Spin-off: Bra-free Support thread - Page 5

[mcgee]

I'm another mama with enormous breasts. :( I'm about a 38H in my wireless nursing bras right now, but I do have an underwire non-nursing bra in a 40F that I can wear. I do go braless at home on a fairly regular basis, but I'm not sure I could go braless in public.

For those with large breasts, can you recommend any tank tops or camisoles that offer a little bit of support and/or coverage that do NOT have teeny tiny puny little straps?? I've bought cotton tanks from Old Navy before that have the built in "shelf" bra, and the spaghetti straps disintegrate before the tanks themselves wear out. If I could find some comfortable tanks with straps that don't dig into my shoulders, I might consider trying this. I do have two GlamourMom nursing tanks in the larger cup sizes, but I don't like them. The shoulder straps are wider than your average tank, but I think they're uncomfortable to put on, uncomfortable to wear, and frankly the white one is completely see-through.

[sunnysandiegan]

I don't have an answer, but wanted to bump this up for you.

[Panserbjorne]

I find that I do best in the athletic dept. for larger breasts.  The shelves are more substantial, and I just go a size too big so I get no compression.  I wear athletic tanks for when I have to go to work.  My breasts still move quite freely as well.  BUT I do need to buy a large when I should wear a medium so I have that movement.

[FireWithin]

Jumped on a trampoline the other day with a too big sleep nursing bra - the ladies where swinging rather freely.  Thought about all of you. 

I've been inspired by this thread.  I'm not willing to go bra free, but have decided not to get anything more substantive than my sleep nurse bra.

[sunnysandiegan]

[sunnysandiegan]

How is everyone doing these days? Anyone new go bra-free? Any issues coming up for anyone?

I had an interesting, semi-fun experience yesterday that just popped into my head. My DD is a girl scout and we walked around the university I graduated from yesterday for 3.5 hours selling cookies. (She did well and I loved watching her blossom in that timeframe.) I had on a body-skimming sweater (not tight, but not loose and boxy or flowy) with a Barely There bralette (size too big, zero support/compression, simply for skin sensitivity purposes). Our weather is nice and we walked all over campus (outside) without jackets and didn't need layers. All that "pounding the pavement" (in addition to my usual 2 miles of walking a day already completed) didn't bother my breasts one bit. Didn't even notice I wasn't wearing a "proper bra" (LOL) until I saw this thread down so low in my profile. When I think about it, it is kind of fun to realize how far I've come!

[goinggreengirl]

I need to join in! I've been bra free about 8 months. Once I had DS and started nursing, I couldn't find bras that fit. I tried ordering online and still couldn't get comfy ones. And then I stumbled upon the old thread and decided to never go back! So, I've been layering tanks with a shirt. I've been thinking about rigging light coverage by shortening tanks and using some elastic. I really need to get on that!

I understand the self consciousness that everyone is going through. It's so sad that society has made us feel so self conscious in our own skin. It has changed my personal style a little- course that's also still influenced by nursing. Thankfully I've never leaked so I don't have the same worry some of you do.

We can do this ladies! It's better for our health and SO much more comfortable!

[sunnysandiegan]

I just received my monthly newsletter from Deborah Davis, a qigong expert. One section was all about breast health:

Breast Health


Underwire bras: a continued conversation from my Tiger Qigong class at Kripalu in November.
 
    After my November class at Kripalu, I went to my bra drawer and was surprised (and embarrassed) to see how many underwire bras I still coveted. You know the lacey, black or beautifully colored seductive Victoria secret ones waiting in the back of the drawer for that romantic moment? They do make you look sexy! But I’ve cut out the wire in some and thrown others away. Why are underwire bras bad for us?

The underwire and any restrictive bra cuts off circulation of both blood and lymph fluid around the breast, chest wall, and lymph glands under the arms. The lymph drains the toxins from the breasts and upper torso so it’s important to keep it flowing to avoid disease and lumps of any kind.

Another problem is that the underwire falls directly on two very important neurolymphatic reflexes.  The one under the right breast goes to the Liver and Gall Bladder. The one under the left breast goes to the Stomach. In acupuncture, the bras disrupt the flow of qi and blood in the liver and stomach meridians which pass through both breasts. Over time, changing the flow of these points can cause illness in the breasts and related organs.

 

Here are some tips for breast health:

• Burn those underwire bras, baby! ( it’s the 1960’s all over again )
• Wear the correct bra size and make sure it’s not too tight
• Go braless when you’re at home. My qigong master tells me to do my qigong without a bra so my breasts can move and receive healing qi. You don’t want any constrictions, including tight pants, while doing qigong.
• Don’t wear underwear to bed
• Do the qigong breast massage a few times a week or in the shower.
• Practice the lymph pump ( in my book, Women’s Qigong for Health and Longevity p.100)
• If you do wear an underwire bra for an occasion, massage your neurolymphatic points under the breasts after you take it off. Rub under the breasts on the ribs-the area is usually tender.
• Another shower tip: Before taking a shower, use a dry loofa or skin brush to stimulate your lymph flow. Lymph is only stimuated through massage and exercise. Raise your arm and brush down from the fingers to the armpit and up the torso and around the breasts to the armpit. The main lymph drainage areas lie under both armpits. Thanks again to Marcy for her wonderful demonstrations of shower etiquette at Kripalu!

There are many wireless bras available on the internet. Check them out and let me know which ones work well for you.

It's everywhere! I never noticed before or perhaps it is becoming more well-known and/or widespread knowledge now.

[MamieCole]

Well hey! Who knew you guys were here? 

I haven't worn a bra since I got pregnant with my oldest son, so that is about 5 years now. I just found them SO uncomfortable and could never find a nursing bra that fit well. I was a 34B before getting pregnant and have no idea what I am now. 

I LIVE in cami tops under other tops. To be fair, I've been either pregnant and/or breastfeeding this whole time, so I really haven't thought about what I will do once I am no longer nursing. I know for sure I won't wear a bra again on a daily basis, ever again. Now that I see that it is also good for me, that's even more reason to stay bra-free!

I've never really thought about the nipple thing. I figure that this culture sees so many boobs so often, seeing my headlights through my shirt isn't even enough to turn heads. And if it is, then I'm flattered. 

ETA: This was my 1000th post! How appropriate it was about not wearing a bra. 

[boysmom2]

I am so loving not wearing real bras anymore!  Thanks so much ladies!  Just thought I would share something I found.  I got a couple of these, originally for their magical muffin-top reducing powers.  At first I didn't like them because it was too much to pull down the tank and then open my nursing bra, just too much material in the way.  But after finding this thread I've been wearing them by themselves and I love them!  The top is soft, loose cotton, but the middle is tighter, so I can wear nursing pads with them and they don't fall out!

http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/womens/brandswomen/daisyfuentes/tops/PRD~524310/daisy+fuentes+Slimming+Camisole.jsp

[Emelee]

Hi, I'm new to this thread and I'm completely surprised there are others like me out there!! I've always worn a bra even before I had breasts because my mother was (and still kinda is) very conservative. No headlights were allowed to show and I've always worn under wire. Even when pregnant I wore the tightest bra possible or even two sports bras to keep me from moving. Once I had DD 3 months ago my breasts/nipples hurt too much to even consider wearing a bra and I jumped from about a 34 C to a 36 DD in size. When my breastfeeding issues finally ended a couple weeks ago I tried to wear a bra and I'm honestly surprised I hated it. I've never gone a day or night without a bra and now I can't stand them because they physically hurt. I have noticed that I have lumpy breast tissue but after reading these threads I tried to find some two distinct lumps that I knew about but they are GONE! I can't believe I've changed this much... I am a little worried once summer gets here because my nipples are really showing since breastfeeding and never go "down" anymore. I'm a little embarrassed and my DH doesn't want me to leave the house without a bra but when I get home that thing comes right off!

Anyway, just felt excited to find others like me who aren't wearing bras and it's not a bad thing. I need to get a few camis for when I start back into the work force because I can't imagine trying to stuff myself into one every day for hours again.

[sunnysandiegan]

Welcome Emelee!

I'm never going back and I have worked through most of initial "issues". Give yourself and DH some time to adjust. I definitely think a variety of undergarments helped me become more comfortable going without a traditional bra. What exactly I wear depends on where I am going and who I'm going to be around. Last night we were out to dinner with dear friends at a local pizza place. My family walked there and back. I only had a t-shirt on (and a jacket for the walk, but not inside). I didn't even think about it.

Today, I taught art in my DD's classroom and I've been around a lot of people I don't know well today. I wore a thin t-shirt with a bralette underneath today. I felt very comfortable.

I've been massaging my breasts in the shower and I am noticing a difference in the way my breasts and underarms and surrounding area feels under the surface. Subtle shifts are happening!

[Ttarail]

I have been wearing a thn sports bra, slight support and with being pregnant or nrsing I'm lke A-AA. Funny thing is when I go without I have pain within 1 hr.

[Panserbjorne]

Originally Posted by Ttarail 

I have been wearing a thn sports bra, slight support and with being pregnant or nrsing I'm lke A-AA. Funny thing is when I go without I have pain within 1 hr.

so did I.  It took about a week to be without discomfort-and by the end I was more comfortable than I'd ever been with or without a bra.  Still not wearing one!

[Koalamom]

I have been bra free more and found some great camis and I have to admit the girls are higher and firmer looking. I went bra shopping the other day as I am not always bra free and found the only bras that were my size were in the teen section and did you ladies know that the ubderwire on those bras is wider -so no digging in. I do want to have a bra or two on hand since without one I look pretty much flat and just for my self esteem, and the fact that I look 16, I like to look there sometimes.
Wow I can't believe how much I share in this thread. Only on MDC...

[sunnysandiegan]

Oh my goodness! I wore a "shaping" camisole today...not as tight as Spanx, but definitely meant to hold the torso in place (breasts had only one layer, while rest had two). We had a party here all afternoon and I got dressed fairly early today. I begged DH to help me out of that camisole as soon as the last guest left! LOL In the past, that camisole gave less support than my wireless bras and I considered it "freeing". Shows how far I've come. It is easily the most breast-restrictive garment I own NOW! It is getting shoved to the back of my drawer as soon as I wash it, too. LOL

[Emelee]

Originally Posted by sunnysandiegan 

Oh my goodness! I wore a "shaping" camisole today...not as tight as Spanx, but definitely meant to hold the torso in place (breasts had only one layer, while rest had two). We had a party here all afternoon and I got dressed fairly early today. I begged DH to help me out of that camisole as soon as the last guest left! LOL In the past, that camisole gave less support than my wireless bras and I considered it "freeing". Shows how far I've come. It is easily the most breast-restrictive garment I own NOW! It is getting shoved to the back of my drawer as soon as I wash it, too. LOL

I know how you feel! I now can't stand even the tight t-shirts I wore before I was pregnant (and liked to show off a little figure) but I know DH is getting tired of seeing me in baggy/loose clothing. I can't believe how much I'm enjoying bra-fee, haha!

[Ttarail]

Is pregnancy a good time to go bra free? I am worried about getting the droopy breasts in all the national geographic type shows.

[sunnysandiegan]

I wore a wire-free bra today (big fancy party). OH MY GOODNESS!!! Even the wireless bra was rather uncomfortable. I had suspected my rib cage had expanded and now I am sure of it. All this freedom and proper breathing is doing wonders for my body!

The biggest difference (for me) in wearing a "bra" of any kind and not is the position of my breasts horizontally NOT vertically, which really surprises me and everyone else I discuss it with. My breasts are naturally a bit further apart than how bra manufacturers make bras. After five hours of being shoved together, I feel the need to massage my breasts and ribs and the entire area!

[sunnysandiegan]

Bump for the mama asking about wire-free options...