Are Pumping Bras and Nursing Bras the Same?

 

Once the baby comes along, new mothers have one thing on top of their list of priorities – the baby’s nutrition. Breastmilk is the best and complete nutrition for a baby for the first six months of their lives. While some mothers choose to breastfeed their babies, some might choose to pump breastmilk to provide their babies with the best nourishment.

So, how different are the needs of a breastfeeding mother from a pumping mother? Do they need the same nursing bras or different types of bras? Let’s find out.

Breastfeeding vs Pumping

Breastmilk is known to have nutrients in perfect quantities for the needs of a baby. A newborn will only need breastmilk for the first six months of their life. After six months, it is recommended that breastmilk is supplemented with solid foods and water.

While the objective of both breastfeeding and pumping is to get the baby to drink nutritious breastmilk, the methods to get breastmilk are different.

In breastfeeding, a baby latches on to the mother’s breast with the nipple and areola in the mouth and suckles to draw breastmilk. In breast pumping, a flange connects to the nipple and draws milk into a container. Most breast pumps today are electric and they mimic the motions of a suckling baby. They alternate between short, rapid motions and then long, drawn-out motions.

Nursing bras and Pumping bras

A lactating mother needs specialised bras. The regular bra does not give the support and convenience that she needs when she is producing breastmilk. Depending on whether you are breastfeeding or pumping, you will need nursing bras or pumping bras.

Nursing bras make it easy for a breastfeeding mother to comfortably nurse anytime anywhere. These bras usually come with drop-down panels or pull-down access so that the baby can latch without the mother having to undress. Nursing bras are known for the support they give to lactating breasts and for being soft and gentle on the skin. The most comfortable nursing bra will make it a breeze for you to nurse during the day as well as at night.

On the other hand, pumping bras are specially designed for mothers who choose to pump. These bras come with adjustable straps that help in getting a comfortable fit while pumping. To be honest, breast pumping isn’t the most comfortable thing to go through. An incorrectly connected flange can make pumping uncomfortable and painful. For this reason, pumping bras come with straps that make it easy to get your breasts in a comfortable position and hold them in that position during the entire duration of breast pumping.

This is why women prefer a good handsfree pump bra. It gives you the comfort to pump breastmilk without any pain while you go about doing other work such as reading a book or working on your laptop.

In conclusion

Both nursing bras and pumping bras serve different purposes. So, depending on which method you are using to provide breastmilk to your baby, you must get yourself the appropriate bras to make new motherhood more comfortable and enjoyable for you!