Support & Resources
The Battle with Bra Sizes (and How We Make It Simple)
We know we're not alone when it comes to the struggle to find the right bra size. There's no standard these days. It's so important (and frustrating), and yet, it varies between brands greatly. And when you're buying online, it's critical to know the sizing chart so that you can get the right product right away. After surgery or during your weight loss journey, it can be even more difficult to identify your size due to swelling or a change in shape as pounds come off. Even during your period, breasts can become larger and more tender. Another issue that women run into is compensating and order too large a band size with too small of a cup, and vice versa. So measuring with an everyday bra is a great way to get a baseline for your heart&core bra size. Before you order from our site, visit our What’s My Size? page and use our guide to get softest, most supportive postoperative bra that fits like it was made just for you. There are many benefits of wearing the right bra size, beyond shape and comfort. It can help: Improve posture Prevent back and neck pain Prevent sagging and stretching of the ligaments in the breast Reduce pressure on your blood vessels and nerves near the shoulders and rib cage (which causes them to build) Prevent tenderness and pain during exercise An ideal bra after surgery: Is free of underwire but has a thick band and gentle compression to support the breast Fits breast adequately without a gap of space in it or the breast spilling over Has a band with a snug fit around the body that doesn't ride up or roll up We encourage you to approach your bra order with this knowledge and your current measurements to truly get a fit that feels good. Questions about your heart&core size? Reach out to us directly at info@heartandcore.com!
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The Best Bra for Weight Loss? It’s Here! Discover the Benefits
Our new Shirl Bra is an excellent choice for women going through weight loss! Why, you ask? This adjustable bra gives them the power to adapt it to their changing shape. Let's start with the details of the design: It begins with the fabric — a buttery soft, quick-dry, breathable blend that wears and washes well. From there we designed a sporty racerback style with wide adjustable straps to keep the girls in place — properly supported while still comfortable! And here comes the exciting part — we have a patent-pending, double zipper front closure with a snap at the top. This feature allows women to continue wearing this compression bra as they lose weight! It can be work with the outer zipper and as the body changes, the inner zipper provides a snug fit. Also, in times of monthly bloating or swelling during menstruation, the outer zipper gives a little extra breathing room. Hint: We recommend snapping it first then zipping it up so it's an easy process! The wide flat band serves as support as well as prevents it from rolling, twisting or binding. The sleek design gives it an overall great look and feel for incredible shape and support! Even better? This weight loss bra HSA and FSA approved, meaning you can use your funds to buy it. The real question is, what size and color to buy? It comes in XS (28”) up to SQ (60”) and black or white. Our sizing guide helps to determine the right fit.For more information or to purchase one, check it out at https://heartandcore.com/products/shirl-bra
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Did You Know Post-Surgical Bras May Be Covered by Your Insurance?
As we all know, breast cancer — along with many other health issues — can be costly and wreak havoc on finances. When items that are necessities, like post-surgical bras, can be covered by insurance, it is important for women to have all the information to use the benefit so they have one less thing to worry about. Most insurance companies allow two bras to be covered (one to wash, one to wear) for a breast cancer related surgery using the L8015 insurance code, which is defined as a post-surgical bra (which means it needs to come with pockets and a set of puffs to qualify). Many times, bras are not provided at hospitals or they leave the patient wanting a better fit or more comfort, so it is good to get bras beforehand to ensure you are going to be happy with the bra you are recovering in post-surgery. There are a couple of ways you can get your bras ahead of time. You will need to have a prescription from your nurse or doctor. You can go to a local fitting shop/hospital shop that can bill your insurance for you. It would be best to call ahead to schedule an appointment and make sure they can approve your insurance. Order your bras online and submit your receipts to insurance. Please make sure you check with your insurance company for details such as how many post-surgical bras you can get and what your dollar limit is per bra. We talked with Kimberly Robinson, owner of Underneath It All in Eden Prairie, MN, a local fitting shop that carries our post-surgical bras to get some additional tips and information. Bras like our Larissa Bra are carried at shops like these because they include pockets for puffs and drain management, often needed in the first stages of recovery after surgery. She also shared with us that insurance companies cover anywhere from 2-12 mastectomy bras each year under the L8000 code, which is defined as a bra with pockets (for forms). Lymphedema sleeves are now being covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and some — but not all — commercial insurance companies. Breast forms are typically covered for 1 per side every two years. Wigs are now being covered under some insurance as well. If you are having another type of surgery, one that is non breast cancer related, you can use your FSA/HSA card to purchase a qualifying bra for your recovery. For example, our Shirl Bra, which was designed with heart surgery in mind, is FSA/HSA approved through https://sig-is.org/ as is our Serena Bra, which is ideal for post-surgical recovery without drains. In fact, all three of our bras are approved by sig-is. If there are other products you want to check, you can do a search on their site. We hope this helps you better understand how to access post-surgical bras by using insurance or your HSA/FSA account. If you have any questions, we are happy to help, and if we don't know the answer, we'll try and point you in the right direction!
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Our Mission: Supporting the Community of Breast Cancer Patients and Caregivers
Beyond delivering comfortable post-surgical bras for breast cancer patients, we work to be a resource and serve the community through contributions to the Susan G. Komen® + Friends of Komen Program. For those of us who live in colder climates, May is the time of year when spring has sprung (minus an occasional snowstorm)! People get excited to be outdoors and enjoy then warmth of the sun. This month kicked off some new business relationships, including a partnership with the Susan G. Komen® + Friends of Komen Program. We have had to overcome some big obstacles, but with the help of new partners, we have been able to grow our product line and support organizations like Susan G. Komen® and all the amazing things they are doing to invest in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer. During May, we are donating 20% of all online purchases to this organization to support their vision. We believe our mom has played a role over the years in helping us navigate opportunities and challenges as a small women-owned business. When we wanted to give up, our mom’s angel wings would show up and bring some good to us that would encourage us to keep looking ahead. We went through the breast cancer journey with our mom and, while haven’t experienced it ourselves, we feel for the women that do. It’s why we push forward to help women, following in our mom’s legacy, who had a career in social work and helping others. Our goal is to be a resource for women, as a breast cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. We will continue to perfect our post-surgical bras, build our product line and assist each patient in her journey in any way we can. Whether you've personally been touched by breast cancer as a survivor or loved one or caregiver of a survivor, we support you.
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A Fitting Tribute: Our Mom, Our Bras & Our Susan G. Komen® + Friends Partnership
The meaningful reason we’ve joined the Susan G. Komen® + Friends of Komen Program. Our mom, the inspiration behind heart&core, was a huge fan of participating the Susan G. Komen® Race for the Cure® every Mother’s Day in Minneapolis, where I live. She loved getting her new T-shirt each year and proudly wore it that day and the days after. It was her day to celebrate beating cancer! And we loved walking as a family. We even wore costumes one year, which made it even more fun for her. Little did we know the cancer would come back and that she wouldn’t beat it the second time — but it was not without putting up a fight. After she passed away, my dad took all of her old T-shirts from trips she had been on, events she had been to and, of course, her Komen Race for the Cure® T-shirts and had them made into a blanket. He made one for Lara and me — and one for himself too. We all still have ours and love that they remind us of how much life my mom got to live and enjoy. This month, we are celebrating and supporting what Susan G. Komen® is doing for women with breast cancer. We’re donating 20% of all online purchases of our Larissa, Serena and Shirl Post-Surgical Bras and eGift Cards to the organization's work to create a world without breast cancer. We thought May was a perfect month to do it in honor of our mom — and all the great moms out there! Whether you've personally been touched by breast cancer as a survivor or loved one or caregiver of a survivor, we support you.
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A gift of support
Your friend is having surgery. Your immediate thought is to write a card, send flowers, bring a pan of lasagna to the house. While it’s heartfelt, there comes that point that they have enough food. An even more powerful and helpful gift? Helping her get ready for surgery. We see orders come through all the time from people sending a bra to someone else. It’s touching to see people share this gift and showing of support. That’s what got us to create our Comfort Bag. We considered everything a woman truly needs during recovery based on our mom’s experience, and hand-selected items that can help a patient during their hospital stay and as they make their way into recovery. That’s why we included a post-surgical bra too. It’s everything a woman needs to feel supported and on her way to the next stop in her journey.
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So…you’re having surgery
Planning ahead for surgery can be a daunting task. There’s the emotional preparation, building the network of family and friends, and the physical considerations. Knowing what you’ll need is not always easy—and you may not always get the guidance you need. Get all your questions answered by your doctor Pack all personal items, loose-fitting clothing and a post-surgical bra Make sure you have someone who can help you Attend all follow-up appointments Listen in to our What You Should Take to the Hospital Video for more helpful tips.
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But really, what’s my bra size??
I was reminded that it’s tough to buy a bra in person or online. That’s why we created our What’s My Size page. It all started when I was asked to be a bridesmaid in a wedding this summer and absolutely fell in love with the dress the bride picked! Tiny dress straps reminded me that my current strapless bra needed to be replaced. So I made the trip to the mall and went to pick out a new one. When wandering around the store, I was immediately stopped and asked if I knew my size. Of course I do! But…upon measuring since last year, I learned it had changed. Thinking, “no I haven’t changed at all,” I still pulled my current size from the rack and headed to the dressing room. After trying a few, I heard a knock at the door. “Did I need help?” Yes, I needed to try that size on after all, just to see. She brought me three bras. They fit like a glove. I brought them home and wore one that day and I felt amazing. It was so comfortable. And it reminded me, the band size and cup were just numbers, I really needed to know what fits so that I felt my best. We encourage you to visit the What’s My Size page to learn more about sizing for you or the woman you’re buying for, so that you can get the best, most comfortable fit in a post-surgical bra. And as always, please contact us with questions—we’re here to support you!
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A heartfelt thank you
“As a nurse, we have the opportunity to heal the heart, mind, soul and body of our patients, their families and ourselves. They may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou With our newest bra in hand and our favorite mannequin to show it off, we set up for our “reunion” at ISPAN 2018 in Chicago. The show has become a place to meet face-to-face with plastic surgery nurses from across the country who are committed to innovations in patient care. After seven years of exhibiting, it’s a mix of familiar faces and new friends, and we’re there to say our hellos, give hugs and thank this community for everything they do to push us forward in our vision. They’re the people who listen to patients, share frustrations and find solutions. They’re there to make the patient journey better. And they’ve become our partners. So we listen. Closely. Over the years they’ve not only inspired us to make refinements to our bras, talking through pain points for patients, but also to better understand the complete patient journey. This has inspired us to explore new ways of supporting the community. After understanding the process of providing bras—how tough it is for many practices to procure, stock and manage inventory, even when the nurses really love a product—we launched the heart&core Cares Program, providing each office with information and an exclusive discount code for their patients to order the bra they need post-surgery. We assist in sizing, in suggestions, in listening at the time of a customer’s purchase—that means there are no headaches or hassles added to a nurse’s busy days, just a simple solution that will add to their reputation for excellence. Because we’re committed to the same outcome: a healthy patient who is as comfortable as possible after breast, heart or lung surgery. And we continue to appreciate nurses for how they make us feel, and how they change the world, one patient at a time. So again, to all the nurses, we thank you for supporting us. And we’ll continue to try supporting you.
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5 steps to self breast-exam success
During October, the world is covered in pink. And we’re grateful. Because what’s the norm today has been a slow progression of awareness, fundraising and research for breast cancer prevention, treatment and awareness. It’s a color of hope for a cure and a sense of community. Of course, when the month ends, we still have to be mindful. My annual mammogram happened to hit in the middle of October. And a few days later I got a letter that brought a sigh of relief—my exam was negative for abnormalities, but also came with a set of bullet points about guidelines from the American College of Radiology and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines: Annual screening mammography at the age of 40 Annual physical examination by your physician Monthly breast self-examination Self-examination. It comes back to me doing my part. And I know I’m not doing it regularly. I know should do better. Because women often are the first to find an abnormality. I did my research and learned that a woman should do her exam 7-10 days after her menstrual cycle starts. Now how to remind myself? Here are a few ideas: Download Keep a Breast’s Check Yourself! app and schedule a monthly reminder. Print out this Breast Self-Exam Shower Card from Healthy Women and keep it in a drawer you regularly use so it’s top of mind each day. More responsive to texts? Bright Pink will text you every month with a Breast Health Reminder. Another friend puts a bright pink fragrant sachet in her bra drawer. When she opens it each morning, she’s reminded that she should be checking her breasts regularly. Maybe it’s just scheduling an appointment with yourself on your calendar. It’s simple but it’s powerful. I’m starting this new healthy habit today. I hope you do too!
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Heart healthy—it’s more than just exercise and diet
In a sea of political conversations and emotions, a Facebook friend posted about the loss of her friend after heart surgery. Not someone I know. And I didn’t know all the details. But she was a young woman, a mother of a young child and a friend of my friend. It broke through the election haze, shedding a little light on life and the value of time and how we spend it. It was also a serious reminder about heart health at every age. While in our family we run a risk for breast cancer, we aren’t focused on heart ailments. If I’m being honest, for a long time, heart issues seemed completely removed from my life as a runner and balanced diet eater. It was during a physical at my last job that I realized I was on a dangerous path. I drove a stressful, brutally long drive to and from work, and based my life around the 2 to 3 hours I’d spend each day on the road. My test results were fantastic—except for high blood pressure. Like concerningly high blood pressure. That first day, I thought it was maybe because I’d fasted and had coffee. But for the next couple years, my tests kept coming back with that same high number. I was warned that consistently high blood pressure may not have symptoms for years but can be damaging to my blood vessels and heart, and increase my risk of heart attack and stroke. Silently it was working against me. And of course, according to the statistics, I’m not alone. Did you know… An estimated 44 million women in the U.S. are affected by cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular diseases and stroke cause 1 in 3 women’s deaths each year, killing approximately one woman every 80 seconds.90% of women have one or more risk factors for heart disease or stroke. Women have a higher lifetime risk of stroke than men. 80% of heart disease and stroke events may be prevented by lifestyle changes and education. Source: goredforwomen.org I’ve since changed a lot of stress factors in my life—at least the ones I can control—but I’m more aware than ever before just what impact our lifestyles can have. Even if you go to the gym every day, eat perfectly, follow all the guides of healthy living. So as we approach a busy, festive and possibly chaotic holiday season, it’s a good time to remember to take a deep breath, focus on what’s important, know that what can’t be done today can be done tomorrow and just enjoy this time. It’s precious for so many reasons. And your heart is counting on you to take care of it so it can continue taking care of you.
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A sunnier disposition
A recent study on Vitamin D contradicted what’s long been believed: that taking it as a supplement was “a way to improve bone health and possibly ward off the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis in older adults.” While this was big news, reported everywhere as kind of a letdown (it’s nice to thinking popping a pill may protect us from bone fractures and breaks!), it’s key to remember that Vitamin D is still an essential nutrient. In researching women’s health as we age, I became well aware of the serious impact it has on our mood and our hormonal balance (for good and for bad!). So it was a wakeup call for me when my doctor told me that my Vitamin D levels were extremely low at my last appointment. And I’m not alone. Over 94 percent of the U.S. population is deficient in their vitamin D levels. I thought about what was happening. I’m a fair-skinned woman who believed I was doing the best thing to always wear sunscreen and long sleeves in the sun. And then I fell into a trap at work—working through my breaks or lunch hours meant I could get a lot more done and maybe even leave earlier—but my time in the daylight dwindled. My doctor said I could go on supplements to boost my levels, but the best way to get back on track was just to spend 10 minutes in the sun, no sunscreen, letting it sink in, not burn(!). It was also another reminder that there are benefits to taking a break, just a 10-minute walk outside, for mental and physical reasons. I know a daily walk isn’t possible for everyone. I live in Southern California and warm days full of sunshine are plentiful. In wintry weather, maybe it requires a different kind of plan. Sun when you can get it for 10 solid minutes or a regular supplement in drearier times of year? But it’s something that impact us now and into our future. So maybe Vitamin D is not the supplement that makes our bones unbreakable, but getting enough is important to keep us—and our bodies—happy. Start by finding out your levels, and determine how you can get more light in your life and enjoy a sunnier disposition!
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