When you start looking for breastfeeding essentials, one thing that is sure to be on your list is a good nursing and pumping bra! (You will need several!) However, most of the options on the market are for exclusive pumping or exclusive nursing. Let’s talk about a pumping vs nursing bra and what your options are if you need one combo bra that can do both!

Pumping vs Nursing Bra: How do they work?

Although the overall concept of using a pumping or nursing bra is the same (both allow you to feed your baby breastmilk), typically you will find some big differences between the two. A bra that is for exclusive pumping will have some type of slit or layer to allow you to secure a flange to your breast. These are usually meant for changing into when it's time to pump, not to wear all day long. The old fashioned mindset was that moms didn't need to pump very often and have a need to wear a hands free pumping bra for long. This is outdated thinking and not the case any longer! Working moms may need to pump 3 times a day and exclusive pumping moms may need to pump 5-6+ times a day. 

On the other hand, a nursing bra is normally designed to fully expose the breast through a clip down motion, to allow you to easily nurse your baby. Nursing bras are commonly meant to be worn all day long for many nursing sessions and are made of thin fabrics. They were never designed to hold breast pumps which can be very problematic if you are trying to cut corners and use a nursing bra for pumping. 

How to Use One Bra for Both Nursing and Pumping

One “hack” that you may have heard is that you can use a nursing bra as a pumping bra if needed. Essentially, you would use the inner nursing straps to hold the flange in place while pumping. Just be aware, this method might not be the best for you especially if you have large breasts! It doesn’t always work for moms breast shape and it may not provide the secure hold that you need to keep your flange in place with proper suction!  

In the pumping vs nursing bra debate, it’s important to realize that not all bras are made equal. Not all nursing bras are created to be pumping bras and vice versa! So if you are planning to both pump and nurse, you need a combo nursing and pumping bra solution designed for BOTH that makes your life easier and doesn’t require you to switch bras for each session!

A Combo Pumping and Nursing Bra Solution

Instead of going with one or the other, you can opt to purchase a bra that does both! If you are looking for something different from what you have seen before, my top recommendation is the Amelia Crop Cami, designed as a comfortable and functional combo pumping and nursing bra with a longer length than your standard bra. It includes overlapping slits on the inside lining layer to easily place your flange and you pull the top layer down to keep everything secure. This Amelia styles provides an option for moms who needed to nurse as well as pump! That’s why this bra comes with an easy, one-handed strap slider for nursing so you can simply pull the bra down from the top to nurse when needed, no fussy clips to undo and redo! As an added bonus, you can nurse from the inside pumping slits for full coverage as well. This bra is available in both standard and busty sizes up to 4X and has hundreds of raving 5 star reviews, it's no wonder it's loved from moms everywhere. You can pick up this bra in the classic cami style or the busty compression tank in full length.

Another combo-feeding bra option is the Ella Bralette. This bra (which comes in both standard and busty sizes as well) is interchangeable so you can have a straight or cross-back style. It was originally designed as a nursing bra, but with amazing support for wearable pumps and collection cups! And because not all moms use collection cups for pumping, the Ella can be adaptable for pumping with flanges if needed! 

Pumping vs Nursing Bra: Which Will You Choose?

Instead of having to choose one option in the pumping vs nursing bra debate, why not choose a bra that can do both? It's one of the best investments you can make in your breastfeeding journey. Either of these options would be the perfect upgrade to your breastfeeding experience and allow you to move from pumping to nursing with ease.

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