Bra fitting help » Cups too wide, cups wrinkling at bottom and sides, wires sliding down.
Comexim » Whimsy Floral (CMWHIMSY) » 65K 30:11
Issue resolved
Bought the next cup size down.
Original problem
The cups are wrinkling at the bottom and the sides, with empty space at the sides. The wires slide down. There's minor quadding towards the center of my boobs, particularly on my left side which is bigger. It's worse with more milk but fits ok when the breast is empty. The cups feel too wide. They feel too wide even when I'm putting it on before I've done up the band so I don't think the band is too small.
This is my first comexim order, after trying a secondhand 65J that was definitely too small in the cup. Should I go up another cup or do I need to try a different style?
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Suggestions (4)
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helpfulHey! I have this bra in the same size (except not the nursing version)!
I have a feeling that Comexim's unlined bras are wider than their padded ones. It's certainly true for this bra--it has significantly wider wires than my other Comexim in the same size.
The pictures you've submitted honestly look decent to me. I don't see the quadding towards the center, but I trust that you have it. I don't think going up a size would help--it might give you more space at the center of the bra, but I think the sides of the cup would be too loose and the wideness of the wires might be uncomfortable. If the bra isn't uncomfortable, I'd say it might be worth keeping it, but if you don't want to keep it, I'd lean more on the side of trying a different style. I don't know much about unlined Comexims, so I can't give specific recommendations (and, like I said, I think they all might be wide), but I'd suggest looking for bras with either higher gores (might help keep your tissue from spilling out?) or that people have recommended for center fullness. I feel like you might have the best luck with an Ewa Michalak of some sort.
If anyone has specific suggestions please chime in!
Updated on September 18, 2020 Flag this
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helpfulIf the wires are too wide and it feels like it’s sliding down it might be too big in the cup. I had this same effect in one soft cup bra I have, it’s like the apex of the bra moved to fit the peak of the breast, but then the rest of the bra goes south and looks like it’s buckling. I have one Ewa Michalak nursing bra and I really like it. It’s well constructed and would serve its purpose well. I also have the bra you have, but the non nursing bra version. Compared to my other Comexim moulded bras of the same size, I felt this ran one cup size bigger.
Updated on September 18, 2020 Flag this
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Actually this does sound very much like what is happening. I've tightened the straps a lot to close the extra space in the top and I guess this is what's causing it to cut in when I'm full.
I've just started my bra journey so don't know a lot about Ewa Michalak. Their calculator puts me at a 70G, would this be a good place to start or should I stick with a 65 band and try a 65GG? I use a manual wheelchair so I like my band tight otherwise it just rides up my back as I'm pushing. -
Kayt17 I've found that I just wear the same size in EM as all other brands. Some people go a band size up because EMs (and Comexims) tend to be a bit tighter in the band than UK bras, but with your comfortable ribcage of 29 inches you'll probably be fine in a 65 band. I don't know how many nursing bra EM reviews there are around, but I would say to just check the average stretched band of any bra you get. Some EM 65s do run around the 29 inch range, which may or may not feel a smidge tight on you (although even if it does it'll probably stretch out fairly quickly to a more comfortable length).
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I agree with Happy2BraShop that the cup is too big.
A too-large cup could be the reason the 65 band feels OK rather than injuriously tight (too-large cups have loose fabric that can be stretched round the sides of the body and thus compensate for undersized bands).
If your torso measurements are outdated or if like me you found it a bit tricky to take them with heavy, lactating, perpetually morphing boobs, you may want to give it another go with a partner helping or else while looking in the mirror to ensure the tape is nice and level.
If all your measurements are up to date and totally accurate, I think a Comexim 70 band would be firm enough even for your specific needs: the brand runs on the smallish side, so while some people with those stats would tolerate a 65, when I take into account other clues such as your lean midbody/relative lack of ribcage squish, your nice frame width of 14" etc. this makes me think your 29" are mostly bone and muscle. For people with this sort of body composition a firm band is ok but a genuinely tight one is going to be painful. If like some manual wheelchair users you have quite well-developed shoulder, pectoral, etc. muscles you'll find overly tight bands to be really unpleasant, especially combined with the additional tenderness in the breast per se due to milk levels going up and down.
I don't know how fast this particular bra band stretches but of course that can be a concern... in that case, if you have tried bra band extenders before and find that they will stay put properly throughout an active day of using your wheelchair, 65 with extender could be a good compromise.
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wendybien I redid my measurements when I added this bra so they are up to date. I'm not as accurate as when my husband does it, he normally ends up with an inch less with 26/28/30 ribcage measurements, but he wasn't around to help.
I've already re-ordered a 65J in this bra, but I've got some extenders so if it does run too tight I'll give them a try. I've been wearing this one on the 2nd hook as this helped stop it slipping down and it hasn't been uncomfortable so hopefully it'll be ok.
I'll have a look at Anita too. I'm trying not to spend too much though till I've figured out my size as I have a lot of suggestions ranging from 28HH - 30F - 30FF - 30G - 30GG depending on the calculator so I've been trying to find secondhand/discounted bras before going into more expensive brands.
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helpfulThis is advice based on my own experience, and I produced enough milk to feed four infants simultaneously. The size variation I experienced simply could not be accommodated by a wired bra.
However, ILoveSia has created a nursing bra I would have been delighted to have in my nursing arsenal. You may fit in a Large or extra-large. The large is supportive on my 28" underbust. It is super stretchy and $9.29 (lavender) on Amazon: http://bra.pe/X3JE/Updated on September 18, 2020 Flag this
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My milk supply is quite stable now as we've been nursing 9 months and gently started weaning. I feel like there's not as much variation now as there was when I started and I'm looking for a lot of support, hence trying wired bras. So far I've found non wired or stretchy bras just let my boobs drop and they end up hurting and making my back sore and my posture slump forward :(
The ILoveSia bras are cheap on UK amazon too so I've ordered one to try anyway as it looks like it would make a good sleep bra even if it doesn't work for me during the day. -
Kayt17 I seem to recall switching to conventional wired bras only a little bit later than you but a good compromise for me was flexi wires--the brand Anita had a number of designs with those (my faves were microfiber and microfiber jacquard) and I absolutely loved how comfortable they were while also having just as much support as rigid wires. I remember getting a really good cup fit even at a slightly larger breast volume than where you are now. However size down in the band as they run quite loose!
Another option (much pricier I'm afraid unless you really know your way around discount sites) would be a conventional wire design in a brand known for soft wires. Prima Donna is one of those. THey're the opposite of Anita: their bands are cut small and in my experience they barely stretch out at all even if you wear them to shreds, so a 70 should be ideal ( unless you are willing to use extenders as I mentioned elsewhere).
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Yea it's fine when my boobs are empty, so I'm going to hold onto it for when we are weaning as it's a lovely bra. It's when my boobs get full that it starts to spill out and get uncomfortable as they feel a bit squashed and cramped. I think I'd prefer too much space rather than too little while I'm nursing as I don't want to risk any clogs or other problems from my bra being too tight.