To measure yourself, please first use our online
bra size calculator.
When to Fit for a Maternity Bra
When you first notice an increase in the size of your bust which
is generally around 3-4 months.
Depending on the development of your bust size you should
measure again at approximately 7 months, however if you feel your
bra is restrictive in any way, then you need to check your
size.
When making your purchase it is important to look for a maternity bra
that provides excellent support and flexibility to allow for breast
size fluctuation. An easy way to check this is to slide your hand
into the upper cup section to assess if there is enough room for
expansion.
Common fitting problems
Diagrams below to help explain, along with solutions.
Problem: The back band keeps riding up, and doesn't sit flush
against your body.
Cause: The band is too big. (This is the 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18,
20 body size measurement).
Solution: Try a smaller size body band.
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Problem: The shoulder straps dig into your shoulders, and leave
indents on your shoulders.
Cause: The weight of your breasts is being incorrectly carried
by the bra straps. The majority of the breast weight should be
carried by the body band. If the straps are digging in, it means
the band is not carrying much weight. The band size is too
large.
Solution: Try a smaller size body band.
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Problem: Your breasts seem to heave and bulge out the top of the
cups.
Cause: the cup size you are wearing is too small.
Solution: try a larger cup size.
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Problem: There are creases and gaps in the cup, it is bunched
up.
Cause: The cup size is too large.
Solution: Try a smaller cup size.
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Problem: The cup fits fine around breasts, but seems to have a
big gap between the top of the cups and where the shoulder straps
join in.
Cause: This may be due to the style of the cup finishing too
high on your chest. Perhaps because the bra you are wearing is a
full cup design.
Solution: Try a different cut cup - such as a 3/4 cup
design.
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Problem: The bottom of the bra cups sit well below the bottom of
my breasts.
Cause: If the bottom of the bra is being pulled down below your
breast tissue, it means the body band is too small for you.
Solution: Try a larger body band size.
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Problem: The back straps are stretched far apart, and don't seem
to sit in a parallel straight line.
Cause: The back straps are being pulled too far apart because
the body band is too small for your size and is over
stretching.
Solution: try a larger band size.
Sister Sizes
In bra fitting, the numbers (8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20) refer to
your body size and will usually be the same as the normal clothing
size that you wear. The letters (A, B, C, D, DD, E, F, FF, G) refer
to your breast size. A lot of people think that a 12D and a 16D
will have the same size cup and just a different body size band. It
is important to note that as the Body Band size increases, the cup
size decreases in proportion.
So if you need to go up a Body Band Size, then you need to go
down a cup size in order for the cup to have the same fit.
For example, a lady finds that a bra size 12DD the band is too
tight. Solution: she needs to try a 14 Body Band size. In order to
have the same size cup, she will need to drop a cup size to a D.
She will need to try a 14D.
Another lady finds that a size 16E is too large and she wants a
smaller Band Size. She drops a Body Band size down to 14, and
increases cup size to F. She will need to try a 14F.
More Info
Common questions about bras, bra sizes, and maternity bras