A career brought a 14 year old young lady, in to see me. She was 30 weeks pregnant and in lots of pain and general discomfort. This young lady had never had a bra fitting before, therefore didn't realise how a bra should be worn and fitted. This young lady was also covered in stretch marks due to over the years of wearing bras which did not fit or cover the breast correctly!
I started by explaining, the different stages her body was going through. I explained that she needed a non-wired support or maternity bra as she needed growing room, because she had still got a further 10 weeks to grow! I also explained that by wearing wired bras during pregnancy, this could cause medical issues later including mastitis and it could even stop her body producing enough milk for her unborn baby.
I now needed to give this young lady growing room in her band and cup to help reduce pain and discomfort. And to keep costs down for her, if I didn't give growing room she would require a new bra and different sizes every 3-4 weeks, due to pregnancy.
She had never been advised not to wear wired bras until she was 16, due to never being fitted before (this is due to the breast still growing and forming). This is because you cannot allow for any growth as the wires or bones will dig into the arm if too big, also the pressure from the wires or bones can stop the breast from growing and forming correctly. Also up to the age of 16, you need growing room as this is not only more cost effective for the parent or career, as growth spurts can be every 4-6 months up to the age of 16, but is a safer option while the breast are still forming.
By wearing an ill-fitting bra this can cause medical problems later in life, for example breast pains, boils, abscess and mastitis to name but a few.