The Search for the Best Nursing Bra
When I was pregnant with my first baby I set out on a quest to discover the very best nursing bra, and after a year plus of use, I found it. Well actually I found two. I’ll get to why I would pick these two a little later, but first let me set the stage for why I went on this hunt on the first place.
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When choosing products for my baby and motherhood, I had a very thorough approach. I asked friends and family what their top three must-have items and must-not-have items were and then did my own research, reading reviews and searching for alternatives. My husband makes fun of me for how difficult it is for me to make decisions on even the smallest decision, but I like to know all of my options so that I know I am making the best decision with the knowledge I have!
After asking several friends and family members of mine about their favorite nursing bras, I didn’t get any answers to steer me in a solid direction. All of the answers I got were along the lines of, “this one is okay but…” or “this one is my favorite but…”. I left my conversation with them not feeling excited about any bra options so I took it upon myself to discover the best nursing bra.
Because I knew I would be purchasing several kinds of bras and trying to find the right fit, and that would likely come with a lot of returns and exchanges (and I made a lot of returns and exchanges), I chose to not put nursing bras on my baby registry. However, if you are creating a baby registry and planning to breastfeed, you’ll definitely want to add nursing and pumping bras.
Here are the nursing bras that I ended up keeping and my honest opinions after nursing two babies.
Review of the Best Nursing Bras
Momcozy Seamless Wireless Classic Jelly Strip Support Nursing Bra - #1 PICK. I LOVE this bra. I didn’t have it for my first baby but bought one for my second, and ended up buying two more. This is the best bra in terms of providing both comfort and support. The bra gives a natural shape and is great to wear when you are dressing up. I’ll recommend this over and over again.
Soma NURSING Seamless Nursing Bralette - This is a high quality bra and provides good support. The pads are not sewn in to this bra though, which can get annoying. After going through the washing machine, its guaranteed that seamless bras without sewn in pads will have the pads jumbled up and out of place, or the pads will completely fall out of the bra. Similarly, after unclipping the bra to nurse and then pulling it back up, the pads will likely need adjusted.
Target Women's Nursing Seamless Bra Auden - #2 PICK. This is my favorite seamless nursing bra and solves the pad adjustment problem because these pads are sewn in. While the pads are sewn in and I love that, the quality isn’t the best compared to Soma or Kindred Bravely. After a year of use they lost their support and are pilled from wash and wear. To be fair though, I definitely wore these bras the most with my first. They are also at a great price point and I think the quality for the price is very reasonable. Just know that they will not last for multiple babies; I replaced these for my second baby.
Kindred Bravely Sublime® Hands-Free Pumping & Nursing Bra - I have mixed feelings about this bra. To explain, this bra is made for both nursing and pumping, which is convenient for when you are spending a night away or running errands and don’t want to pack an extra pumping bra. However, I found this bra to be the most uncomfortable of all my nursing bras and the extra layer of fabric can get hot.
Soma ENBLISS Wireless Nursing Bra - These were my favorite nursing bras to wear out and about for events, to work, etc with my first. This is a higher quality option compared to the Auden brand from Target and will definitely last through another round of nursing. The bra is made of a silky smooth material and comes in several neutral colors to provide a seamless look under clothes.
Target Women's Wirefree Nursing Bra Auden - This is a solid budget friendly option for a wireless nursing bra. While it’s definitely not as high quality as the Soma wireless bra, it still provides good support and comfort. It will wear down over time so it will need to be replaced after each baby, however I think that’s okay at this price point.
Soma EMBRACEABLE Perfect Coverage Contour Nursing Bra - This is a high quality, comfortable, and supportive bra. I liked having this for the purpose of wearing to events where I wanted optimal support, however I wouldn’t recommend as an everyday bra. Some claim that wearing an underwire bra during the early months of breastfeeding can increase the risk of clogged ducts and mastitis if the bra is too tight. However, there isn’t solid evidence to support theis claim and most reputable sites say that underwire bras are safe and perfectly fine to wear while breastfeeding. Underwire bras provide the most support but aren’t great for pulling up and down when nursing because the wire tends to restrict movement of the bra pads.
Choosing the best nursing bra really comes down to personal preference. In general, I value comfort and work from home so I tend to lean towards seamless wireless bras. One of my cousins wears business casual to work everyday and she likes underwire bras the best. My sister-in-law wears scrubs and has to quickly pump everyday so she prefers the Kindred Braverly pumping and nursing bra. When choosing a nursing bra, consider your lifestyle and daily attire. Try several options and find your favorite. Happy bra hunting!
