Are you currently breastfeeding or breast pumping? Then today's article is for you! We are counting down the best nursing bras on the market today. To read our individual reviews, simply click on the link below in our table. I hope that this article can help you to make a wise decision about the type of nursing bra you should purchase!

A nursing bra, sometimes also known as a maternity bra, or breastfeeding bra,  is a special type of bra that provides extra support to women who are breastfeeding.  This specialized type of bra is designed to allow breastfeeding to occur without the need for the mother to remove her bra. Nursing bras most often have a flap that can be unlatched to allow the nipple to reach the babies' mouth.  When breastfeeding is finished, the flap can be closed with a hook or clasp. Nursing bras make breastfeeding in public places much easier and discreet.

Not all nursing bras are created equal. While it is true that you could get away with 1 type of nursing bra for many different types of activities, you may be selling yourself short.  A comfortable nursing bra built for performance, sleep, or everyday activities, can make life simpler and more comfortable. I'll go over the difference between types of nursing bras here.

One of the first tell tale signs of pregnancy is an increase in breast size. If you were a size B-Cup, you may quickly move to a size C-Cup within the first trimester.  Then things slow down as your midsection grows instead of just the cup sizes.  Towards the end of pregnancy, you may notice another increase in breast size growth as your body gets ready for the milk to come in.

When your baby is born, a clear fluid, called colostrum appears.  Colostrum will provide incredible nutrition and antibodies that will help your baby resist diseases in the outside world.

All may be smooth sailing until your milk comes in around day 2 or 3 after your baby is born. This is when you most likely will notice the biggest gain in your breast size.  You may gain another full cup size within a day as your breasts become engorged with milk.

After about a month, the size of your breasts should start to stabilize.  The first month or two you may see large fluctuations of breast sizes, especially between feedings.  If you don't feed your baby frequently enough, your breasts may become engorged with milk. This is a painful state.  Usually, nursing your baby will bring on immediate relief.

Pumping out your milk is a skill that may take some time to get the hang of.  Make sure to give yourself plenty of practice time before you will need to do it for real.  Before you know it, you will be a pro.  Here are some tips to get you started.

A bra that fits properly is going to do so much for your overall comfort than one that doesn't fit. Measuring only requires two measurements.  First, measure your rib cage by taking a measuring tape under you arms, (above your breasts). Go all the way around your torso.  This is your rib cage size.  Now measure your cup size by going around your torso, but this time measure going right over both nipples.  The cup measurement with the breasts in it will be larger than the rib cage measurement. Subtract the rib cage measurement from the cup measurement.  Then use this scale: 2=B, 3=C, 4=D, 5=DD, 6=DDD.

Make sure to take measurements when you are close to engorged (before nursing or pumping).  This is when your breasts will be at their largest.  It's better to go for the larger size than a smaller one when it comes to bra comfort.

A wireless bra in general is going to be much more comfortable. Some experts also believe that a wired bra may interfere with milk flow.  Wire fee bras are going to be your best choice for comfort. 

A nursing mother may leak milk out at the sound of her baby whimpering or crying. Maternal love  is a powerful thing! This is where nursing pads can come in handy.  Nursing bras are made to carry a nursing pad in them.  Pads can be worn in the cups of the nursing bras to catch the leaked milk so that it doesn't spill out and show on a woman's clothing. 

As mentioned above, make sure to take measurements when your breasts are close to engorged (right before nursing).  It's best to go bigger than smaller when buying a nursing bra.

You may want to use a nursing bra for the entire time that you are breastfeeding.  So, if you plan to breastfeed for a couple of years or more, don't throw out that nursing bra just yet.  After the first few months of nursing, your breast size should have evened out and not be fluctuating so much. This is a good time to buy another nursing bra if you have a favorite or if the first one is now a bit too big.

As you can see, a nursing bra is an essential for all nursing mothers. It can provide you with comfort, flexibility, discretion, and protection from accidental leakage.  I hope that our article today can help you as you look to purchase your own nursing bra in the future!