- I've been wearing nursing sports bras ever since I had my 1-year-old daughter because I couldn't find a traditional nursing bra that was comfortable or supportive.
- I recently decided to give regular nursing bras one last chance and have been wearing the ThirdLove 24/7 Classic Nursing Bra ($72) for a few weeks.
- It's elegant, comfortable, and more supportive than the other nursing bras I've tried.
- Best of all, ThirdLove has fit experts that you can text, email, or call to get your fit right — all without ever having to go into a physical store.
I spent the first couple months after my daughter Ellie was born trying to find a good nursing bra, but the best options I found were nursing sports bras, so I ended up basically living in them.
Most of the regular nursing bras I found just didn't have enough support, or they had removable cups that never stayed in place. When you have a newborn baby, going to a store to get fitted for a bra isn't high on the priority list. And it's hard to buy a nursing bra ahead of time because you have no idea what size you'll be once your milk comes in, so I eventually gave up and just settled on wearing sports nursing bras.
But when I had the chance to try the 24/7 Classic Nursing Bra from ThirdLove ($72), I decided on one final attempt — I'm glad I did.
How nursing bras work
Before I get into my experience with the bra, let's get into how nursing bras actually work.
Most nursing bras have clasps at the top of the cup where it connects to the shoulder strap that you undo to nurse your baby or pump without having to take your whole bra off. To undo the clasp, you'd usually lift it up and out, and then just pull the cup down.
It's easy to do with one hand, and when you pair a nursing bra with a nursing top or a loose-fitting top, it can make nursing in public very easy and discreet. Pairing your nursing bra with a nursing top exposes only the amount of skin needed for your baby to latch on, or with a loose-fitting top, you can use it as a cover by placing your baby under your shirt.
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The ThirdLove Nursing Bras
ThirdLove has three different nursing bras — the 24/7 Classic Nursing Bra (which has an underwire), 24/7 Classic Wireless Nursing Bra, and 24/7 Front Closure Nursing Bra. I have the 24/7 Classic Nursing Bra in taupe, but it also comes in twilight, which is like a dusty mauve.
It has textured detailing on the straps as well as gold-toned nursing clasps, which I love. There are a lot of things about motherhood that aren't very glamorous, so having these pretty details is such a nice touch.
The bra cups themselves have light memory-foam padding, which gives it some shape — something that can't be said for a lot of other nursing bras I've tried. The bra is also extremely comfortable and looks smooth under a T-shirt.
It can be hard to find nursing bras with underwire because there's a long-held belief that underwires can cause mastitis, or clogged ducts, but that theory has not been proven. If an underwire isn't comfortable for you or you're worried that it could be harmful while nursing, then you have the wireless option from ThirdLove as well.
Sizing
My bra size has changed multiple times since I've been nursing, so I wasn't sure what size to order.
Thankfully, ThirdLove has a sizing quiz on its website for regular bras as well as guidance for nursing bras, so I followed the suggestions and am happy to say that my bra fits really well. I don't have any issues with the back riding up, which is a problem I tend to have with all bras. In fact, my ThirdLove nursing bra actually fits better than most of my regular bras ever did.
If you don't get your size right once you receive your order, you can always contact a ThirdLove Fit Expert via text, live chat, or email within 60 days, and they'll help you figure out a better fit.
The best part about ThirdLove
When you have a newborn, trying to get yourself and your baby dressed is a huge win. Slapping on some makeup, maybe doing your hair, and actually making it out the door to go somewhere before someone gets spit up on is icing on the cake.
So with ThirdLove's online quiz and suggested sizing, you can find the right bra without ever leaving your house or going to a fitting room with your baby. And if you get the sizing wrong, the company makes it so simple to find the right size and ship back the original bra for free. This takes a lot of stress and hassle out of the buying process, which is so worth it when you're a parent.
Cons to consider
I found the nursing clasp to be a little bit trickier to undo with one hand than some of the other nursing bras I've tried.
With others, I can just use my thumb to quickly pop off the clasp, but with this one, the clasp sometimes gets stuck and doesn't pop off as easily. I sometimes need to use one hand to hold down the strap while using the other to undo the clasp.
It's certainly doable, but when you have a hangry newborn in one hand, you want to be able to open those clasps quickly and single-handedly. My other nursing bras are older, so as I wear this one in more, the clasp might become easier and smoother to undo.
The bottom line
I had pretty much given up on finding a nursing bra that worked for me before I tried ThirdLove's, but now I have a new favorite nursing bra. I just might have to check out its regular bras once I'm done nursing too.
If you're looking for other options, the Gratlin Women's Lightly Padded Wireless Racerback Sports Maternity Nursing Bra ($20) is the sports nursing bra that I was living in before I tried the ThirdLove bra. This is a good option that offers some support without an underwire. Another one to try that has underwire, but is a little bit cheaper than ThirdLove, is Motherhood Maternity's Full Coverage Back Smoothing Clip Down Maternity And Nursing Bra (which is currently on sale for $20.99).
But online guidance, with access to Fit Experts, and a 60-day fit guarantee, you can't lose by at least trying out ThirdLove's nursing bras. You need to remember to take care of yourself too once your baby is here, and this is a great — and easy — way to show yourself some love.
Pros: Comfortable, supportive, 60-day fit guarantee, online quiz means there's no need to leave your house, fit experts are ready to answer any questions, underwire and no wire options available
Cons: Nursing clasp can get stuck, pricey
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