What Size Bra Do I Need?
The most important part of finding the best nursing bra for you is making sure you have the correct fit.To determine your current size, let's take some measurements. If your top is thin you can leave it on (but take off any thick layers). Measure yourself with your (unpadded) bra on. Stand straight, relaxed, with your arms down, breathing normally. If you can, measure yourself in front of a mirror, so you can make sure the measuring tape isn't twisted and that it's parallel to the floor all the way around. STEP 1: Take 3 measurements
1) Take Your Chest Measurement - Around your chest, right under your arms. This as a snug measurement.
To illustrate, Jen is late in her third trimester, and wear they are helping to fit her into a nursing bra (if you can, it's often easier to have a friend measure you). Taking her chest measurement, we get 37 inches.
2) Take Your Rib Cage Measurement - Just below your breasts. If you have someone helping measure you, and you are wearing a bra that your breasts are sagging in even a little bit, take your straps and pull up so that your breasts are lifted to where you would like them to be, and then have your friend measure your rib cage. This is also a snug measurement.
For this second step, we take Jen's rib cage measurement and get 38 inches.
3) Take Your Bust Measurement - Across the fullest part of your breasts. As with the previous measurement, if you are wearing a bra that doesn't position your breasts exactly where you'd like them to be, then hold your bra straps up so your breasts are lifted to their ideal spot, and measure across the fullest part (usually across the nipples). This is a loose measurement.
Measuring Jen, we get a bust measurement of 42 inches.
STEP 2: Now, we are ready to determine your current size
1) Take the larger of your chest measurement and rib cage measurements. If you get an odd number, round up. This is your rib band size.
2) Subtract that rib band size from your bust measurement. Every inch is one cup size, so you can count up (1=A, 2=B, 3=C and so on) or use the chart below to find that difference to determine your cup size.
2) Subtract that rib band size from your bust measurement. Every inch is one cup size, so you can count up (1=A, 2=B, 3=C and so on) or use the chart below to find that difference to determine your cup size.
Difference Between Rib Band and Bust Measurement: | Cup Size: |
| 1 inch | A cup |
| 2 inches | B cup |
| 3 inches | C cup |
| 4 inches | D cup |
| 5 inches | E (or DD) cup |
| 6 inches | F (or DDD) cup |
| 7 inches | G cup |
| 8 inches | H cup |
For Jen, we take the larger of her chest measurement (37) and rib cage measurement (38) to get a rib band size of 38. We then subtract that from her bust measurement (42) to get a difference of 4 inches. From the chart above, we know that is equal to a D cup. So, Jen measures to be a 38D.
Here are some other examples:
| What you Measured | Rib Band Size | Cup Size | Current Bra Size | ||
| Chest | Rib Cage | Bust | Larger of Chest & Rib Cage. Round Up if Odd #. | Bust Minus Rib Band Size, Check Chart for Difference | |
| 36 | 35 | 38 | 36 | 38 - 36 = 2. 2 = B | 36B |
| 38 | 36 | 42 | 38 | 42 - 38 = 4. 4 = D | 38D |
| 40 | 41 | 48 | 41. Round up to 42 | 48 - 42 = 6. 6 = F | 42F |
| 34 | 33 | 35 | 34 | 35 - 34 = 1. 1 = A | 34A |
Now that we have a good idea about current size, let's look at what stage of pregnancy or nursing you are in right now, and what you are buying the bra for to make sure it will work for your current and future needs. First, let's talk breast changes over pregnancy and nursing
