usually only come in even-numbered band sizes.

Finding the cup size
Measuring the cup size is trickier; even with a measurement it is better to try on different bras and find out experimentally which one fits.

Have someone measure you again, this time the measuring tape goes on top of the fullest part of your breasts. If you already own a well-fitting non-padded bra, you can wear it while taking this measurement as long as it doesn't 'flatten' your breasts (which would make an illusion of a smaller cup size). Record this number, and find the difference between that, and the band-size number. The difference tells you the correct cup size as follows:

Difference:
(inches) negative < 1 1" 2" 3" 4" 5" 6" 7"
Cup size AAAA or AAA AA A B C D DD or E DDD or F DDDD or G

Remember again, bra measuring is not exact science. And how could it be when women's breasts come in so many different shapes and sizes? Usually one breast is bigger than the other, they might sag, etc. So the fitting room tells you the truth; not the tape measure. You have to try the bra on. If it fits right, that's your bra size even if the tape measure told you different.

How to tell if your bra fits correctly.
It should fit snugly around. You ought to be able to fit one or two fingers under the band comfortably. If you are pulling down the back strap or pulling up on the shoulder straps throughout the day, then the band size (the # part of your bra size) is too big.
Can you fit 1 or 2 fingers comfortably? If yes, then the band is right size.
If you're having a hard time putting one finger under the band, then move the hooks to the loosest fitting eyes. If it is still tight on the loosest fitting, then try on one in the next up band size.
If the band can easily be pulled away from your body, or if the band rises up your back, then go down one in the band size.
If you are wearing an underwire bra, the wire that comes up between the breasts should lay flat (or as close as possible) to your breast bone. If you are wearing a bra with no underwire, you should have two separate breasts, not just a "one big boob".
If the bra is a soft cup bra, you shouldn't have any extra, gapping fabric. If the bra is a molded cup you shouldn't have any extra room in the cup. Your breast should completely fill the cup. If it is gapping and the band feels fine, then go down in the cup size.
You don't want to be spilling out of the cup - not from the top, bottom or sides. If the band feels fine then go up a cup size.
If you raise your arms up (do this a few times), the bra should stay against your body, not lifting up or off. If this happens try a few things;
adjust the shoulder straps by loosing them
Pay attention to the band. Is it too tight? Or too loose? Or just right?
If the band is just right, and adjusting the shoulder straps didn't work, then go up a cup size.
If you have a small frame or are petite, and you find a bra that fits the band, and you don't quite fill the cup and you have already tried the next cup size down and it's still not quite right - OR if the you have the "right" size, the band fits and you fill the cup, but the wire is poking your underarms, then try a Demi bra. A Demi style bra is different from a full coverage bra. The Demi has less wire, by about an inch or more.
Try on different styles of bras. Every style fits and fills different and can "shape" your breast differently.
If your bra fits correctly, it should NOT be painful or uncomfortable to wear.
For the dads out there helping their girls to shop for a bra:
Just like boxers and briefs and jockstraps are all very different in fit and comfort for you, for her every bra is different and there are hundreds of bra styles to choose from.
Don't rush her. Let her try on as many bras as she needs too to find what is right for her.

The early undergarments, such as brassieres and corsets, were used to make the waist extremely small and the breasts flat and formless. Luckily, these pieces of clothing are not in vogue anymore. Nowadays, bras and undergarments are created to protect and enhance the bust and support the upper torso. Gone are the days when you have to make your breasts as inconspicuous as possible and your waist as tiny as the circumference of a solo-sized pizza.
But despite the recent technological advances in the bra industry, there are still a lot of women who do not know how to choose the right type, size and cup to use. Hence, many are suffering in silence because their bras are small, deformed, and even unsightly. Perhaps, the average Jane is still not comfortable about asking the help of sales specialists in lingerie stores.

It is important to note that having ill-fitted bras and undergarments is not only an issue of beauty and appearance; it also poses some health risks, such as back pains, bruises, and other potentially serious diseases.

Six Signs That You Badly Need To Replace Your Bra

1. You see red marks on your skin, particularly on the shoulders and at the back.

2. Your bra makes you slouch.

3. The centermost area of your bra does not reach your breastbone.

4. Your boobs swing and bounce every time you move.

5. The straps slip and fall off even after you tightened them.

6. When you raise your arm, your bra also goes up and leaves your bust half covered.

The above signs show that your bra does not fit you properly nor does it give the right support; it may even cause unnecessary health risks.

Health Risks

Wearing a bra that does not fit your cup or band size can actually cause rashes, headache, neck pain, pulled ligaments and back problems. If your breasts do not get the right amount of support from your undergarments, they tend to droop, bounce and go to places where you don't like them to go, such as your belly or underarms.

If you are into sports, you should also remember to wear a sports bra. Exercising and other strenuous activities can put a strain on your bust that may result to sagging, stretching, and a couple of pulled ligaments. Sports bras are specifically designed to provide utmost flexibility and maximum support, keeping your bust in shape and in place. Furthermore, the fabrics commonly used in this type of undergarment are breathable, which helps moisture and sweat stay outside the fabric. It must be stressed that you need to wear a sports bra every time you indulge in extreme physical activities and sports.

Best Style For Your Cup Size

Large Bust

For women who were endowed by nature with big and full breasts, you need to wear bra that has wide back and shoulder straps so that you will get the highest support. It would also be advisable to steer away from half cups because these might give an appearance of you having four breasts. A full cup, on the other hand, gives enough coverage and helps make your breasts look shapelier. A bra with an underwire is also appropriate for you.

Small Chest

For a curvy shaped, slightly lifted, and gorgeous neckline, a woman with small bust should choose a balcony-type bra. To give the appearance of cleavage, half cups with padding beneath and at the sides of the bust should be worn.


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Moon
(Login -Moon-)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: Is measuring your breast important? October 10 2008, 10:05 PM


There is not a signle measurment --> size formula that will work for everyone. Bra fitting is the most accurate method of determining your size. So I think measuring is only useful to monitor growth, but that purpose is very important.
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#2

Wearing the right bra could prevent breast operations
June 3 2008 at 7:31 AM Black Sheep (no login)

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Bra fitting clinics in hospitals could prevent thousands of unnecessary and expensive breast reduction operations every year, it is claimed.

A London hospital offering bra checks says so far, none of the women tested has been wearing the correct cup size.

This can lead to pain in the neck, back and shoulders, say doctors, sometimes so severe that women seek surgery.

A leading breast surgeon said women tended to over-estimate by up to three cup sizes when buying a bra.

Reduction surgery is frequently requested by large-breasted women who are suffering discomfort, and is available on the NHS in some areas, although many women opt to pay for the operation themselves at the cost of many thousands of pounds.

Approximately 10,000 women a year have breast reductions carried out privately in the UK.

However, Dr Alex Clarke, a clinical psychologist from the Royal Free Hospital in London, said that this could be money wasted, when all that was really needed was a better-fitting bra.

She said: "Women have the opportunity to be properly fitted by an expert bra fitter when they visit the clinic.

"This may be the first proper fitting they have had.

"To date, 100% of those fitted have been wearing the wrong size - this results in the weight of the breasts being carried by the shoulders rather than the chest and contributes to back pain."

Professor Kefah Mokbel, a consultant breast surgeon at St George's Hospital in London, agreed with Dr Clarke.

Last year he spoke at a British Medical Association conference calling for bra-fitting clinics to be routinely available on the NHS.

"Research suggests that women tend to underestimate the size of their back by up to four inches, and overestimate their cup size by up to three sizes.

"Many breast symptoms related to discomfort in the neck and back are caused by ill-fitting bras.

"Patients present to specialists requesting breast reduction to relieve their symptoms, and current guidance in the NHS is that, if the patient has symptoms, breast reduction should be offered.

"However, many patients could be spared what is in fact major surgery by having a bra which is correctly fitted and offering them the right support."




Author Reply
Unknown sheep
(no login) Re: Wearing the right bra could prevent breast operations October 13 2008, 8:18 AM


Pretty much every year, a magazine, newspaper or TV news show will do the "you're probably wearing the wrong bra size" story. Women shop, all is solved. But! A newsflash from the UK: Wearing the wrong bra could damage your breasts, researchers say. A smattering of articles are using scare tactics about a new study: Scientists at the University of Portsmouth claim that wearing the wrong type of bra can lead to ligaments becoming irreparably stretched. Up to 95% of women are thought to be at risk — because "they are ignorant or embarrassed about their true bra size."

The head of this study, Dr. Joanna Scurr, tested 50 bra designs on hundreds of women over the last three years. She believes the speed at which breasts move could be the key to preventing breast pain (duh). The Daily Mail has pictures of the high-tech testing process: A woman in a sports bra on a treadmill is hooked up to a computer; a chart shows body movement and nipple movement. But what's not in any of these articles is why a woman should care about damaged breasts.
I'm no bra-burner. Lord knows I need all the (double D) support I can get. And certainly for sports and exercise, it feels better when the girls don't bounce around. But for eons, women lived without bras. (Without shirts, even.) Nipples hung down because that's what they're supposed to do. They're for spawn, not for pointing into the air in Playboy pictorials. But seriously: Besides discomfort from not wearing the right size bra — in which case you don't need a study, you just need a shopping trip — what is the "damage" we're supposed to get worked up about? Sagginess? Is drooping a medical condition now? (Oh, right, there is a surgical procedure for it, so it must be!) Clearly, it's important to wear the right size. But it's confusing why Dr. Joanna Scurr doesn't elaborate on the "damage" caused and whether the effects have an impact on womens' health. We may not want our boobs to be "stretched," but is the consequence purely cosmetic? (And, as an aside: Do any of the women selling us bras these days seem to be wearing their correct size?)
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