The Best Bras for Nursing and Pumping

It’s been a while since we’ve talked about bras for moms or moms-to-be, so today we thought we’d highlight where to shop for the best bras for nursing (and pumping). When you’re building your nursing wardrobe, be sure that you buy enough bras so that you won’t have to be constantly washing them when you’re caring for a new baby. (That goes for pumping bottles and cloth diapers and burp cloths, too!)

It can be hard to predict what size nursing bra you’ll need. Kindred Bravely notes that many moms go up at least one to two sizes in the band and may go up three to five cup sizes (!). Seraphine advises to add one cup size and one band size to your pre-pregnancy bra size, or add one cup size and subtract one band size from your pregnancy bra size.

Be sure to check stores’ return policies — and if possible, go nursing bra shopping after your baby arrives.

{related: how to prepare at work for maternity leave}

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Above, some of the best bras for nursing and pumping: 1) Bravado 2) Cake 3) Natori 4) Wacoal (not pictured but also: Elomi and Kindred Braverly!)

• Hall of Fame: Bravado, Cake, Freya, Elomi, Natori, Wacoal
• Under $30: Auden (Target), Bamboobies, Bravado Basics, Paramour, iLoveSIA, Daisity, Motherhood Maternity
• Underwire: Anita, Cake, Elomi, Natori, ThirdLove, Le Mystere, Soma, Dairy Fairy
• Organic nursing bras: Kindred Braverly, Girlfriend Collective, H&M Conscious, Mamajamas (See our entire roundup of eczema-friendly clothing for kids if your little one is having problems!)
• Best for DD+ busts & plus: Girlfriend Collective (sustainable! also maternity leggings and bike shorts!), Cake, Anita, Wacoal, Bravado, Auden (Target), Elomi, Motherhood Maternity, Paramour, Soma, Dairy Fairy, Knix (32A-42G)
• Sports bras: Kindred Bravely, Bravado, La Leche League, Title Nine (“nursing friendly”) [Athleta doesn’t make nursing styles, unfortunately!]
• Nighttime/sleep bras: Bravado, Bravado Basics, Medela, Daisity, H&M Conscious, Mamajamas
• Pumping bras: Simple Wishes, Medela, Hatch, Kindred Bravely, Momcozy, Dairy Fairy, Rumina, and Bravado

{related: check out our roundup of maternity workwear essentials!} (recently updated!)

{related: combination feeding tips: how to feed your baby both breastmilk and formula}

Some of our favorite bras for nursing and pumping include these options:

The Body Silk seamless nursing bra from Bravado (a Hall of Famer brand!) above has a ton of great reviews at Nordstrom, where it’s $49, and is available in four colors in sizes up to XL. (The XL is equivalent to 40 DDD and 42-44 DD/DDD.) It has removable pads and is machine washable.

A few other high-quality, reliable brands that we’ve mentioned before are Cake, Freya, and Elomi, Natori, and Wacoal.

Auden is one of Target’s house brands (launched in 2019) and is a good bet for affordable bras, like the full-coverage underwire T-shirt nursing bra above. It’s $16.99 and has great reviews! The sizes normally go up to 42DDD, but some sizes aren’t in stock — check other styles for more.

Other sources of affordable nursing bras include Bamboobies, Bravado Basics, Paramour, iLoveSIA, Daisity, and Motherhood Maternity.

If you’re looking for an underwire style, try Anita’s microfiber underwire nursing bra. It’s available in four colors in 32C–44E. Because it has one of those Amazon-typical price ranges of $17.99–$84.42, you’ll have to click around a bit to see the price for your size/color preference.

Other brands to check out for underwire nursing bras include Elomi, Cake, Natori, ThirdLove, Le Mystere, Soma, and, er, Dairy Fairy (what is it with nursing bra brand names?).

Note: Although you may have heard that wearing an underwire bra while you’re lactating can be harmful, there’s no real evidence that they can cause clogged ducts or other problems. (But don’t take our word for it — ask your doctor.) Here’s our last discussion on underwire nursing bras.

Wacoal’s underwire contour nursing bra totally doesn’t look like a nursing bra (not that there’s anything wrong with that!). It’s available at Nordstrom (with excellent reviews) for $65 in black and “sand” and in cup sizes up to G (DDDD).

Your bra size may go up A LOT when you’re pregnant/nursing, and if your pre-pregnancy size is already on the larger side, these brands are great to browse: Girlfriend Collective (sustainable — and also has maternity leggings!), Cake, Anita, Wacoal, Bravado, Auden (Target), Elomi, Motherhood Maternity, Paramour, Soma, and Dairy Fairy

Kindred Bravely’s Sublime Support low-impact nursing/maternity sports bra looks like a great choice for a nursing sports bra. It’s $39.99 at Amazon (with a ton of positive reviews) and has five colors available in S–XXL.

If you’re looking for sports nursing bras, take a look at Bravado, La Leche League, and Title Nine. Unfortunately (and to me, surprisingly), Athleta doesn’t offer nursing styles.

Cake Maternity’s Cotton Candy seamless nursing bra, which is wireless and stretchy, is designed to be worn during the day and when you sleep (or should we qualify it as “sleep”?). The anti-pill fabric is double-layered and machine washable. It’s $49 at Nordstrom.

Other brands with sleep bras are Bravado, Bravado Basics, Medela, and Daisity.

If you’re going to pump at work, a hands-free bra is essential! Simple Wishes’ hands-free pumping bra is a bestseller at Amazon, where it’s $34.99. It fits all pump brands and has two different clip positions — one for nursing and one for pumping.

For more pumping bras, also try Simple Wishes, Medela, Hatch, Kindred Bravely, Momcozy, Dairy Fairy, Rumina, and Bravado.

Readers, which do you think are the best bras for nursing and pumping? Which were your all-time favorites when you were in that phase of motherhood? For those of you who are in that phase now, have you bought any great ones lately?

{related: what to wear to work after maternity leave}

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