I’m feeling a little cranky today. If you have a penis and you’re reading this, you might want to move along. Consider yourself warned, there be girlie stuff ahead.
So, as I was saying, I’m feeling a little cranky today. Rather than having my knickers in a twist, I’ve got my boobies in a bind. For the first time since the second or third trimester of my pregnancy, I’m wearing a real bra instead of a nursing bra. Okay, another caveat before we begin, just so you know where I’m coming from. I’m no A cup. I aspire to a C cup. Last I checked, I was somewhere in the netherworld the far side of a DD cup, at which point I stopped measuring. Damn breastfeeding.
I have a love-hate relationship with bras. I know some women who peel them off the moment they are in the privacy of home (Mom, are your ears burning?) and some women who don’t even bother. Personally, that’s just a little bit too much freedom for me. I’m like a toddler that way; I need boundaries. But bras are evil! If they don’t have enough give, you are likely fidgeting all day trying to get comfortable in them or, worse, bulging over the edges. Not a pretty sight. If they’re too loose, you might as well go commando – the bra isn’t accomplishing anything.
For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure, let me say that to me nursing bras the fuzzy slippers of bras – nice and stretchy and comfy, but not incredibly supportive. Fine, if you don’t mind your nipples in the vicinity of your navel. Underwire bras, the industrial strength kind you need to defy gravity with anything larger than a C cup, are like stiletto heels. They make an outfit look fabulous, but they are uncomfortable as hell.
Which brings me back to my crankiness. I can’t pull a full breath without having some epoxy-coated wire digging into my armpit, I’m all chafed in the chest, and I think the straps are digging a permanent groove into my shoulder. All things considered, I’m not a happy camper. But at least I can run down the stairs without crossing my arms in front of me!
So tell me, which do you value more – comfort or fashion?
OMG Dani – great post!!!!
COMFORT!!!!!!!!!! I wore my nursing bras for months, and yes, months AFTER I was finished b-fing. I just finally pitched an old bra where the wire was sticking out and poking, scratching, digging and drawing blood inder my arm. I hate bra shopping. As for fashion – when I wear amy very simple, no lace, no whistles Wonderbra in black, that’s my touch with being ‘fashionable’ or even hoping to come off as a wee bit sexy? I am one of those ‘take bra off a.s.a.p. at end of day. Aaaaahhhh.
OH Dani….Don’t get me going on these Horrors! Torture devices that were invented by a man so they would not have to look at our faces or our bellies! Might spain their necks looking that low. Whatever! Speak to the hand you guys know you do. I absolutely HATE’em. I tolerate my workout bra but it makes me look deformed. AS for undwires I HATE EM! Hell I don’t wait till I get home at the end of the day to take that puppy off. I am a pro at getting out of them ASAP in the car on my way home from somewhere. I Never wear them at home unless I know some MALE is coming over. So if that means I hang low after nursing 2 kids..SO be it! I get PISSED every time Oprah or someone says you have to spend money on one to get the comfort & support you need. WHY? Do men have to spend $70.00 on a decent pair of underwear? I want FASHION and Comfort! SOB is there any engineers out there who could figure this one thing out?
Since society dictates that we should hold our heads and boobs in the air then they should make it comfortable.
I’m still looking for the Prefect BRA! That I don’t hate 30 sec after I put it on and that I can buy at Zellers at a reasonable price and not my first born. (who by the way led me down the road from a B to a D cup!)
Sorry …pant pant…this is a SORE topic with me…breath in, breath out.
As a member of the DD Netherworld, I would say comfort. But I really don’t like seeing my boobs hang around my waist. That’s what nursing two babies will do to a girl. I wore a regular bra last weekend (underwire) and I tell you, I felt taller! lol
After I’m done birthing these babies, I’ll need a lift for sure!
I am going through this exact struggle. My kid is turning two tomorrow and I’m still wearing nursing bras. Granted he only stopped nursing three months ago, and there was still a wee bit of milk last week!!! So I’m really waiting for my chest to strink up (which it hasn’t happened just yet!). I’m totally uncomfortable with my breasts. My mother was an A cup so I figured I would be too. But once I got to college I exploded into a C/D cup and haven’t gone back. I hate the whole nipple factor when it’s cold–it makes me totally uncomfortable…. I digress. Anyway, I’ve been wanting a better/supportive bra, but I can’t seem to find one either. My back always hurts, my shoulders are always huntched. If you find one, post it here to help the rest of us.
a few weeks back I bit the bullet, I went BRA SHOPPING!!!!! Hadn’t done that in over 4 years. Had been wearing prepg bras (too small)and post preggo bras (too large). Went to Sears cuz had heard the ladies there could be helpful with sizing. Well, guess I went on their grumpy day cuz they really weren’t. So here I was aimlessly walking around racks and racks of bras. Out of habit grabbed the plain old Wonderbra and then started grabbing some of those push-up bras, cuz lets face it, need lots of that now. Must have tried 30-40 of them. Nothing fit right, one boob seems smaller than the other. I’m in that wee bit changing room having a nervous breakdown: I’m convinced I’m deformed. Go back out and one of the saleslady, in a moment of friendliness realizes I’ve been going in and out with bras for over an hour, asks me if I need help…I’m this close to crying in front of her. She takes a good look at me, hands me this bra which she swears will fit right, go try it, its not bad and I end up buying it out of embarassment. It’s still in its box upstairs!
Getting used to having nipples and waistline in the same horizontal plane…I do admit to going braless as soon as a get home.
Seriously considering going for a surgical consult…wonder what it would feel like to run after teh kids without having to hold them in place with arms (the boobs, not the kids)!!
oops, answer to question: comfort all the way!!!!!
I had a girlfriend who always had matching panties and bra in a rainbow of colors. The fancy kinds with lace and pearls and all. She even had some real fancy ones that required dry cleaning only…can you imagine?? I always felt femininely inadequate next to her with my plain old Wonderbra and totally unmatching but comfy cotton Jockey underpants. Long story short, her dh left her for a younger women and I’m still with my old man. Guess comfort wins over the latest fashion here too!!!!!!
First, I’d like to say that I was both duly and fairly warned and yet I read it all anyway (Aah, my eyes!!). Have you ever had anyone say to you, “Don’t look at that” or “Smell this and tell me if it’s bad”. It’s like a car wreck…I just couldn’t help myself.
I have no words of wisdom except, good luck ladies. You’ve certainly got some challenges in life that us man-folk will never be able to understand.
Addendum…
On a more positive note: I truly enjoy my scooby-doo boxers. I know, I know…I’m missing the point of this whole discussion. Have a great day.
Once again, you guys manage to be funnier than the original blog! A special thank you to our guest participant Batman, for the biggest belly laugh of the week. I needed that! (Although it did make my bra chafe just a little more.)
xo Danigirl
guys can be interested in bras too dani 😉
Wow! You went double digit on your comments. Cool!
Yes batman you missed the point but it still made me LOL!
thanks I’m sick today. I needed that.
😉
Definitely comfort. There’s nothing worse than being unexpectedly stabbed by an underwire gone AWOL.
Both….
Just today had a broken underwire and I’m sure I have a blister just under my left breast.
Gotta get that reduction soon…
I forgot to mention Victoria’s Secret Second Skin…I can be stlyin’ and comfortable too