The 14 Best Nursing Sports Bras For All Workouts, Tested By Moms

Finding nursing sports bras that worked for me helped me feel like myself postpartum. They are that important.

What to look for in a sports nursing bra

What I looked for in a nursing sports bra wasn’t that different from a high quality traditional sports bra. Here are the key features to look out for:

• Tissue: You want to limit bouncing without completely squashing the breasts or irritating the nipples. Another plus is the breathable, quick-drying material that keeps any remaining sweat at bay, which is key for all-day wear. (Let’s be real, sometimes that’s a multi-day use.)
• Support: sport-specific support supports your activity and, for example, running, jumping or other high impact exercise requires a high impact sports bra And, a lower-support style may suffice for a Pilates or yoga session. Too much rigidity or compression can be uncomfortable and lead to blocked ducts. (I learned it the hard way, never again!)
• Access: What really sets a nursing sports bra above the rest are the snaps and closures for easy access. One-handed closures and clips to attach additional layers of cloth will do the trick when a crying baby needs milk fast.
• Stretching: Cup size often fluctuates throughout the day between nursing and pumping sessions, as well as from week to week postpartum. As a result, I’ve found that bras with a little more stretch and room to grow (or shrink) are the most versatile.

Whether you’re itching to get back to sweating or happy with the smooth movement, waiting to buy a sports bra after having a baby is a good idea. “Keep in mind that your cup size and rib measurement will likely change after you have the baby,” says Kelly Bryant, CPT, RYT, a fitness trainer at Future with prenatal and postnatal specialties and a mother of two. “Since most new moms shouldn’t be doing high-impact exercise for several weeks (or probably months!) after delivery, there’s no rush to buy them ahead of time. You can start with a softer, more forgiving nursing bra and wait until you get the right size sports bra when you’re ready to start working out again.” cup level and size, according to a fitness editor and expert trainers who are moms.

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