Best Hands-free Pumping Bras for Exclusive Pumpers (in 2018)

If you are exclusively pumping, a hands-free pumping bra is essential! Most exclusive pumpers spend at least two hours per day pumping breast milk, so being able to do it without holding up your flanges the entire time is life-changing. Here are the five best hands-free pumping bras currently available, and the pros and cons of each.

Types of Hands-free Pumping Bras

There are three types of pumping bras – corset-style zip up bras, pumping bras that integrate with your nursing bra, and hands-free bands. Here are some more details about each type.

Corset-style Zip-Up Hands Free Bras

This type of hands-free bra goes around your body and zips up in between your breasts, with holes where your nipples are. The way they work is that you put the tunnel part of the flanges through the holes, which (along with suction from the pump) holds up your pump parts.

The advantages of corset-style pumping bras are that they are easy to use, can be used with any nursing bra, and can be used on only one side if necessary (if you’re only pumping on one side because you have a clogged milk duct, for example, you can just put a breast pad on the other side).

On the other hand, it’s not as easy to do breast compressions with this style (because your breasts are kind of pressed into your body by the fabric), they need to be washed frequently, and figuring out how to put the flanges in can be a small learning curve. (I usually zip my hands-free bra up halfway, put the flanges in the nipple holes, and then zip it up the rest of the way.)

Hands-free Bras that Integrate with a Nursing Bra

With this type of hands-free pumping bra, you use either the bra itself (which has fabric panels to hold up breast shields) or a special attachment that comes with the bra to pump hands-free.

The benefit of these bras are that you don’t need to take off or awkwardly push down your bra to pump hands-free, because it all works together. However, if you’re exclusively pumping, you will have to buy enough nursing bras so that you’ll always have one clean to wear, because you’ll need to be wearing one of these every day.

Hands-free Band

This option actually isn’t a hands-free bra at all; it’s a band that goes around you neck and holds up the flanges with loops on either end.

The great thing about this form of hands-free pumping is that it’s really easy to do breast compressions because there’s no fabric compressing your breasts into your chest. On the other hand, there can be a bit of a learning curve in getting the bra set up and avoiding spills.

Five Best Hands-free Pumping Bras

Below of five of the best hands-free pumping bras on the market, and the pros and cons for each.

Simple Wishes

Image credit: Simple Wishes. Used with permission.

Type: Corset-style Zip Up
Price: $$

The D*Lite Hands-Free Pumping Bra by Simple Wishes is a zip up bra that allows you to adjust the size using a velcro panel.

Pros:

• Ability to adjust size as your body changes post-partum; can get smaller if you lose baby weight or your breasts change
• Comes with additional (optional) straps that you can add for more support to help hold up the bottles
• Works with all breast pumps that use flanges (i.e. not the Willow or Freemie, but pretty much anything else)
• Works well for large-breasted and plus-sized women

Cons:

• This style of hands-free bra may make breast compressions more awkward
• You may need to purchase an extra panel, depending on your sizing needs

Medela Easy Expressions

©2018 Medela. Used with permission.

Type: Corset-style Zip Up
Price: $$

The Easy Expressions hands-free bra is a zip-up style bra. I bought three of these when pumping for my babies, and they lasted me though 44 (non-consecutive) months of pumping!

Pros:

• Top hook makes it easier to zip up
• Reinforced openings help this bra last over time
• Works with all pumps that use breast shields
• Easy to use with just the corset and no extra parts

Cons:

• Can lose elasticity and begin to sag as time goes on
• Figuring out the correct size for you can be a challenge (you need the bra to be tight in order to work, but not so tight that it’s uncomfortable)
• This style of hands-free bra may make breast compressions more awkward

LactaMed Simplicity Hands Free Bra Kit

Photo credit: Lactamed. Used with permission.

Type: Hands-free Band
Price: $

This hands-free kit by LactaMed isn’t really a hands-free bra at all; it’s a band that goes around your neck and holds up your flanges using a loop.

Pros:

• Easier to do breast compressions
• No need to undress; it goes over your clothes
• No need to wash it (or buy extras for when it’s being washed)
• Very compact

Cons:

• Has a bit of a learning curve; if it’s not positioned correctly, you may have issues with spilling.
• The loop may cover the nipple within your flange, making it hard to see to adjust positioning

Bravado Designs Womens’ Clip and Pump Hands-free Nursing Bra

Image credit: Bravado. Used with permission.

Type: Integrated with Bra
Price: $$

With the Clip and Pump hands-free pumping bra attachment, you unclip the front of your bra (which folds down) and clip the Clip and Pump in it’s place.

Pros:

• No need to take off your bra
• Pumping gear is very well supported by the clip and pump attachment
• No need to remove the flanges from the rest of the pumping gear when you’re getting yourself attached

Cons:

• Only guaranteed to work with Bravado nursing bras, so it requires a bit of an investment up front in nursing bras

Rumina Pump&Nurse Essential Relaxed Nursing Bra

Image credit: Rumina. Used with permission.

Type: Integrated with Bra
Price: $$

This hands-free pumping bra by Rumina is just your nursing bra – no additional equipment required!

Pros:

• No need to take off your bra or have an extra accessory
• Easy to pump and nurse on the same side (if you are nursing or comfort nursing at all)
• Easier to position the flanges and no need to remove the flanges from the pump parts to get set up
• Easy to do breast compressions

Cons:

• You’d have to buy a couple of these since you need to be wearing this particular bra to pump hands-free (but then, you don’t need to buy nursing bras separately)

What to think about when choosing a Hands-free Pumping Bras

Here are four things that you should think about when picking a hands-free bra:

1. Whether or not you need to buy new nursing bras. If you’ve already have purchased nursing bras (either for this baby, or maybe you still have some on hand from older children), and aren’t in the market for more, the type of pumping bra that integrates with your nursing bra might not be the best option, because you’d have to invest in at least 2-3 new nursing bras in order to make pumping hands-free every day workable.
2. Sizing Considerations. If you’re plus sized or have larger breasts, you may have the best luck with the Simple Wishes pumping bra or the LactaMed pumping band. Obviously, size isn’t an issue for a pumping band at all, and the fact that you can adjust the sizing on the Simple Wishes bra is a big plus.
3. How much you do breast compressions. You can do breast compressions with any of these bras, but it will be easiest in the Rumina Relaxed Pump&Nurse Nursing Bra or using the LactaMed pumping band. If you find massage really helpful when you pump, one of these two might be best.
4. Ease of Use. In my sleep-deprived state, I cannot count the number of times that I starting pumping with my pump parts attached but not the bottles, or turned the pump on without attaching the tubing. You know yourself, so pick the one that seems easiest to use for you for when it’s 3am and you’re exhausted.

(One final tip: Based on my experience, black is the best color for hands-free pumping bras, as the inevitable breast milk stains aren’t as visible.)

Have you used one of these hands-free pumping bras? Let us know what you thought in the comments!