Right Choose For Your Bras..

A quick guide to breasts and bras

* A quick guide to breasts and bras
* What's 'normal'?
* All about breasts
* All about bras
* Breast cancer - the facts
* FAQs

Breast m8s (homepage header)

A quick guide to breasts and bras

Your breasts

* Your breasts will usually start to develop around age 9 to 11, but it’s quite normal for them to start earlier or later than this.
* Everyone’s breasts develop at different rates, so don’t worry if your friends’ breasts are bigger or smaller than yours.
* Breasts are usually fully developed by the time you are 17.
* Your breasts will change at different times of your life – when you have your period, if you have a baby, and when you get older and your periods stop.

Size and shape

* Breasts come in many different shapes and sizes – no one else will have breasts quite like yours.
* Nipples can point up or down, be dark or pale, big or small – and can look different on each breast.
* There’s nothing you can do to make your breasts bigger or smaller – creams, pills, massage, exercise or sleeping on your front won’t make any difference.

Don’t worry!

All these things are normal, and are nothing to worry about!

* One breast bigger than the other.
* One or both nipples turning inwards (inverted).
* Breasts feeling lumpy, smooth, soft or firm.
* Hair growing around the nipple.
* Bumps on the areola (the darker area around the nipple).
* Tender, sore or lumpy breasts just before your period.
* Stretch marks as your breasts develop.

All about bras

* Wearing a bra supports your breasts, which don’t have any muscle.
* You’ll need to try on lots of different bras to find the best one for you.
* Sporty, lacy, padded, underwired – what you wear and when is up to you.
* Most people don’t bother, but it’s fine to sleep in a bra if you want to – just make sure it’s comfortable.
* When you exercise wear a sports bra that gives your breasts good support.
* Check now and then to make sure your bra still fits and feels comfortable.
* If your bra is showing signs of wear and tear it’s time for a new one.

Take it back!

A well fitting bra should feel comfortable, make you feel confident and look good. Your bra doesn’t fit properly if:

* you have marks or lines on your shoulders, sides, back or breasts when you take it off
* your breasts bulge out the top, sides or bottom
* the back strap rides up above your shoulderblades
* the centre of the bra sits away from your body
* the underwiring digs in your armpits
* the underwiring sits away from your body
* your bra cups look wrinkly
* your bra straps keep slipping down your shoulders.

Don’t believe it!

None of these things will give you breast cancer:

* using a deodorant
* wearing an underwired bra
* injuring your breast
* having your nipple pierced.