9 Best Nursing Sports Bras for Support and Comfort
When you have a baby, your body goes through many physical changes which require the need for different sports bras. Here are most supportive – but just as important – the comfiest maternity and nursing sports bras for every activity.
A supportive sports bra is a must-have piece of clothing for all women, but when you’re pregnant or nursing, it’s more important than ever. As your bra size changes during pregnancy, you’ll want a sports bra that’s supportive, comfortable, and keeps everything in place as you do your pregnancy workouts.
Staying active during pregnancy is important for keeping you and your baby as healthy as possible! Check out our top picks for the best sports bras to wear when you’re pregnant or nursing.
Finding the Best Sports Bras for Nursing Moms (and Pregnant Moms too)
If you’re here reading this, then I’m guessing that you’re either a pregnant mom or a nursing one (congratulations!). I’m also guessing that you’re finding that your workouts look a little different than they used to and require some additional support as you adjust to your new “normal”.
Finding a great sports bra is a challenge under normal circumstances, but how do you even begin to find a sports bra that’s right for you when you’re pregnant or nursing?
With so many options available it’s hard to know what to look for. Here are the things you’ll want to keep in mind as you begin researching your maternity or nursing sports bras.
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Great Support
Having great support as your body changes is more important than ever, so make sure you choose a well-fitting sports bra that does a good job of keeping your breasts in place.
In fact, I would say that support is the number one priority. Sports bras are available for many different levels of support. Based on the types of activities that you do, you may need more than one style. For example, you will likely need more support for your run or bike ride than you will for your yoga class or walk around the neighborhood.
If you aren’t sure whether a style will provide enough support, do a simple bounce test. Just as the name implies, all you need to do is jog or bounce around in place for a bit to see how well the sports bra supports you while you move around.
Good Comfort
Comfort is huge, and will be even more important during pregnancy when you may not always feel your best. Make sure you get a bra that is made with soft fabric. Try to find fewer seams and clips as well as no underwire to get the most comfortable fit you can find.
Ease
There are some features – especially a zip front – that can allow a maternity (or nursing) sports bra to make things easier. The zip front design gives you some flexibility in the fit, makes the bra easier to get on and off, and makes nursing much easier.
Place for Nursing Pads
If you plan to wear your sports bra postpartum, consider a design that has easy-open cups for nursing as well as space to put nursing pads.
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Top Maternity and Nursing Sports Bras
Knowing first hand just how challenging it is to find great maternity and nursing sports bras, I’ve rounded up 9 different options that provide light, medium, and strong support. Plus, a few of them have other bells and whistles that are worth checking out. 😉
Light Support Maternity Sports Bras
These bras will be best for light activities such as wearing around all day, taking a walk around the neighborhood, etc. While extremely comfortable, don’t expect to have no bouncing around occur.
With clip-down nursing access, this racerback style nursing sports bra is ideal for light impact activities such as walking, pilates, yoga, barre. The sweat-wicking material is breathable and keeps you dry during your workout.
This bra is perfect if you're looking for something comfortable and practical for everyday wear. It’s soft, stretchy, and provides just the right amount of support without feeling too tight. The nursing clips are super easy to use, so you can breastfeed quickly without any hassle. Plus, the adjustable straps and wide band make it really comfy, especially during pregnancy and postpartum. It's a great pick if you want a bra that works well and feels good all day long.
This Suekaphin nursing bra features adjustable straps, wireless cups, removable padding, and one-step feeding clasp. Its soft fabric is very comfortable and supportive even with “normal” straps. Plus, I love how affordable it is - and you get 5 comfy bras in this pack!
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Medium Support Nursing Sports Bras
This bra offers the perfect blend of comfort and support for active nursing mothers. With its convenient clip-down cups and stretchy, breathable fabric, it allows for easy breastfeeding access while providing the necessary support during workouts.
The bra's design accommodates fluctuating breast sizes, ensuring a comfortable fit throughout the day. This particular one is "busty" size, with options for moms who need fuller cups (think 30E through 48G). They also have a more standard size for moms who wear typical sports bra sizes (such as 30B through 48D).
These bras offer a medium amount of support while still being very comfortable. They are best suited for activities such as taking walks, yoga, and other light to medium impact activities.
This was one of my favorites. It is ultra comfy and easy to use for nursing. The full coverage reassured me that everything was in place and offered the perfect amount of support.
Here’s another great everyday, medium support design. This luxuriously soft, seamless, wire-free nursing bra is made with 4-way stretch fabric and molded cups with removable foam pads. The ultimate in comfort, it’s easy to use and provides good support for light to medium activities.
Try our fun Mom and Baby Workout!
Strong Support Nursing Sports Bras
These bras are for those very active moms who enjoy higher impact activities and need the ultimate support. You can go running or do your favorite plyo workout without feeling like you’re going to give yourself black eyes (haha).
Although this design does include an underwire, some women prefer that so I wanted to make sure to include at least one. Besides, Cake bras are amaaazing. To support women during any level of activity, its wider reinforced shoulder straps are rigid (while still super comfortable) and offer maximum support. I LOVED my Cake bras when I was nursing (and even after, when I had stopped!).
This is the one you’ll want next time you go running, play tennis or basketball, or do kickboxing. Its molded cups have limited stretching to increase support and maintain shape. Plus, the racerback with adjustable straps design and full coverage cups provide a comfortable fit. Its design is very similar to the Moving Comfort Fiona bra (which I wore a lot), but at a much more affordable price.
This design will keep your breasts right where you want them: in place. This bounce-free, strong support bra is cute, affordable, and ultra comfy. The zip front makes it easy to get on and off and allows for quick access when nursing.
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Which nursing-friendly sports bra is the best one for you?
While finding a maternity and nursing sports bra isn’t easy, I’ve narrowed down the possibilities to make it easier for you to find a great sports bra that fits your needs. With the variety of options on this list, you’re sure to find at least one that you love!
MEET AMANDA
Amanda is a mom of 4 living a mostly crunchy lifestyle outside of Atlanta, GA with her husband, 2 dogs, and a cat. As a former special education teacher who also has her personal training certification — Amanda really enjoys teaching others how to do things!
When she’s not working, Amanda enjoys DIY projects, exercising, photography, hiking, and long walks through Target.