Is Your Bra Too Tight?
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A question I ask of all bra-wearers, pregnant or not, but especially important for you!
Early in my first trimester, my breasts grew a cup size in 6 weeks. As someone who barely needed to wear a bra pre-pregnancy, it was indeed like a second adolescence, except these were the boobs I expected to receive during puberty but didn't. So this was all a bit confusing. And also painful. One of the first people I told I was pregnant ended up being a bra saleswoman.
I went up in size again during the second trimester but put off another shopping trip till somewhere around 24 weeks. And post OB appointment, ran panicked into the store sweating: "help me, I have no idea what size I am or what to put on my body!"
And late in my third trimester, these bras felt small again, but conundrum - should I buy bras again? Seriously, what is the point in buying a bra now if it's not going to fit in two weeks? What if my boobs continued to expand after I deliver?
And they did. Then the joy of seeking out nursing bras!
Later in my nursing career, my boobs somewhat stabilized in size when I wasn't nursing eleventy billion times a day.
When I weaned, they changed size again - weeeeeee!
All this to say: your size may change quite a lot during your pregnancy and postpartum journey! But this is around the time we're either trying to save money for baby-related expenses, or it's just too exhausting to think about peeling yourself off the couch to do anything.
So we often hang on to those (maybe essential, maybe expensive) bras waaaaay past their expiration date.
And what does a tight bra do to you?
Put your hands on the side of your ribs, finding the band of your bra with your thumb and index finger.
Notice the movement of your ribs - this is not necessarily a big movement, but it's a perceptible one. On the inhale, your ribs expand and swing outwards, and on the exhale they release.
Now notice, if your bra is squishing your ribs together (you can try this - lightly please! - with your hands) they have a hard time moving. We also might breathe this way to avoid an underwire or some other part of the bra digging in - over time it becomes a habit.
Oh, wow, there really IS a stock photo for everything, right? This shows the bra vs. ribcage anatomy pretty well! You can see where there might be restriction if the band or straps are too tight.
Photo by Llhedgehogll.
When are ribs aren't free to move, we breathe a more shallowly. Shallow breathing correlates with anxiety and low energy (things we may already be struggling with). In pregnancy, we're already sharing our space with the baby, so whatever energy and space we have, we have to use it as efficiently as possible.
Breathing work is key to many practices to prepare for childbirth, be it Alexander Technique, Hypnobirthing, prenatal yoga, or following your own lead - so set yourself up for success and don't add a tight bra as an obstacle.
Throughout the day, ask yourself if you're free to breathe. If something is getting in your way, investigate what that is, and if there's an adjustment you can make. And if your clothing is getting in the way, know it's not just a fashion issue.
I certainly recommend being measured for a new bra so you are actually in the correct size, not just guessing.
Here’s some info on how to measure yourself for a new bra.
Totally overwhelmed with finding a bra that fits? Check out Kindred Bravely, which will keep you covered from first trimester to nursing, pumping, and beyond. They helped me stay comfy! (At least, as comfortable as you can be during pregnancy and postpartum!) You can even make an appointment to have someone personally walk you through the bra fitting process, so you know you’re getting the right fit, not just guessing!
Get 15% off your first Kindred Bravely purchase when you order through my link OR use discount code POISEDANDPOWERFUL15.
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How does your clothing affect how you move?
This is a sneak peak at movement coaching - to work with me one-on-one on your own habits, either in person or online, please get in touch!