Not only have readers sung the praises of wearing just a nursing tank during those first few weeks postpartum, but I was just reading about how some women prefer to pump while wearing a nursing tank. Both sides can be let down at the same time, allowing easy pump access — and your midsection is covered while you’re pumping, which at least helps you feel like you aren’t naked when pumping at the office. I’ve tried a few different nursing tanks, and the Bravado ones are my favorite thus far (the clips are the best!). They’re $36-$60, available in numerous colors and bra ranges, at Amazon. Ladies, what’s your favorite thing to pump in? Bravado Designs Essential Nursing Bra Tank – Curvalicious Sizing
Psst: my firstborn turns 3 today! Happy birthday, little man.
CPA lady says
I have to admit– I’m somewhat baffled by this nursing bra/tank thing. I’m normally a 32DD, and since getting pregnant have gone up to a 32F (ugh). Is a nursing tank really going to be supportive enough or comfortable for someone like me? How do nursing tanks work? (i.e. What holds you up? Do they have underwires or just a piece of elastic or something? I can’t comprehend a non-underwire bra being supportive) How do you know what size to get? It is my understanding that my boobs will get even bigger when I’m nursing, but then shrink back down? When does that happen? At this point I can’t find a bra that fits for under $70, and I was hoping to not have to spend hundreds more on nursing bras that I’ll only use for a relatively short amount of time. I will if I have to though.
Help me, people who know things! I am so clueless!
(former) preg 3L says
My b00bs got enormous (no idea what size) but once I got my milk supply under control (around 2-3 months postpartum), I shrank to a 32DDD. Prepregnancy, I was a B. So far, I’ve been in target nursing tanks (shelf bra) 24/7 but I purchased 3 underwire bras for going back to work (next month). I’m very interested to hear what other ladies have to say about the tank above!
KJ says
I was a 36F before pregnancy, and I’m a 38F now. I exclusively wear the non-underwire Bravado Body Silk Seamless nursing bras. It has a wide elastic band around the bottom that seems to provide enough support for me. I was really picky about bras before, getting fitted and spending tons of money to get the right kind of comfort and support, so I am surprised that this is working for me. No, I don’t have quite the lifted look that I prefer, but I’m perfectly comfortable.
As far as how big you will get, it’s tough to know. I really didn’t get that much bigger. Before my baby was born, I bought a few different types of nursing bras and tanks. Once I figured out what I like, I bought a bunch in that style.
Carrie M says
I think the Bravado tanks run a little short, or at least the ones I bought are. But they do a good job of helping me feel sucked in!
I got bigger during pregnancy and bigger again when my milk came in. I haven’t been re-fitted yet, so I’m not sure what size I am, but I am at least 2 cup sizes bigger. For weeks postpartum, all I wore was a nursing tank. No, it’s not that supportive, but it is SO MUCH easier than wearing a bra. You will have your b – – bs out all the time. And you won’t be doing much in terms of activity, so it’s not that big a deal that you don’t have a ton of support. YMMV, and you should do whatever works best for you. But definitely pick up a couple nursing tanks in a few different sizes before you deliver, just so you have some options. (Get them second hand if you can, esp. if you’re concerned about sizing.) I found ones on sale at Target that I bought in large and XL. I still wear the large ones now. For more supportive tanks, I’ve heard the Glamourmom tanks are fantastic. My BFF is a 34G and she swears by them.
In terms of mechanics: There are clips on the straps of the tank/bra so that you can unclip the front and pull it down below your b – – bs (not sure if this word will put me in moderation). Perfect for nursing (let one side down) and for pumping (let both sides down).
For nursing bras: There are some with underwire, but a lot of LCs recommend not wearing underwire in the beginning. It can impede your milk from coming in – I think maybe it can restrict the milk ducts or something? I’m not sure as to why. I also avoided underwire because I would sleep in whatever I had worn that day – nursing bra or tank. I was really uncomfortable at night in the beginning, so it helped having something keep my b – – bs in place.
For pumping at work, I’ve mostly been wearing nursing bras and sometimes a bra + nursing tank. I know the bras aren’t doing anything for my breast shape, and only offer little support, but it makes pumping slightly easier. Once I get fitted for new bras, I will probably go that route solely. I also keep a cardi at my desk to keep warm while I pump. For a handsfree bra, I highly, highly recommend Simple Wishes. So much better than anything else I tried and extremely adjustable. There’s a Velcro panel in the back. I put that bra on over top of whatever tank or other bra I’m wearing, which is nice – one less thing I have to take off.
Diana Barry says
I used the Glamourmom tanks in the long length. Perfect! HOWEVER, if they are too tight in the bust, then take them off and find one that is big enough. I wore some right postpartum (6 weeks?) with #2 and ended up with mastitis because they were a little too tight.
I am a 32D normally but more like a 36I when I was super engorged.
hoola hoopa says
I usually wore a bra for pumping at work, too, and I wore a halogen cami with the straps loosened enough to pull down under my bust. (The cami was under another top… obviously). You might find that easier than a nursing tank over the nursing bra.
Anonymous says
LOVED my Bravado nursing tanks, especially for the first 3 months while I was home on maternity leave. I was a 34DDD pre-pregnancy and one reason I love the Bravado tanks is they come in bra size. I was a 38H bra size, and my tanks were 38F/G. I just didn’t fit comfortably in the non-bra sized nursing tanks I got from Target, or to get ones where the top was big enough, the bottom looked like a tent.
Also, there is a lot of advice out there that you should wear underwire while you’re nursing. Apparently it can lead to clogged ducts or otherwise affect your supply. I always found I had plenty of support with the tanks – it’s not like you’re going running, you’re just caring for a baby. And once I went back to work, I also liked my Bravado nursing bras the best after trying several brands (again went with no underwire).
With my first, born in December, I wore open cardis over my tanks, so access was really easy. My second was a summer baby so I either wore the tank by itself or throw something super lightweight over it. Much easier to access for both feeding and pumping when I didn’t have to lift a shirt up.
Also, another reason tanks are best the first few weeks after birth is because your rib cage will shrink down a lot the first 1-2 months after having a baby so your band size for a nursing bra will change dramatically. The fit of a tank is much more forgiving. This is why they don’t recommend going out and getting all of your nursing bras right before or after having the baby (along with changing cup size as your milk comes in).
hoola hoopa says
I’m a 32G when nursing, and Bravado tanks (but only bravado tanks) really are supportive enough. They are really good quality. They are basically a shelf bra… but a really good one.
Your breasts will go up 1-2 additional cup sizes when your milk comes in and stay that size for “a while.” They’ll eventually find equilibrium at probably 1 cup size below peak, at maybe 6 months post partum? Nursing tanks and even stretchy underwire nursing bras will most likely fit the entire time you nurse (I weaned my kids between 18-24 months). IME, they’ll eventually return to their pre-pregnancy size after you wean, but with less perk.
If you use breast pads, you really only need two nursing bras. I love Anita, fwiw. They are in the $70 range.
KJ says
I pump in a thin Old Navy, zip-up hoodie and a hands-free bra – I put the bra on over the hoodie. The hoodie is key for avoiding hypothermia in my freezing office, and, yes, for not feeling quite so naked.
CHJ says
Happy Birthday to your little guy!
(former) preg 3L says
Ditto!! Happy birthday Firstborn!
anonmama says
Simple Wishes hands-free bra is a life-changer if you are pumping! Allows you to get yourself hooked up and be completely hands-free, whether that is to get work done while you pump, do breast compressions if you are dealing with clogged ducts (ugh!), or just to eat lots of candy while you pump (reward yourself for that hard work!!!)
I lived in nursing tanks around the house and wore them to bed, but I preferred a more supportive, padded wire-free bra for work. I needed padding to help conceal the nursing pads that I always had to wear to prevent leaks, and I just liked the uplifted, supported look more for work.
greenie says
I loved the Simple Wishes hands-free bra… I always read a book while pumping (in the bathroom ughh…. wish I had computer access or a smartphone at the time!… I also wish the laws about pumping at work changed BEFORE my first was born)
NP says
Glamourmom are the very very best!! Supportive, long, comfortable, wash well and I prefer that they even provide support when unclipped, unlike Bravado. A little pricey, but for me well worth it. I am a 36I
JJ says
Glamourmom are what I swear by, as well. I loved how long they were and they were supportive enough for my 38G/E chest. No, you won’t be as hiked up as you would be with an underwire, but you’re presentable and–most importantly–comfortable.
hoola hoopa says
Ha! I hated Glamourmom. They didn’t come in my size, but I hated the nip hole and they felt scratchy. I have friends who loved them and hated bravado! To each their own :)
Meg Murry says
The Bravado tank I had definitely had a lot more support in it than the average nursing tank, and it also had some kind of gathering/ruching to make it more like 2 separate cups instead of a uni-boob shelf bra. The Bravado ones available at Target are in-between the higher quality Bravado ones and the generic Target ones, IME.
I agree with others – not necessarily the most flattering look, but not super un-flattering, just not quite as lifted and separated. It was good enough for me most days when I was first nursing, and I especially liked keeping my stomach covered while pumping or nursing.
hoola hoopa says
I am a huge fan of the cami under, top over pumping/nursing technique, so I almost always wore bravado tank outside of work with a top over it. At work, I typically wore an underwire bra with a halogen tank whose straps I kept loose enough to pull down.
EEMom says
I found a brand of pumping/nursing tanks on Amazon called Rumina. I have three tanks and two bras that I have been wearing for the past 6 months for pumping at work. I’m not the most well endowed mom so I don’t need a ton of support. Overall, I’m a fan of the tanks more than the bras. They are long enough, layer well, provide coverage while pumping (you don’t feel naked while pumping) and they have convenient snaps I you want to nurse or need to hand express.
Also the customer service of their amazon shop was excellent when one of the bras I bought started to rip.
In House Lobbyist says
I used the target and motherhood tanks in XL and L. I haven’t nursed in 4 months now but I still love the nursing tanks to sleep in even though they are too big now. I never wore them out and about except for those first week or two dr appointments. The boobs become such a big part of your life that you want the easiest thing possible even if the girls aren’t completely supported. For pumping at work I wore a nursing bra with a tank top or cami that I could just pull down to pump so I had some coverage and didn’t have to get totally naked. I also did that for nursing when I was not at home.