Rigby and Pellar (famous in London for fitting you with the correct bra size) quote that ‘80% of the customers who walk through our doors are wearing a bra too small in the cup and two big in the back'.
A recent UK survey also showed that almost 70% of women in the UK were either wearing the wrong size of didn't know their correct size….and that's when they're not even pregnant. So it’s little wonder that with your size changing monthly most pregnant women are getting it wrong without even knowing it.
In HK it’s even harder to get it right as there is the added problem of finding somewhere that can fit you correctly and then trying to find somewhere that carries your size. One way to get around this is to know how to fit yourself and to know what to look for and then order online.
Maternity lingerie has a few key differences from normal lingerie. It usually provides much better support which is why it’s important to start wearing the right underwear as soon as you find out you're pregnant. Something you'll hear a lot about is the debate about whether it’s safe to wear an under-wired bra when pregnant. Some doctors believe that the restrictive nature of the wire interferes with the milk glands as well as blood flow to your breasts. Others simply say that if you do continue to wear an under-wired bra then you simply have to make sure it sits well clear of any breast tissue (making the correct fitting even more important!!!).
Some fitting tips:
1. There is no such thing as a definitive bra size - your size can vary depending on the fit, style and fabric.
2. The back of your bra should hug the narrowest part of your back and be at the same level as the front (i.e. not ride up)
3. The under-wire should curve snugly around your breast and never cut into it. A test you can do is to push the wire of the bra when you have it on. If it feels soft, the wire is sitting on your breast tissue and you should try a larger cup size. If it feels hard, it is sitting on the ribcage and is therefore fitting you correctly.
4. Always fasten a new bra on the loosest hooks. The band should still be very snug. Wear and tear and washing will relax the fit. When this happens use the tighter hooks.
Fitting yourself at home:
1. Use a tape measure around your chest just below your breasts. Make sure the tape measure rests flat on your skin and goes straight across your back and take the measurement in inches.
2. If you are an odd number go up to the next round number. This is your BAND SIZE. Some stores will suggest adding 2 inches to this number. You'll know what's right when you try it on. Just remember that it should be really snug as bras stretch and as they do you should be able to tighten the back onto the next hook. If you’ve become used to wearing a bra that is too loose in the back it might feel very tight at first.
3. To find out your CUP size you need to measure yourself again this time going across the fullest part of your breast.
4. You then subtract BAND size from this new measurement and the difference indicates your CUP size. CONFUSED?
Ok here is an example: If your BAND size is 32 and then the size around fullest part of your breast is 36 then the difference is 4.
4 = D cup
This chart should help:
difference of 1 = A cup
difference of 2 = B cup
difference of 3 = C cup
Difference of 4 = D cup
Difference of 5 = DD or E cup
Difference of 6 = F cup
Difference of 7 = G cup
Now you know what size you are, but is there anywhere in HK you can buy a good maternity bra? One thing you shouldn't do is buy a bigger bra in anticipation of your changing size each month. Buy the right size as and when you need it.
Towards the end of your pregnancy if you want to rush out and buy a nursing bra the cup will need to be bigger than your current size by about a fist size (yup when your milk comes in your size can increase by your fist size ). The difference with a nursing bra is that it can unhook and allow you to breastfeed easily without having to take the whole bra off.
M&S
Queens Road central
NineMonths
www.ninemonthshk.com
Online from Bravissimo
www.bravissimo.com
Bralicious
www.bralicious.com.hk
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