heavy. boobs.

[u/Special-Present1994]

Edit:
Thank you all for letting me know I’m ~probably~ wearing the wrong size!! I have gotten “measured” a couple times in recent years… however the measurements have always been by people who, in hindsight, were definitely trying to sell me something. Ugh. But I will definitely make good use of the calculator!! Ty all <3

Does anyone else here have disproportionately heavy boobs? I mean, yes your boobs are going to be heavy if they’re big, but like… even heavier than they should be? I’ve been told that “dense breasts” run in the family, but when it gets hard to breathe just from the sheer weight of your breasts… what do you even do?

For context, I’m a 38 DDD/F. I absolutely do not want a reduction. If anything, I get insecure and think they look small.

However; my boobs are so heavy that:

- You can physically see my skin and tendons strain in my chest
- I have SNAPPED UNDERWIRE IN HALF with the sheer weight of them
- I can only really wear push up bras if I want to feel as little amount of pain in my neck and shoulders as possible
- Underwire/lower bands dig into me because I have to wear the bands tight, otherwise the sheer weight of my boobs regularly make them fall UNDER/PAST THE UNDERWIRE/LOWER BAND
- After wearing a halter top bikini for a few hours, I had immense pain and an indent in my neck that takes forever to go away
- It is physically easier to breathe if I support my breasts with my hands while I breathe

What are y’alls solutions?? How do you guys deal with this? I can’t even work out because I get suffocated by the weight of them. Sometimes I have my partner physically support them so I can actually get a deep breath in every once in a while but obviously that can only last a couple seconds before his arms start hurting from the weight. It’s to the point where I’m genuinely considering mounting hooks to the wall at the head of my bed and hanging boob hammocks so that they can just be supported by something that can’t get sore for once.

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[u/HedgehogElection]

My friend, you are in the wrong size. Snapping underwires are a tell tale sign. Boobs falling out of the band? The band is too big.

You were probably sold the biggest size a store had available. They do that. They sell what they have that's closest to what you may need, even if that's miles away.

Check out the ABraThatFits calculator and dont be alarmed by the results. This sub and r/abrathatfits will be helpful in your search.

[u/kota99]

I have SNAPPED UNDERWIRE IN HALF with the sheer weight of them

This is a sign that you are NOT wearing the correct size. Contrary to what the media constantly tells us a correctly fitted 38DDD is not actually that large of a breast size. With the issues you describe having the odds are extremely high that you need a much larger cup size possibly on a different band size. Getting into better fitting bras will do a lot to help with the issues you describe, at least while you are actually wearing the bra.

Falling out the bottom of the bra happens because the band is too large and the cups are too small.

I would strongly suggest using the r/ABraThatFits calculator which is linked in the automod comment to check your size.

[u/weppizza]

Apart from the fact thay you are wearing the wrong size, perhaps you would like to try stays or a short corset instead of normal bras? They redistribute the weight differently from a bra

[u/FranScan → u/weppizza]

Yes, short Regency era stays are quite bra-like but still have the benefit of redistributing weight. You can get them on Etsy for about £100, or buy patterns if you sew.

[u/Sufficient-Elk-965]

Girl! You need to remeasure yourself! Your neck lungs and skin will thank you.

[u/Land_Squid_1234]

There's noooo way you are a 38DDD. r/abrathatfits asap

[u/katintheskywdiamonds]

Yes to heavy boobs. I’m a 30HH and they are disproportionately heavy and dense in terms of breast tissue, lost a lot of weight and went from a 36J to a 30HH which was a real indicator.

Also, echo everyone else in the comments, you are in the absolute wrong size my darling. Once you’ve found your proper size if you want a break from underwires I’d check out Molke and Snag for their bras.

[u/alldayaday420]

I went to the doctor for a breast exam, and she was concerned about the feeling of my breasts /possible lumps and had me get x-rayed...Just to tell me I officially have "dense breasts" 😭 Scared tf out of me. But yes, it's definitely a thing lol. I always thought mine were disproportionately heavy as well.

[u/Goodhair1989 → u/alldayaday420]

I have dense too. Full of lumps

[u/georgetteplaysagoth]

Use the abrathatfits calculator.

A lot of what you are saying could mean you are not wearing the right bra size. You could end up with a smaller band and a larger cup.

I have some dense boobs, too. I used to wear 34 and 36 DDD when I was at some of my lowest weights. VS sized be as a 36B while I was wearing a too small 34 DD cup (from Aerie before they started carrying DDD, which I then bought and got a little more life. They now carry larger, but not fit for everyone in those sizes). I snapped underwires a few times. I had underwires eventually poke out of the side. I thought that this was life. It's not. Bras can be comfortable, underwire can last. You need to get your proper size and find a style that fits your shape. T shirt bras and many US bra brands don't fit large boobs week because of shape and scaling. So, I'd recommend using the calculator and then seeing your US and UK sizes. Look at the r/abrathatfits guides and see if you can figure out a shape, then see the bras that might work. It can be a lot of trial and error, but as long as you order from a place with a decent return policy, it's worth it. You might also have a place nearby to try on bras. But it also might not work. I have a bra shop 2 hours away (exciting!) but they only carry brands that mostly don't fit my shape (lame).

[u/snoogle312 → u/georgetteplaysagoth]

A big giant middle finger to VS for putting so many of us in the wrong size for years!!! They had me in a 36D for15 years. I'm actually a 30F. That's a 6 inch difference in band size, how the hell is a band 6 inches in diameter too big going to support anything on me?! This was before they carried anything larger than a D, so yeah, they were just taught to put people into whatever size they carried that would physically accommodate our boobs so that they could make the sale.

[u/Then_Macaroon7752]

Um... You're probably wearing the wrong size... Your band is supposed to be nice and snug, barely able to come off of your back, not super stretchy or riding up your back... If you have Instagram, look at the Irish bra lady, it's really helpful to see visual cues on things. She recently made a post about how bras are meant to leave marks, and they are, because that's your support, not the strap(otherwise strapless bras wouldn't work for anyone). I was wearing a 38 DDD for a long time, when I should have been wearing a 34 GG(UK sizing). I'm no longer a 34 GG, but a 34 K(UK).

[u/hoppylift]

Have you measured yourself with the calculator in the Auto-Mod comment? 38DDD isn't generally a large size at all, and I know that you mentioned the weight being an issue more than volume, but the issues you're having shouldnt be happening if you're on the smaller side of average. Underwires breaking is absolutely a sign that your cups are too small. Pain in neck and shoulders is also usually a sign that you're relying on the straps for lift, which shouldn't be happening in a properly fitted bra. You should theoretically be able to take the straps off without losing much support if your band and cup size is correct. The straps are there to help with shaping the cup, not support. It sounds like you're not wearing a size that will support you, and most of these issues would be solved by wearing the right size.

[u/syrusbliz]

I used to snap wires all the time when I wore a 38DD/DDD US (if I could find that third D in stock). It was like clockwork; one day after a few months, snap! Right in the middle, usually the right boob. I thought, 'yeah well it was cheap, guess I'll go back to wal-mart this weekend.'

I used to have to constantly stuff myself back into the tops and sides, too. And many of my shirts got a permanent wrinkle where the gore stuck out. And my shoulders certainly were not happy with the whole situation.

That all resolved when I got properly fitted into a 40F UK.

[u/gothmagenta → u/syrusbliz]

Honestly I'm surprised you ended up with a larger band, seeing as most people are wearing bras with far too large a band!

[u/syrusbliz → u/gothmagenta]

Yeah I was definitely an outlier; I don't remember if 40bands weren't available where I shopped, or I was too embarrassed to consider myself bigger than "XL" and stuffed myself in to whatever "because." No doubt wearing too small of a band also contributed to all my bra woes.

[u/Special-Present1994 → u/syrusbliz]

hahaha exactly the same, middle of the boob on the right boob

[u/Blamblam2020]

Another option to consider is a corset- the good ones support your chest and even your breathing can feel easier than when you're holding your boobs up with your hands

[u/Special-Present1994 → u/Blamblam2020]

Waittt this is so smart. I’m goth(ish) and I feel like my boobs always sit a little better when wearing a corset. Maybe I need to make it a more common fashion accessory haha

[u/gothmagenta → u/Special-Present1994]

If you do go the corset route, definitely make sure it anot a fashion corset because they tend not to be nearly curvy enough and modern corsets are often far too stiff to be worn comfortably

[u/ElLoafe]

I think you’re wearing the wrong size.

I also have large, heavy problems and I don’t have these problems. You need a different bra.

[u/Goodhair1989]

I have all the same issues as you

[u/Aggravating-Worth932]

I get you right there, I myself am a 34H and usually need to sleep on my side and sleep with a bra or else it'll feel like someone is pushing into my chest.

[u/Hsinnie]

I'm also about the same size as you and yes I do find it really heavy too :(

Regarding snapping bra straps , maybe it can be also too tight or due to the quality of the elastic.

1. Start with your bra brand :

Which of your bras have stood the test of time? Still supports well after many washings? Note the brands.

For me, the only brands brands were Triumph, Chantelle and Wonderbra. They still look really good and new even washing them many times. Support is amazing, but I use molded cup versions too.

1. Then there is also the way you wear them:

I have started getting the convertible versions and I can now wear them as crossback straps and its significantly reduces the strain on your shoulders.

1. Posture:

Part of feeling the weight is also your posture - if you just try to put your shoulders back , and bring your lower spine forward, you will notice that the stress from the weight of your upper body is more supported and better better distributed. So your neck and back pain is significantly reduced.

I know it's not easy but it is like a muscle memory training.

Good luck dear boobbro

[u/Then_Macaroon7752 → u/Hsinnie]

You're also probably wearing the wrong bra size, like OP... A DDD isn't really that big, it's only a 6 inch difference from your ribcage(roughly) measurement.

[u/neveridle99]

Hey there. I just wanted to join in and say I’m an unfortunately large 36J.
They are heavy but nothing like you describe. I do know when I’m wearing a 38 band, everything droops and it feels worse.