Nursing Bra Guide

When Bodily named this the “Do Anything” bra, they really meant it. It’s common for nursing bras to look and be worn like regular bras—many are comfortable enough to be worn all day—but wearing a pumping bra all day? Basically impossible, until this bra came along. Not only does it look like a regular, non-maternity bra, it feels like one, too! The cups unclip and fold down for breastfeeding, but they also separate in the middle so you can easily insert the flanges of your breast pump for hands-free pumping. Because holding pumping bottles up to your breasts for 20+ minutes at a time isn’t a great way to spend your day. This bra is a great option to cover your bases if you’re not sure yet whether you’ll be breastfeeding, pumping or both. And no need to worry about pump parts, bottles and milk falling out; this bra is super supportive, so even after pumping a full five ounces, everything will still stay in place without you needing to hold it up yourself. Keep in mind: Because of the way the cups are designed to allow for pump parts, this bra doesn’t look seamless under tight shirts. Consider wearing a loose or flowy top with this bra to prevent any visible lumps.

Third Love, the brand known for sending comfy, stylish bras right to your doorstep, really ups their game in the nursing bra department. The 24/7 Classic T-Shirt Bra, their most popular bra by far, has gotten a redesign to make it suitable for nursing, and we’re celebrating. This bra is perfect for all-day wear with comfortable, no-slip straps and supportive underwire cups, and it looks totally seamless no matter what you’re wearing on top of it. Not totally sure about it? Their amazing “wear it, wash it, and if you don’t love it, send it back” return policy makes it super convenient to find the perfect fit without ever having to leave your living room.

Nursing pads are a thing of the past with this bra. The removable cups have three layers of ergonomically-shaped fabric to provide comfort, support and shape under clothing, plus a fourth layer of lightweight, breathable, protective fabric to keep any potential leaks from showing through your clothes. Even if you’re going eight (or more) hours without nursing or pumping, you can wear even the thinnest shirt with confidence that it’ll stay dry, no disposable pads necessary.

If you’re looking for a nursing bra that’s both comfortable and stylish, look no further than the Foxy bra from newcomer brand AVYN. Made by two moms who wanted nothing more than comfortable maternity wear that also fit their non-maternity style (hint: not beige or bland), AVYN combines super soft, stretchy fabric with a fun cross-back design, so you get plenty of room for movement, easy one-handed pull-down nursing access and a little sense of style. Keep in mind: While this bra is great for those with small to medium breasts and band sizes, they don’t currently have sizes that work well for large breasts over 38DD.

Frequent pumping is time consuming, and with an average of 160 minutes of daily pump-holding, your hands have better things to do. This hands-free pumping bra from Kindred Bravely is a huge favorite among Babylist parents because of its super soft fabric, underwire-free comfort and ability to support flanges from all major breastpump brands (including wearable pumps!). It also doubles as a regular nursing bra so you can nurse and pump at the same time, and both hands are available to hold baby. It also looks and feels like a regular bra, so feel free to wear it all day, including at work.

Did you know that your body temperature actually increases when you’re pregnant and while you’re breastfeeding? Feeling warmer all over can make it harder to sleep, especially in warm weather. Thankfully, this bra solves for that, at least around your chest area. Wireless, hook-free and made with patented “Brrr” fabric from natural cooling minerals, this bra is soft, comfortable and cool. The fabric is also moisture-wicking and fast-drying, so you don’t have to worry about any breast milk leaks while you sleep. Keep this thing on all night and stay comfy.

Have a large chest? It might be a challenge to find a nursing bra that both looks and feels good if you’re shopping in plus sizes, but this one does both with ease. It’s got major stretch to fit everything inside nice and snug (no sideboob spillage here!), and there aren’t any wires to poke and chafe. Though wireless does mean less support (and large breasts need support, for sure), this bra makes up for that with the wide band and extra-wide, no-slip straps. Another thing that comes with having large breasts: heat. Combine that with the extra heat your body generates during pregnancy and nursing, and you’re going to be uncomfortable. Luckily, the Lyocell jersey fabric is super breathable to keep you cool and comfy all day.

Your breasts can grow as much as two full cup sizes while you’re pregnant, and their shape and firmness are likely to change depending on how full they are. Here’s a bra that does its job no matter what shape or size your breasts take, even if they change morning to night. With no cups or wires telling this bra how to shape, the material stretches to conform to any body with no restrictions. When you’re ready to pump or nurse (or both, hands-free!), there are no clips to deal with. Instead, you’ll just fold the top part down or the bottom part up (whatever you prefer) for breastfeeding. For pumping, you’ll fold the two bra layers to shape an X:

1. Separate the two layers
2. Pull the top of the outer layer down and to one side, so it’s under one breast
3. Pull the bottom of the inner layer up and to the same side, so it’s over one breast
4. Place baby or your pump flange in the hole you’ve created over your nipple, and let the tension of the crossed fabric hold everything securely in place
5. Repeat with the other side

Looking for a little more coverage? This comfy cami provides support for your breasts as well as a bit of shaping for your entire torso. The built-in shelf bra has seamless, fabric-molded cups to support your breasts, with drop-down cups for easy breastfeeding and a side sling for shape. This camisole is also a little bit longer than average, so you can rest assured that your midsection stays fully covered. The adjustable straps help you get the right fit, and the nylon and elastane (spandex) fabric provides both stretch and memory to conform comfortably to your curves.

If you’re pumping only once or twice a day, or even just a few times a week, this bra gets the hands-free pumping job done without making you wear a pumping bra all day. It’s compatible with most major breast pumps, and although it does convert to a regular bra using the included straps, it’s not very comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Most parents just zip it over their nursing bra (cup flaps down) when they’re ready to pump, then take it off when they’re finished. The really good news about this bra? It’s basically one-size-fits-all thanks to the super stretchy back panel.