Do you feel like you constantly have a baby or a bottle attached to you? Are your hands starting to feel cramped from holding your bottles while you pump? Take a look at our best breast pump bras and see how much freedom they can give you.
We all want to give our baby the best start in life (source). I know I did, but I started to feel like a dairy production plant.
I knew the liquid white gold was best for my little one, but it took up so much of my time — until I discovered breast pumping bras.
Oh, the freedom it gave me. Now I’m not saying you’ll be whizzing around the house with the vacuum while pumping, but you will be able to multi-task. Sit and check your emails, relax and read a book, catch up on social media, or even a bit of paperwork.
Let’s see why you should consider getting a breast pump bra and what they do.
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What Is a Breast Pump Bra?
You won’t win any fashion awards — these aren’t the prettiest of contraptions. Anything that has two bottles hanging off those melons is not going to be attractive. What they will do is save you time and leave your hands free while you pump.
It can be a standalone bra for holding two bottles and flanges in place or can double up as a nursing bra. Alternatively, you can express your milk into a bottle while you feed your precious little one at the same time.
These bras can halve your pumping time, doing two bottles at once. This is a huge bonus if, for example, you’re a working mom, pumping during the day in your break (source).
They have some kind of opening in the cup of the bra, near the nipple. This lets you slide the shield into place, attach the bottles and pump, and away you go.
What Should I Look For?
This is a question of choice and lifestyle. Some bras you can wear all day, while others you put on just while you are pumping. Things to consider when looking for a breast pump bra include:
- Suitability: Make sure you buy a bra that is compatible with your breast pump. Some brands produce bras dedicated to their pumps, while others are pretty much universal.
- Comfort: Select the size that is right for you and your ever-changing mammaries. Read reviews to check whether the bra comes up true to size, and order accordingly.
- Material: The majority of breast pump bras will contain a stretch element to hold the flanges in place. Cotton will keep you cooler than synthetic fabrics, such as polyester.
- Adjustability: There are various ways to fasten a pumping bra. Some have velcro, some zips, and others have hooks and eyes. Many bras combine fastenings, making them easy to put on and adjust.
The Best Breast Pump Bras of 2019
These bras can be a great addition to your wardrobe, not for their fashion statements, but their usefulness. Here are our top 10 picks.
1. Simple Wishes Signature Bra
If you want a bustier style bra to let you get on with other things while you pump that precious milk, this could be the one for you.
Available in two sizes, XS–M, and Large plus, there is a bra to fit from a size 30AA through to a 48J. I like that this bra can be adjusted to suit your ever-changing breast and body size postpartum, and will fit over a nursing bra.
Suitable for most brands of electric pumps, the bustier is cotton and spandex, so it’s stretchy but comfortable.
On the downside, this isn’t a bra you could wear all day. It wouldn’t give enough support outside the home and would be visible through your clothes.
2. MOMANDA Women's Underwire Lace
Even though you might feel like a dairy cow, you still want your bra to be flattering and give you a lift. That’s where this offering from Momanda steps in. Not only lifting in the feel-good sense, it’s also demi underwired to hold what you might view as those udders in place.
There are sizes from a 32B through to a 40E and a choice of black or beige delicate lace. Unlike many other pumping bras, this one is comfortable enough to wear all day, under any clothes.
The holes in the cups are suitable for any brand of pump, although some find these are a little offset to the side and slightly small.
3. Lamdico Hands-Free Breast Pumping Bra
Lamdico brings us a longline soft, comfortable nursing and pumping bra for all day use. It has a zippered front for nursing and easy on/off. A double-layered front to the cups with a side slit gives a tight seal on your flange.
It’s easy to put your bottles in place and take them out. This can mean you don’t end up crying over spilled milk.
Offered in small, medium, and large, it runs true to size and has a Velcro back for those small adjustments you might need.
On the downside, the zipper front could make you look like you have a uni-boob.
4. Pump Strap Hands-Free Pumping & Nursing Bra
This is exactly what it says it is. A stretch strap with a velcro fastening and a hole at each nipple for either pumping two bottles or pumping one and nursing.
It comes in one size, suitable for bra cups A through to DD, and a choice of six colors. Many larger breasted women find this is a good solution for them. There is also an optional neck strap for more support, should you need it.
It gives natural compression to the breast, making milk flow faster. This means less time pumping and more time for your baby or doing other things.
5. The Dairy Fairy Breastpump and Nursing Bra
For those of you who still want some femininity even though you’re currently a milk machine, Dairy Fairy has some pretty but practical bras. Made from nylon and lycra, the openings at the front of each breast will allow double or single pumping, or pumping and breastfeeding.
These openings can accommodate the flanges of most breast pumps, and once in place, they’ll leave you hands-free. This bra can be worn all day, although it may not sit well under thin clothes. Sizes available range from 30A to 40H, but this bra might not give a lot of support in the bigger sizes.
6. Medela Easy Expression Bustier
Designed for use with Medela electric breast pumps that have two-piece shields, this is a bustier style bra. It can be used alone or over a nursing bra with the cups down.
Sizes available are small, medium, and large. It can feel a bit snug at first, so make sure you size yourself correctly. It does have two-way stretch for comfort and also to hold the bottles in place while pumping.
This bra cannot be used with other brands of pumps and can be a little tricky to put on.
7. Momcozy Hands-Free Pumping and Nursing Bra
This sports style bra gives you the best of both worlds, hands-free pumping, and a nursing bra. It’s also a style that can be comfortably worn all day.
The sizing tends to run on the small side, but there are 10 inches of velcro adjustment on the back and 2 inches on the front zipper. It has an X design built into the cups, making it easy to insert the shields for your bottles.
The straps on this bra can be detached or crossed at the back, making it versatile for wear.
8. Rumina Classic
Made in the U.S. by moms for moms, this crossover style bra lets you nurse or pump, or both, hands-free. Made from 90 percent cotton, the bra has an adjustable back strap and wireless expandable cups. This is ideal for the changes in the size of your breasts from day to day or even hour to hour.
This bra doesn’t have holes for the flanges of your pump, but uses a two-layered cup to hold the bottles while pumping. This lets you eat your lunch, check your emails, or fold your laundry while expressing.
9. PumpEase from Snugabell
The PumpEase has been designed for moms who want a hands-free pumping experience. It can be worn over a nursing bra or on its own.
There is a choice of 14 print designs made from 88 percent polyester and sizes from 32AA to 48H. The front closes via a hook and eye system. This makes it easy to take on and off and to adjust for engorged breasts.
You can use it with any brand of breast pump, and it can be machine washed. It’s a good idea to use a laundry bag, though, so the fasteners aren’t damaged.
10. Bravado! Clip and Pump
This is an accessory that specifically fits Bravado! nursing bras. That said, some find it can be used with other brands as long as the clips are the same.
It’s made from super soft, stretchy cotton modal and can securely hold two bottles while pumping. Available in small, medium, large, and extra large, it tends to run a little on the small side.
You just pop this on over your nursing bra, release the nursing cups and clip it into place. Attach your pump and flanges and slip them through the figure eight openings. Sit back, relax, and read your favorite book or catch up on social media.
Topping It Off
Busy moms can do with all the helping hands they can get. There never seems to be enough hours in the day, or night, for the multitude of extra tasks. Pumping precious milk can be so time-consuming and tedious.
A pumping bra will give you the option of freeing up your hands, even if that’s just to make a to-do list.
My favorite is the Simple Wishes Signature. It’s fully adjustable, suitable for all pumps, covers many different sizes, and leaves your hands free to get on with other things.
We hope you enjoyed our guide and it’s helped you find a bra to suit you. For sure, it will change your pumping experience. Please leave us a comment on your insights and don’t forget to share this article.
