Turns out “mom” is just short for super busy lady with a to-do list longer than the receipt you get at CVS. Finding the time to dedicate to pumping — because you can't do anything else with your hands — can feel nearly impossible.
With the right pumping bra, however, you can express milk for your baby and use your free hands to eat, text, or swipe through Pinterest for 40 minutes creating your dream backyard all at the same time. The best pumping bras are comfortable, supportive, and easy to clean — because let's face it, leaks happen. The team at Best Products has evaluated these bras to determine which ones do the most, while also keeping your budget and needs in mind.
When you're buying a hands-free pumping bra, the biggest concern is how and when you'll be using it. Is it something you're planning on only using at home, or do you need it while you're at work? If you're only using it at home, you don't need to stress about whether or not one can see it under your clothes, or whether you need to adjust it during the day. However, if you do need to wear it out, you'll want to choose a bra that's not as bulky.
Materials
The materials vary widely. Some are more elastic than anything else, and some are more like regular bras. The elastic, tube style are amazing for compression, and they're designed for pumping a great amount of milk: They can really hold up those bottles!
The more “regular” style bras may need to have the milk transferred partway through, because they’re drooping or sagging. Also, the tube bras are generally not size-inclusive, which is incredibly unfortunate.
Compatibility
Compatibility matters because not all bras fit all pumps. Chances are, if the bra is designed by a pump manufacturer, it's really only going to work with that pump, so you want to make sure you buy one that works with the pump of your choosing.
Here are the best pumping bras for you, no matter your style and budget.
Bounce between pumping and nursing — or do both at the same time — with the Momcozy Pumping Bra. The stretchy yet breathable fabric holds the suction cups of the pump securely, in order for you to pump comfortably.
If you've reached breastfeeding guru status and are able to pump and nurse simultaneously, this bra even has a clasp to allow easy access for your hungry babe.
Features: strap adjusters in the front, straps convert to racerback
Our executive editor Christine Anderson, who is exclusively pumping, is exclusively wearing The Do Anything Bra by Bodily.
"This pumping and nursing bra from Bodily has completely changed my thoughts and feelings about pumping bras. I was suffering from bras that were too compressive, had too many layers, and were giving me painful clogged ducts. Since I stopped messing around with other lackluster pumping bras, I've dramatically decreased the amount of clogs I get. Plus, I'm an overproducer — so I'm often engorged. I can easily loosen the straps from the front between pumping sessions to allow for less restriction. It's been a game-changer for me."
The Do Anything Bra is discreet in its construction and super soft. After I had my son in 2020, I owned one of these. Since I had my daughter in 2021, I've increased my stock to four. I'm on a Bodily-only bra rotation, and I plan on continuing to wear them even after I'm done pumping. I've got at least six more months of pumping to go, and this bra makes what can feel like a very tedious part of motherhood a little bit more bearable.
Who said pumping bras have to cramp your style? This lacy pumping bra gives you the elegant appeal of the lingerie you're probably missing from your non-leaky boob days.
The gentle underwire offers sturdy lifting support that's comfy, while also helping to get the pumping cups in place.
This black bra-cover option looks just like a sports bra! The bottom band of this bra cover offers secure support, so you can pump hands-free without worry. The lining is super soft, and the chest band doesn't ride or roll up like many nursing sports bras, either.
You'd never know this silky bra is perfectly functional when it comes to pumping that liquid gold! This black bra is lined in pretty lace, and it features discreet slits in the front, so you can slip that suction top into your collection bottles.
It's a delicate piece of lingerie, but it's secure enough for you to stay hands-free while pumping.
This bra is perfect for pregnancy, nursing, or pumping. Mamas love the super soft material that won't bother sensitive nipples, and it just takes a simple second to unhook the full-coverage cups. There's easy access for both pumping or nursing.
The hormones of pregnancy and the postpartum period can lead to wild and strange things — like night sweats and hot flashes. It feels gross and uncomfortable, and your bra can end up feeling too tight, too hot, and overall just unwanted. This nursing and pumping bra by Ingrid & Isabel is made of a special advanced cooling fabric that cools your skin, wicks away moisture, and dries lightning-fast.
Not only does this bra free up your hands during pumping sessions to talk, text, or type, but it also helps create a better seal for the pump flanges to improve suction. The one-size-fits-all design zips in the front and goes right over your nursing bra.
The brilliance of this design is that you can simply fasten it over any of your traditional nursing bras (cup down), and it provides firm, hands-free support for pumping.
Then, it can be put right back in the bag with your pump. This product has hundreds of 5-star reviews on Amazon, thanks to how seamlessly it fits into your life.
This one-size-fits-most, extra stretchy pumping bra is designed to make hands-free expressing a breeze. Most nursing moms can attest to the size fluctuation that happens when you're in a constant cycle of producing milk, nursing, and pumping.
The Pump Strap can snugly fit around your breasts, whether they’re extra full or whether you’re expressing after feeding your baby.
Cat BowenParenting EditorCat Bowen is the parenting editor at BestProducts.com where she researches all of the best products for families from pre-conception through their teen years, focusing on matching scientific evidence with real-life needs.
Christine AndersonExecutive DirectorChristine is the Executive Director of Content Strategy for Hearst's Enthusiast Group (BestProducts.com, Popular Mechanics, Runner's World, Bicycling), where she spends her days digging through data for trends and analyzing user behavior (but also there is lot of shopping); she’s a certified yoga instructor, avid half-marathoner, new mom, partial vegan, dog lover, future sommelier, and hiker/camper extraordinaire.
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