The 9 Best Nursing Bras for Breastfeeding Moms
The 9 Best Nursing Bras for Breastfeeding Moms
As amazing as breastfeeding your baby can be, it can also sometimes cause you discomfort—especially in the early days while your milk is still coming in. Finding the right nursing bra is essential for feeling comfy and supported, and a nursing bra is a must-have if you're planning to wear a bra while breastfeeding since most non-nursing styles make it difficult to move the bra out of the way for your baby latch on properly. The fiber scientists and parenting experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab used our expertise in these areas (along with personal experience from our pros!) to find the best nursing bras for breastfeeding moms. Shop our picks, below.
1) ThirdLove 24/7 Classic Nursing Bra
thirdlove.com
If you prefer the feel of natural fibers, this nursing bra uses Pima cotton with some spandex for stretch. It also comes in a wide range of sizes to fit a variety of body types, with band sizes ranging from 32 to 48 and cup sizes A to I. The brand offers free shipping both ways (so you can try on multiple sizes at home) and lets you return for any reason within 60 days.
2) HOFISH Lightly Padded Wirefree Maternity Bra 3-Pack
HOFISH
amazon.com
Not only is this bra a bestseller on Amazon with over 24,000 reviews and an average 4.6-star rating, it's also a total steal and comes out to less than $10 per bra. We especially love its versatility:The stretchy fabric adjusts as your body changes, its foam cups are removable, and it comes with both bra extenders to increase the band width and strap clips that convert it to a racerback.
3) Freya Pure UW Molded Nursing Bra
Freya
amazon.com
Freya bras are designed specifically for larger cup sizes and have always performed well in our tests of bras for large busts. There are several other nursing styles to choose from, but this one has cute lace details along with padding and underwires for support. It comes in cup sizes up to K and like others, has a clip for quick and easy breastfeeding access.
4) Bravado Original Maternity & Nursing Bra
BRAVADO! DESIGNS
amazon.com
This one’s great to wear while hanging out at home during those early newborn days – i.e.when you need support but can’t be bothered to put on a real bra. The cotton-blend fabric, pull-over racerback style (with no metal hooks), and cup-free and wire-free design make this one extra comfy. It's also available in a full cup style for larger busts, and you can get a hands-free insert to help with pumping.
5) Playtex Maternity Wirefree Nursing Bra
Playtex
amazon.com
Designed specifically for band sizes 36 to 44, this full-figure style is made with a unique foam fabric that flexes as your breast size changes. This one's wireless, but Playtex also makes an underwire version using the same flexible foam with more separation and support.
6) Medela Maternity and Nursing Tank Top
Medela
amazon.com
This all-in-one tank is perfect for layering under clothes or wearing on its own as loungewear. The best part is that it eliminates the need to wear a separate bra with its built-in shelf bra that's wire-free and cup-free for a comfortable, minimal feel. The smooth fabric is buttery soft and stretchy so it can adapt from pregnancy to postpartum to extended nursing.
7) Kindred Bravely Racerback Nursing Sleep Bra
Kindred Bravely
amazon.com
Especially in the early days, breastfeeding moms can benefit from the support of wearing a nursing bra 24/7. This soft, pull-over style is comfortable enough to wear while you sleep, and it has pull-down nursing access so you don't have to deal with any clips. In fact, it's entirely hook, clasp, and wire free for a barely-there feel.
8) Brooks Fiona Adjustable Bra
Brooks
amazon.com
This style is a top performer in our sports bra test with its adjustable straps that offer the perfect fit and support. As an added bonus, these velcro-like straps allow for easy nursing access. This one is specifically for medium-impact activities, but its sister style, Juno, is more supportive for high-impact exercise.
9) PUREMSX Basic Strapless Padded Bra
PUREMSX
You won't find many nursing-specific strapless bras because in theory, all strapless bras can be easily pulled down to breastfeed. This one in particular is convenient because of the stretchy bandeau style that's easier to move down, as opposed to ones with molded cups and underwires.
From wireless to underwire styles, these bras have nursing moms covered.