15 Best Nursing Bras For Breastfeeding Moms In 2021
Rohit Garoo is a writer-turned-editor with over 9 years of experience in content writing, editing, and content marketing. He did his bachelors in Science at St. Xavier's College, Hyderabad, and masters in Business Administration at Osmania University.
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Wearing the right nursing bra is essential for breastfeeding the baby comfortably. The ideal nursing bra supports the breasts and makes them easily accessible for feeding. Picking a nursing bra of the right size and type is vital. And for that, you need to know the options you have. Here is a MomJunction guide on nursing bras and a list of the 15 best nursing bras that you may consider.
Top Picks
15 Best Nursing Bras
1. Hofish 3Pack Seamless Nursing Bras
Size range: Small to XX-Large
Type: Clip down
Features:
- The pack consists of three bras along with three pieces of bra clips and extenders.
- The bra cup can be clipped down easily with one-hand. The inner straps are cut in a way to provide the baby with convenient access to the breast.
- The torso strap provides adequate support. It comes with removable molded foam pads.
- It is a breathable bra and is seamless, which means it won’t be prominently visible through your dress.
2. Bravado Seamless Nursing Bra
Size range: X-Small to XX-Large
Type: Clip down
Features:
- The bra is available in a wide range of sizes, making it a good choice for women of all bust sizes.
- The material is soft to provide you all day comfort. The bra is also wire-free and seamless.
- The removable foam inserts help maintain the shape and also absorb a bit of leak.
- The fabric has four-way stretchability, which helps accommodate changes in the breast shape.
3. Kindred Bravely French Terry Racerback Nursing Sleep Bra
Size range: X-Small to XX-Large
Type: Pull aside
Features:
- The bra has a racerback style strap at the rear, which provides comfort and also keeps the bra in place when you sleep.
- There is no underwire, which means the bra is soft and comfortable even when you wear it throughout the day. The torso band keeps the bra in its place without pinching you.
- You can use the bra during other activities like weight exercises, yoga, and jogging.
- The fabric stretches according to the changes in your breast size.
4. Gratlin Lightly Lined Plunge Nursing Bra
Size range: 32C to 40E
Type: Clip down
Features:
- The cups have full coverage and are lightly padded for optimum breast support. The bra has an underwire to maintain its shape.
- The light plunge at the center makes the bra usable with different types of dresses.
- The adjustable shoulder straps double up as an inner sling to provide support when you clip down the cups.
5. Lamaze Intimates Cotton Spandex Nursing Bra
Size range: Small to XX-Large
Type: Pull aside
Features:
- It is made entirely from soft, stretchable fabric, which makes it an ideal nursing bra for overnight use.
- The torso band is elastic and retains its shape even on being pulled aside often.
- The wide shoulder straps hold the bra firmly while the V-neck design makes it easy to pull aside the cup.
6. Cake Maternity Cotton Candy Seamless Nursing Bra
Size range: Small to X-Large
Type: Clip down
Features:
- The bra is made from a durable fabric that is composed of polyester and spandex.
- The fabric retains shape even after multiple feeding sessions and washes. No chemicals that could be harmful to the baby are used in the fabric.
- There is no underwire. Instead, the bra uses an elastic fabric that keeps the bra in its place, without making you uncomfortable.
- The racerback strap style at the back helps the bra maintain its position even when you wear it while sleeping.
7. iLoveSIA Full Bust Nursing Bra
Size range: Small to XX-Large
Type: Clip down
Features:
- You can unclip it with one hand to bring down the cups. The shoulder straps are adjustable.
- The manufacturer provides highly stretchable fabric around the cups. It supports the breast during phases of shape change and lets the bra retain its shape even after repeated use.
- Even when you remove the molded foam pads, a wide sling on the inside helps the bra retain its shape.
8. Rumina Essential Pumping and Nursing Bra
Size range: X-Small to X-Large
Type: Pull aside; flaps around the cup to insert breast shield
Features:
- It is a wireless bra that you can use for both nursing and pumping. You can insert the breast shield to one breast while feeding the baby from the other breast simultaneously.
- The bra is designed such that the shoulder straps criss-cross with the torso strap to form the cup. It means there are no permanent holes on the bra cup.
- You can lift the bra cup to only reveal the nipple and position the breast shield for pumping.
- The bra is made from stretchable fabric. The cups can expand to accommodate increasing breast size during lactation.
9. Kindred Bravely Simply Sublime Nursing Bra
Size range: Small to X-Large-Busty
Type: Clip down
Features:
- The adjustable shoulder strap and four hook closure of the torso strap make it a good fit.
- It is made from a soft fabric and is seamless. It does not contain an underwire and is comfortable for night time usage.
- The cups are adequately padded to support the breast and for shape retention.
10. The Dairy Fairy Arden Nursing and Pumping Bra
Size range: Petite Plus to XX-Large
Type: Clip down for pumping and pull aside for breastfeeding
Features:
- The bra is composed of two layers. The inner layer has a bra cup with a hole at its center for attaching the breast shield/pump flanges.
- The outer layer clips to the torso band and is designed to hide the inner layer’s holes entirely.
- Unclip the outer layer to reveal the inner layer for pumping. Pull aside the entire cup for breastfeeding.
- You get three closure setting on the outer layer. It lets you adjust it according to the changing shape of the breast during lactation.
- The straps are detachable and adjustable to a criss-cross racerback style pattern.
11. Lataly Womens Sleeping Nursing Bra
Size range: S to 2-XL
Type: Clip down
Features:
- There is no underwire. The fabric is soft and stretchable for optimum support of the breasts.
- The cloth at the center, between the cups, is ribbed for extra stretchability when the breasts change in size.
- It comes with removable molded foam pads that insert into the fabric within the cup. The shoulder straps are adjustable.
12. Cakye 3Pack Racerback Nursing Bra
Size range: Small to X-Large
Type: Pull aside
Features:
- The fabric is 95% cotton which makes the bra breathable, soft, and extra comfortable.
- You can use the bra for overnight use. The racerback design holds the bra in its place.
- There is no elastic torso band. It makes wearing the bra for extended duration very convenient.
- A built-in sleeve within each bra cup provides space to insert breast pads.
13. Momcozy Hands-Free Pumping and Nursing Bra
Size range: Medium to X-Large
Type: Pull aside with front zipper; flaps on the cup to insert breast shields
Features:
- You can unzip the front zipper and pull aside the cup to one side for breastfeeding. For pumping, place the breast shields through the flaps that hold it throughout the procedure.
- You can breastfeed from one breast while pumping from another.
- The back strap has ten inches of Velcro area, which lets you stick the strap at any position you feel the most comfortable.
- The shoulder straps are removable. You can hook the strap in a standard position or a criss-cross position for extra support.
14. Desirelove Seamless Nursing Bra
Size range: Small to X-Large
Type: Clip down
Features:
- A simple, clip-down design, which makes one-hand breastfeeding easy.
- The fabric between the two bra cups is extra-stretchable.
- The wire-free design makes the bra comfortable for nighttime use.
- The manufacturer ships the bra with bra extenders and strap clips. The clips let you pull the shoulder straps together and merge them at the center, thus providing better support.
15. Caramel Cantina 4 Pack Nursing Maternity Sleep Bra
Size range: Small to X-Large
Type: Pull aside
Features:
- The front has a soft double layer without the use of underwire and thick padding. It helps keep the bra comfortable even during sleep.
- The bra cups hold their shape quite well and provide optimum support.
- The bra provides easy, one hand pull aside, access making breastfeeding convenient.
What Is A Nursing Bra?
A nursing bra is designed to provide adequate support to the breast during lactation. Unlike a regular bra, a nursing bra has a removable cup. It allows you to access the breast without having to take off or move the bra. The shoulder and the torso strap stay in place for support. Once you are done breastfeeding, you can hook the cup back again. The other names for nursing bra are maternity bra and breastfeeding bra.
Is Pumping Bra The Same As A Nursing Bra?
No. Here are the differences between the two:
| Nursing Bra | Pumping Bra |
|---|---|
| The bra cup pulls out of the way | The bra cup does not entirely pull out of the way |
| Provides access to the entire breast | Provides access to only the nipple |
| Will not have slots to fit the suction cup of a breast pump | Will have slots to fit suction cups |
| It cannot support hands-free pumping | Designed for hands-free pumping |
Some nursing bras are designed to work as a pumping bra and vice-versa. You will be able to pump with a nursing bra, but you will have to hold the collection cups with hand. On the other hand, a pumping bra may not provide sufficient access to the nipple for you to breastfeed with it unless the bra is also designed for nursing.
What Are The Types Of Nursing Bra?
The following are the most common types of nursing bras:
- Clip down: The cups stay attached at the base, to the torso strap of the bra, and does not fall off. You can unhook one cup or both at a time. There can be several variations to this design. For example, the cup unhooks from the center and moves sideways in one model, while in the other the hook is attached to the bottom torso strap instead of the shoulder strap.
- Pull aside: A pull aside nursing bra allows you to pull the cup to one side to access the breast. You may be able to pull aside one cup or both cups depending on its stretchability. The bra is made from stretchable fabric and does not contain an underwire.
Another design attribute is that the shoulder straps crisscross at the bottom of the bra, near the cups. It provides optimum coverage by preventing the cups from getting loose at the center. There can be several variations to the pull-aside design including those with zippers and hooks.
- Nursing and pumping hybrid: These have a combination of designs to work for both pumping and nursing. For instance, the bra can have a pull-aside design with a flap at the center of the cup to insert the breast shield of a breast pump. Alternatively, it could be a clip down style with a central flap to insert the breast shield.
Choosing the right nursing bra might become difficult when you don’t know what to look for.
How To Choose A Nursing Bra?
Choosing the right nursing bra is essential to be able to feed the baby whenever and wherever you are. Keep the following five points in mind when considering a nursing bra:
- Support: Your breast shape could change during the initial phase of lactation. Pick a bra that will support and accommodate these variations in your breast size.
- Comfort: A nursing bra must be comfortable enough to let you do your daily chores with ease. You would like a bra that is breathable and which does not feel like its tugging at you.
- Type: Do you prefer the clip down style or the pull aside style? A clip down style can be good for a blouse or a top that can be lifted. A pull aside can work better for dresses that unbutton from the center. There is no single rule here, and you can pick the type that works best with your attire.
- Coverage: This can vary as per the nursing bra and its type. The size of your breasts also determines it. So pick one that provides optimum coverage.
- Size: Nursing bras are available in different sizes, just as the regular bras are. So you can pick the size similar to that of your regular, non-nursing bra.
However, changes in the breast size and shape can make choosing the right size for your nursing confusing.
How To Pick The Right-Sized Nursing Bra?
Refer to your present bra size to get an idea of the best fit of the nursing bra. If you find your present bra size uncomfortable due to the engorged breasts, then you can go a size up. Several manufacturers recommend buying a bigger size bra to accommodate the changing breast size.
A bra size chart, app, or even the manufacturer’s chart is handy for checking the right size before making a purchase. Once you’ve figured out the ideal size and fit, you can go ahead and purchase one.
These nursing bras make breastfeeding simple by providing easy access no matter where you are. Those bras with support for breast shields let you pump while holding the baby in your hands. Remember to double check the size before buying. Take measurements as per the manufacturer’s guidelines. Getting a nursing bra of the right fit will let you use it better and longer; probably throughout your lactation!
What features would you consider while buying a nursing bra? Let us know in the comment section below.
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