The Best Nursing and Pumping Bras For Large Chests (+ Tips & Tricks!)

 

When my milk came in after giving birth to Jaxon, my bra size went up three sizes from a DDD (you do the math), and I found myself DESPERATELY searching for a bra that was comfortable, functional, and didn’t make me feel like a complete grandma. Thanks to the internet, there are so many different options out there but here are the ones I found that did their job and were comfortable.

PLEASE NOTE SOME OF THE LINKS BELOW ARE AFFILIATE LINKS. I DO MAKE A SMALL COMMISSION WHEN LINKS ARE USED FOR PURCHASING PRODUCTS, HOWEVER, ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. THANKS FOR CLICKIN AND SUPPORTIN.

BEST NURSING BRAS

  • BEST OVERALL: Motherhood Maternity Seamless Rib Knit
    Listen, y’all. It took me 5 months to find this bra but when I did I never looked back. It is supportive, has removal pads, doesn’t show under clothes, isn’t bulky, and HAS SMALL STRAPS. Before I found this bra I felt like most maternity bra straps made me feel like a grandma, but not this baby. I owned it in three colors and it was my go-to on a daily basis. It does tend to go in and out of stock so make sure and check back the MM website or look here or here.

  • BEST FOR LOUNGING AT HOME: HOFISH Seamless Bras
    Look, these bras ain’t fancy. They aren’t super pretty but the multi-pack comes in different colors and they are comfy as heck. They get the job done and are a no-fuss way to feed your baby.

  • BEST UNDERWIRE: Gratlins Lightly Padded Underwire Nursing Bra
    For the life of me, I couldn’t find an underwire nursing bra to fit my large cup but also fit my small ribcage. This bra isn’t the sexiest thing on the block, but it was really nice to be able to get dressed, put on a “real bra” and still be able to breastfeed with ease.

  • BEST SUPPORT: Gratlin Plus Size Cotton Nursing Bra
    Honestly this bra isn’t like anything I have ever seen before. The material is almost canvas-y and I found the structure, even without an underwire, of the bra to be super supportive. I will say the material is not the most breathable, so I would not suggest it during the hot summer months, but I found it great to wear underneath shirts that aren’t skin-tight

  • BEST FOR EXERCISE: Zip-Front Bra

    The exact bra I bought is no longer made but my suggestion would be to purchase one that has a zipper in the front. This makes it so, so easy to take it off and feed that baby after getting your workout on.

BEST PUMPING + NURSING BRAS

  • BEST OVERALL: Bravado! Basics Pumping Bra.
    The issue with most pumping/nursing combo bras is that can get just plain BULKY. This bra, however, was the perfect balance of functional and easy to wear under any kind of shirt. The only note on this bra is that it does take a little wiggle work to get the pump inserted, but once you do it stays in its place. This bra is supportive, while also being extremely comfortable, and doesn’t break the bank. I wore this the majority of our pumping journey.

  • RUNNER UP: Kindred Bravely Sublime Hands-Free Bra
    I was gifted this bra at the start of my pregnancy and I like it. It is functional and easily allows you to go from nursing the pumping. I ended up buying another one from their “Oops” sale (half off!), which essentially means it has a minor stitching error. The main complaint I have is that I felt as if the two bras, which were the same size, didn’t fit the same. This bra can also get a little bulky to wear under a simple shirt, but it worked for around the house or under my winter sweaters.

  • BEST ACCESSORY: Bravado! BASICS Clip & Go Pumping Accessory
    Y’all this accessory is genius. It essentially takes any nursing bra and turns it into a pumping bra. All you do is unclip your nursing bra, attach this baby, and wham bam thank you ma'am you got yourself a pumping bra!! My one suggestion would be to use it in places where you don’t mind your ladies hanging out for a bit while you get the clips in place.

TIPS + TRICKS

  • BEST NIPPLE COVERS: Nippies
    You know what no one told me about breastfeeding/pumping? That if your bra doesn’t have padding, your nipples will probably show through your shirt. I wore these in my bra all the time (even on my wedding day and under some swimsuits!) I love them because they stick to you, don’t show, and don’t lose their stickiness very easily.

  • BEST WAY TO BUILD UP A STASH: The Haakaa
    I will forever and ever sing the praises of the haakaa. I just truly think it is one of the best inventions for a nursing mom. Karrie Locher has a great Instagram highlight on what the haakaa is, how it works, and the best ways to use it.

  • BEST FOR HELPING CLOGGED DUCTS: Legendairy Milk Organic Sunflower Lecithin
    I never really understood what Lecithin did until one of my more experienced mom friends told me, “it basically slicks up your milk so it can pass through the duct easier.” As someone who had a few clogged ducts and mastitis, I was like okay HELLO SOLD. If you have experienced these two terrible things or are changing up your nursing/pumping pattern (or weaning) I would 100% suggest grabbing a bottle of this.

  • BEST HAND PUMP: Medela Hand Pump
    Y’ALL. When I heard people talk about using a hand pump I didn’t fully understand what the big deal was, but this thing was a GAMECHANGER when it came to pumping without having to plug in a big bulky electric pump (I know we are so fortunate to have, too.) The suction on this hand pump was better than my electric pump and I could do it anywhere from the car to the bath (yes, seriously.) This hand pump is a must-have for me.

  • BEST FOR STORAGE: Medela Breast Milk Storage Set
    Pumping is so much work. Tracking when milk was pumped and how long it is good for is so SO much work. This storage and organization set takes out the guesswork. The only other thing I would suggest is having scotch tape and a sharpie nearby. My system for room temp milk was to write when it needed to go into the fridge so both Jeremy and I could keep an eye on it. You can find more info on how long breastmilk is good for here.

    • Another tip: Until your babe is old enough to eat 5-6+ oz at a time, store/freeze breastmilk in smaller amounts so you don’t waste any. You can defrost two 3 oz bags, but you can’t save the extra 3oz if the little one only wants half of what you thaw.

Learning to breastfeed and pump and keep a baby alive is hard enough as it is. Trying to find a bra + tools that can help you get by, while also keeping you supportive and comfy, shouldn’t be an additional stress. I hope this list helps ya find a few bras and feel supported during the wild and wonderful journey that is motherhood.

 
babyLauren Simpsonbreastfeeding, mom, motherhood, nursing, babyComment