In-Bra Pumping: 5 things you need to know!
We have been hearing about the growth in popularity of In-Bra pumps from our Bravado Mums and are starting to see this trend continue with many women “just making it work” with whatever bra they are wearing. We decided to put our technical design experts to the task of testing the leading in-bra pump brands with a few of our own products to see if we could help give women the best experience if they choose to in-bra pump. Working directly with our Bravado Mums, we conducted one-on-one fitting and pumping research to answer which attributes of a nursing bra provide the best experience.
These pumps aren’t easy to hide! First and foremost, these pumps are quite big and surprisingly heavy! They actually add 2-3 cup sizes depending on the pump brand you purchase and that can put quite a strain on you and your bra. We don’t want anyone to ruin their nursing bra, for the convenience of in-bra pumping, so we’ve put together a few guidelines based on our research, to help ensure you maintain a great fitting bra while having an amazing in-bra pumping experience.
5 Need to Know In-Bra Pumping Pointers
If you’re wearing a nursing bra with a plunging neckline, you will definitely have a tough time keeping the pumps securely in place. Having a bra with the extra coverage on the neckline means you will have additional discretion while the magic is happening.
Having a nursing bra with strong, durable, and easy to open and close clips is really important, especially when you are just starting out. By unclipping the bra it’s easier to get the right placement of the pump on the nipple. Once the pump is placed properly, you can easily just clip the cup back in place…
Not having adjustable straps is a major deal-breaker… It’s so important that you have the flexibility in your straps so that you can control and adjust the straps and the pressure of the pump against your breast.
A bra that comes in S-XXL sizing is the way to go. These bras are designed to adapt up to 3 or 4 cups sizes. Don’t use a bra that comes in exact cup and band sizes and certainly don’t choose one with an underwire. Stretchy yet supportive fabrics will allow that extra room you need to fit your pump in comfortably and retain your bra’s shape afterwards.
If you are between sizes, or at the top end of the size chart you might want to consider going up one size, just to give yourself a little more room.
In-Bra Pumping: Shopping Guide
If you are planning to use both a traditional pump with Flanges (see Medela pumps or Haakaa Breast Pumps), you can choose to use Bravado Designs Clip & Pump or Original Pumping & Nursing Bra. Both are great options for hands-free pumping.
Happy Expressing!