I was rather dissapointed with my bra fitting at Penney's yesterday. First of all, I called ahead of time and asked if they had nursing bras. "Oh, yes, we do" was the reply. Good, I thought. I had already been online and noticed they had several styles to choose from. When I got there, however, I found out they only had ONE STYLE of nursing bra available in store....and it was underwire. I normally wear underwire, but I had recently been to a breast-feeding class, and they said underwire bras could cause a plugged duct when nursing, it could be painful and make me sick. So I was not happy about this.

She took 2 measurements: one above and one at the fullest part. When she measured above, I don't think the tape measure was straight in the back. So I'm not sure how accurate the measuring was, but she determined I was a 34B. I'm probably pretty close to that, as I am wearing an A now, and it seems a little snug these days. She told me I should get the bras to fit bigger, to allow for more growth after the baby is born. Okay, I understand that, but I am wanting a bra that fits NOW, with maybe a tad bit of room, not a ton. If I have to buy a new size later, I'll deal with it later. I thought it was supposed to be about comfort and fit. Anyway, she brought in a B and C cup. Oh, yeah, like the C would even fit....but I tried it on. Way too big. The B cup was a pretty good fit, with a bit of room to grow, I have to admit it was pretty good, but then again, how would I know? She came by to check on me a couple of times, but never came in the fitting room to see how the bra was fitting. She never checked to see if the back was fitting properly, if I was wearing the straps right, or if the cups were the right fit. She just asked me if everything was working out for me. I know it's just a department store, so I wasn't expecting the treatment one would get at a special boutique, but I was expecting more than what I got. It was a waste of my time! I could have just as easily searched on this forum for bra fitting tips and done this myself!

She also brought over a transition bra that she says people wear during and after pregnancy, and it has seams you can rip out to put nursing pads in place and sew back together. First of all, I don't have sewing skills, and who wants to take a bra to get it altered? And second, wasn't I quite clear that I was looking for NURSING bras, aren't I quite obviously pregnant? With about a month left to go, why would I want to buy a non-nursing bra now? I also asked if they had a zip-up sports bra. Yes, but they start at a size 36.

When I got home, I went online and ordered some of their bras in several different styles, to see which ones I like. Good thing I still have enough time to do this before the baby's born.

I would not recommend getting a fitting at JCPenney's where I live. I can't believe it, they even have a tag that says "Certified Bra Fitter". Or something like that. Maybe a different store location would be different, but definitely not the one I was in.

Carmied, sorry to hear your bra fitting didn't go so well. I had high hopes for JC Penney, so this is a disappointment. They should have more than one style of nursing bra in the store in the first place. I remember seeing all the "certified bra fitter" plaques on the wall at the JC Penney's near me, but the staff didn't look too savvy to me, unfortunately, so it would likely be the same story there.

There is a store called "Bare Necessities" online but there is an actual lingerie store with that name in my area, and they do bra fittings too. So you never know, you might check around and find a similar store in your area if you search hard enough (try the yellow pages too). For some reason stores like these are harder and harder to find these days.

Carmied, it's not only disappointing--but it's really dumb of Penney's not to have a few good bra fitters on staff in each store, and to have a great selection of bras in a wide range of sizes. A mid-range department store with a good bra service could clean up and secure their profits for a long time!

EVERY department store here has at least one bra fitter on staff during all opening hours. Or at least the three here in Oxford (Selfridges, Marks & Spencer, and Debenhams). Bra fitting is listed on the shop's directory, quite separately from 'lingerie', even though it's in the same department.

I suppose women in England have demanded it, the shops have given it, and they're ready to say they've got it.

At this point, I am not feeling the greatest....I think I'm ready to have this baby! I just don't have the energy to look for a decent bra fitter now. I did do a little research, but I'm not finding much. I even called and asked Motherhood if they do bra fittings. Their answer was, "we don't usually, but we can." That leaves me uneasy. So I will try to remember all the tips I've learned on WNTW and this forum, and just do it myself for now. I will wait until after I don't need nursing bras, and then I will be on the search! I figure it will be easier once I am not limited to nursing bras, or limited to my immediate local area.

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Originally posted by cathlib:
I suppose women in England have demanded it, the shops have given it, and they're ready to say they've got it.

I have a feeling they just never stopped offering such services in England, while they did here in the U.S. Whenever I have been in England I've noticed that more of what we used to expect and get here is still available there in department stores in general. There is less of it now than 20 years ago even in England, but they still have some of the niceties that we used to have here and I think bra fittings in dept. stores are one of them.

You may be right about the decline being faster in the US, ntuitive1, but the Brits have been whining for a long time that service is not what they would hope for.

There's a very funny, but very well-observed book by Kate Fox, called 'Watching the English', that talks about this. The last thing a shop assistant (as they call them over here) wants to do is actually help you make a purchase....it's sort of true, too.

But there's a general trend moving away from that. Especially for women-centred goods and services, provided by businesses owned by women. Companies like Bravissimo are one example of that. Other general retailers are taking account of the purchasing power of women as well. It's expensive as anything over here, but they do want your business.

Carmied, as a former nursing mother, I'm finding the expectation that you can buy a bra now to fit after your milk comes in unrealistic. The size difference can be substantial. I understand that you don't want to run out shopping with a new baby, but maybe buy one or two bras that are just slightly roomy now. Ideally, you could make an arrangement with an understanding and intelligent sales lady to have a larger size shipped to you, if needed. Good luck - and do enjoy your little one. The truest words ever spoken to me were "they're only little once."

PS I recommend that you also buy yourself a large cotton scarf, in colors you love. You can use it for privacy if a semipublic feeding is necessary- and rather than being so obvious, like a baby blanket would, a scarf looks like part of your outfit!

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Carmied, as a former nursing mother, I'm finding the expectation that you can buy a bra now to fit after your milk comes in unrealistic. The size difference can be substantial. I understand that you don't want to run out shopping with a new baby, but maybe buy one or two bras that are just slightly roomy now. Ideally, you could make an arrangement with an understanding and intelligent sales lady to have a larger size shipped to you, if needed. Good luck - and do enjoy your little one. The truest words ever spoken to me were "they're only little once."

Thanks for the advice, sailingaway. I do understand the need to buy bras that are a bit roomier, and the B cups do just that. I just couldn't believe she wanted me to have a C cup right off the bat, knowing the B was a bit big. I wanted to have 1 or 2 to wear right after the baby's born, so I would at least have something to start on. Plus, due to some medical reasons, I must have a C section, and I hear recovery time is longer, so I just wanted to be semi prepared. Maybe I'll order more online later in a bigger size if I need to.

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PS I recommend that you also buy yourself a large cotton scarf, in colors you love. You can use it for privacy if a semipublic feeding is necessary- and rather than being so obvious, like a baby blanket would, a scarf looks like part of your outfit!

I may keep that in mind. I'm not sure what I'm going to do about nursing in public yet. I'm know it's a natural thing to do, but I'm a little nervous about doing it in public. I realize it may be necessary, so I'm trying to keep an open mind. I figured I'd wait to buy nursing tops and such until I see how it works out. I have about 9 weeks after at home, then I go back to work full time, so I will have to be thinking of alternatives while I'm gone(pumping, formula, etc). Thanks for the advice. We are so excited!

Call the lactation consultan where you will be delivering. She was able to fit me accurately for what size I would become and had some good stuff on hand. They also know where to go to buy a good nursing bra.

Tiggerdia, that's an idea I hadn't thought of! I may just give them a call. Thanks!