Best nursing bras
Your body will be three different sizes in the first six months. Here's which bras handle that, what to skip, and how many you actually need.
Postpartum · Gear
TL;DR
You don't need 12 nursing bras. You need 2-3 sleep bras (Kindred Bravely Simply Sublime is the gold standard), 2-3 daytime nursing bras (Auden, Bravado, or Hatch), 1-2 hands-free pumping bras (separate article), and 1 nursing tank for layering. Wireless beats wired during the early postpartum months. Buy your prepregnancy size as a starting point but expect to size up 1-2 cups in milk. Size your band by your rib cage, not your bust.
Why nursing bras are different
Nursing bras need to do everything a regular bra does, plus:
- Open one cup at a time for feeding.
- Accommodate breast size fluctuation throughout the day.
- Accommodate weight changes across the postpartum year.
- Be comfortable for 24-hour wear (you'll sleep in them at first).
- Not press on milk ducts (which causes plugged ducts and mastitis).
Underwires get the most flak for plugged ducts. The reality is more nuanced — wires that fit properly are fine, but most bras fit poorly during nursing because the breast is changing size constantly. Wireless options remove the variable.
The 4 bra types you actually need
1. Sleep bras
Soft, no underwire, easy clip-down access. For the first 6-8 weeks you'll basically live in these. Worn 24/7. They handle the unpredictable size swings of early milk.
Best pick: Kindred Bravely Simply Sublime. Most-recommended sleep bra. Soft, supportive without being constricting. Multiple inserts for breast pads. $40-55.
Runner-up: Lansinoh Nursing Bra. Cheaper ($25), softer, fewer features. Good for layering inserts.
Budget: Amazon brands like iLoveSIA. $15-20. Adequate but lower-quality fabric.
2. Daytime nursing bras
Slightly more structured. Worn under clothes once you start leaving the house at 2-3 weeks postpartum.
Best pick: Bravado Designs Body Silk. Wireless seamless, great support, easy nursing clip. $55-70.
Runner-up: Auden (Target brand) Nursing Bra. Affordable ($20), comes in many sizes and colors, easy to find.
Premium: Hatch Bralette. Pricey ($60+) but high quality. For when you want one nice bra that holds up.
3. Pumping bras (hands-free)
See our dedicated hands-free pumping bras article.
4. Nursing tanks
One layered tank with built-in nursing bra. Easier than coordinating shirt + bra. Great for sleep, lounging, leaving the house in a pinch.
Best pick: Kindred Bravely Sublime Bamboo Nursing Tank. $35.
Budget: Old Navy Maternity Tanks. $25.
The 9 nursing bras to actually consider
Kindred Bravely Simply Sublime Nursing Bra
The cult favorite. Wireless. Soft enough to sleep in. Supportive enough for daytime. Comes in 6 sizes (XS-XXL) instead of band/cup numbers, which makes fitting easier as your size changes. Easy clip-down. $55. Worth the price for a primary bra.
Bravado Designs Body Silk Seamless Nursing Bra
The most-recommended brand by IBCLCs. Wireless seamless. Easy nursing clip with one hand. Light enough for sleep, supportive enough for daytime. Smooth under clothes (no lines). Available in 30A-40H. $55-70.
Auden Nursing Bra (Target)
Budget-friendly champion. $20. Wireless. Good for early postpartum when size shifts make pricier bras awkward. Comes in standard sizes (32A-42DDD). Stock up on 3-4 in different colors.
Hatch Bralette
Premium quality. Soft modal fabric. Higher price point ($60). Best for after the size shifts settle (3+ months postpartum). Use as your "going out" nursing bra.
Cake Maternity Sugar Candy Nursing Bra
Excellent for larger cup sizes (DDD+). Built-in support without wires. Comes in band 32-46, cup A-G. $55-70.
Bravado Designs Buttercup Pumping & Nursing Bra
Does both pumping (with Medela, Spectra, Elvie inserts) AND nursing. More expensive ($75) but eliminates the need for a separate pumping bra. Good for working moms who pump at the office.
Frida Mom Nipple Care Comfort Nursing Bra
Specifically designed for sore nipples — the cup fabric is gentler. Includes built-in cooling pads. $45-55. Good for the first 4-6 weeks when nipples are healing.
Iris & Lilly Cotton Nursing Bra (Amazon)
Cheap ($15), basic, but adequate. Cotton. Wireless. Comes in many sizes. Good for stocking up on multiples without breaking the bank.
Spanx Bra-llelujah! Nursing Bra
Premium, smooth under clothes, supportive. $70. For postpartum parents who want one really good "real" bra.
Plan your postpartum essentials before baby arrives
The registry builder includes a nursing/feeding module with bras, pads, and pumping gear so you have it all sized and ready before you're in the haze of early postpartum.
Try the registry builderSizing through pregnancy and postpartum
Your breasts will be roughly 4 different sizes:
- Late pregnancy (32-40 weeks): 1-2 cups above prepregnancy.
- Engorgement (days 3-5 postpartum): 2-3 cups above prepregnancy. Lasts a few days.
- Established milk supply (weeks 2-12): 1-2 cups above prepregnancy.
- Regulated supply (months 3-12): Back closer to prepregnancy, but the breast tissue is different.
- Post-weaning: Sometimes smaller than prepregnancy.
Strategy: Buy 1-2 bras for late pregnancy in 1 cup up. Buy 2-3 bras for early postpartum in 2 cups up. Get refit at 6-8 weeks postpartum when things stabilize.
How to measure yourself
Without a tape measure, sizing is guesswork. With one, it's straightforward.
- Band: Measure around your rib cage just below your bust. Round to nearest even number (32, 34, 36, 38). That's your band.
- Bust: Measure around the fullest part of your bust.
- Cup: Subtract band from bust. 1 inch difference = A cup. 2 = B. 3 = C. 4 = D. 5 = DD. And so on.
If you're between sizes, size up in cup, not band. The band does the support work; a too-loose band is worse than a slightly-larger cup.
How many of each you actually need
For exclusive breastfeeding, planning a 6-12 month nursing run:
- 3 sleep bras (wear/wash/spare).
- 3 daytime nursing bras (wear/wash/spare, plus 1-2 prettier ones for going out).
- 1-2 hands-free pumping bras (if pumping).
- 1-2 nursing tanks.
- 1-2 nursing nightgowns or pajama sets (optional).
Total: 8-12 nursing pieces. More than that is overkill.
The wire question
Underwire nursing bras exist, but they only make sense if:
- Your milk supply has stabilized (4+ months in).
- The wire fits perfectly without pressing on milk ducts.
- You're not prone to plugged ducts.
For most of nursing, wireless is the safe call. Brands like Cake Maternity make underwire nursing bras with very flexible wires designed for the changing breast.
Bras to skip
- Sports bras worn as nursing bras. Many sports bras compress the breast and cause plugged ducts.
- Pre-pregnancy bras "modified" with clip-on nursing adapters. The fit is always wrong.
- Underwire nursing bras in the first 8 weeks.
- Anything with rigid molded cups in the first 3 months.
Nursing pad considerations
Your bras need to accommodate nursing pads (disposable or reusable) for leaking. Look for bras with:
- Slightly loose cup fabric that doesn't squeeze a pad against the nipple.
- Smooth cup interior that doesn't bunch with a pad inside.
- Easy access to insert pads after a feed.
When to retire a bra
- Band is stretched out — you're using the tightest hook and it's still loose.
- Cup fabric is pilled or thin enough to see through.
- Clip-down clasp is broken or loose.
- You've sized up significantly and it's actively uncomfortable.
- It's caused 2+ plugged ducts.
When to call your provider or IBCLC
- Persistent plugged ducts despite changing bras.
- Mastitis (red, painful, hot patch + fever).
- Painful latching that started after a bra change.
- Breast pain at the underwire location.
- Severe asymmetry between breasts.