27 Sep Celebrating Breastfeeding Week – for those breastfeeding and not breastfeeding – this one is for everyone!

In celebrating Breastfeeding Week 1st to the 8th August, we bring you some advice from Dr Sarah Rayne from the Breast Care Centre in Johannesburg. This info will help you whether you are breast feeding or not so everyone can celebrate Breastfeeding week! Have a wonderful week!

Does it fit? Getting some good bra support…

It is estimated that 80% of women are wearing the wrong bra. Are you one of them?

“Good underwear! Wearing a good bra makes me feel confident and elegant. Make sure you know your correct bra size and invest in a well-fitting bra. Most women’s breasts change up to 6 times during their life so if you haven’t had a new bra for a while, chances are you are wearing the wrong size. Not only does a good bra do wonderful things for your assets, helping reduce breast pain and some back problems, but it will lift your boobs and lengthen your tummy – making it seem flatter, longer and sexier.

Whether lacy or plain, choose a bra with wide straps and make sure the cup fits all of your breast, sitting in the crease below the breast and separating the breast from the tummy and lifting it up. Most women wear too big a bandsize and too small a cup so suddenly a 38C woman will become a 34DD bombshell overnight!”

Wearing the wrong size bra can lead to increased pain in the neck and shoulders as the breasts are inadequately supported. One of the most common causes for breast pain is poor support and women are often shy to look for the correct size of bra. As a result their bust is unsupported from below and all the support comes from the shoulder straps which causes welts and indentations in the shoulders.

This lack of support can also lead to large breasts hanging down on the skin below the breast causing an area of warm moisture through the day. This results in a fantastic breeding ground for bacteria and fungi to grow-often seen as a white or red discolouration under the breasts and eventually leading to a darker discolouration in dark skins. An inappropriately tight bra can also cause problems. There is constriction of the respiratory muscles (the muscles that helps us breathe well) causing breathing problems, and back and shoulder aches too.

So what is the wrong bra and how do you find the right one for you? Look in the mirror with your bra on and see if it fits

It doesn’t fit properly if…

• The underband is riding up at the back: if the underband bows up at the back or lifts up when you raise your arms it is too loose.
• The shoulder straps are digging in: A vast majority of support for your breasts should come from the underband, support from below not suspension from above. If you have too loose a band you will feel the straps dig into your shoulders and be left with red marks there
• The centre between the cups lifts away from the body: The centres should lie flat against your body supporting and separating your breasts. If it does not, your cup size is probably too small
• The straps do not lie in parallel to each other but stretch outwards: This normally means that your underband is too tight and is overstretching at the fastening
• Some of your breast spills out over the top of your bra: The classic “four breast” look! The cup is dividing your breast tissue because your cup size is too small. Often women are alarmed to find they are actually a DD, E or F rather than a C cup

It will fit properly if ….

… you follow this easy plan to correct bra size

• Get some help: Most lingerie shops and departments offer a bra-sizing service and you should take them up on it. There should be no obligation to buy
• Budget for a good bra: If you are worried about the cost of a bra, take some time to see how much you have spent on clothes in the last 6 months, and how many times a week you wear the items. Your bras are the most often worn items in most women’s wardrobes, but the item they are most reluctant to spend money on. Spoil yourself and your bosom!

If you want to have an idea of your bra size before your shop: you will need to know your underband size and cup size. Even though South Africa follows metric measurements, bra sizes are still measured in inches. To convert centimetres to inches, divide by 2,5.

First, take a soft measuring tape and put it around your body just underneath your breasts. Take a deep breath in and pull it snug to your skin. Record this measurement (eg 31 inches) and then add 5 to it, rounding up to the next even number (31 + 5 = 36 inches). This is your band size.

Next measure round over the fullest part of your breasts (normally at the nipples) when you are wearing a bra. Record this measurement (eg 38 inches) and subtract this measurement from your band size (38 – 36 = 2). This will correspond to the cup size you should try first.

If the number is:

0 = AA cup
1 = A cup
2 = B cup
3 = C cup
4 = D cup
5 = DD cup
6 = E cup

Remember that his is only a rough guide of your size. You should then shop and try on sizes one above and below. As you adjust the band size up (eg 36 to 38) come down by one on the cup size (eg 36D to 38C).

Not all styles will suit all breast shapes, so it may take some time to find a bra that suits and fits you. When you find the right bra, it should not be uncomfortable or dig into your skin. It should hold your breasts well and give you a good shape. A good bra can give you as much shape and lift as expensive plastic surgery.

Dr Sarah Rayne
Breast Care Centre – specialist surgeon with an interest in breast disease, Milpark Hospital
www.breasthealth.co.za
rayne.breastcare@gmail.com
(011) 482-1484 for an appoointment

At the Helen Joseph Breast Care Centre, Helen Joseph Hospital, they have a new patient clinic every Wednesday morning for patients without medical aid. No appointment required: patients can just turn up between 7 – 10am for consultation, screening and investigations.