Hands Free Pumping Bra

Updated on February 11, 2009
T.M. asks from Schaumburg, IL
25 answers

Hi Ladies, I will be returning to work soon and was wondering your thoughts on the hands free bra that can be used for pumping. I have a Medela pump. Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions to make pumping at work easier for me! I have found a couple on the links below. Has anyone used these? Were they worth it? I like the idea of being able to wrap the bra around your bra you are wearing.

http://www.pumpease.com/buy/pumpease-regular

http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Expression-Bustier-Nursing-Med...

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M.A.

answers from Chicago on

Hi T.-

Sorry this is so late. I used a hands free bra, but one I created, not bought. I used a sports bra and cut two little holes in it :o) So much cheaper and worked great!

Good luck!

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M.M.

answers from Chicago on

I am able to pump using the pump while doing stuff. If you use the Medela cups, they suction well enough so that you can work while pumping. Just a thought?

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C.T.

answers from Chicago on

I used the tank tops/shirts from Majama's (in Oak Park, but for sale at Nordstroms, in the city at Be Bye Baby, etc). They were AWESOME, and you can use them in the summer as shirts as well. I bought one for my friend who had triplets and she loved it as well...

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A.M.

answers from Chicago on

Hi T.,

I couldnt pull up the pump ease one, but with my first daughter who I expressed breast milk for 15 months due to pre-maturity I used the one from Amazon--actually I own 3---but I own the ones with the halter due to my bust size---before I had my daughter I was a 38d---now I am a 38 dd---but I know the other moms who had babnies in the nicu liked the strapless one--it wouldnt stay up well for me, so I gave that one to one of the other moms---I would suggest going for the smaller of the sizes, for the support & they stretch out when you use them---I used them at home at work everywhere (even my car--shhh!) My daughter never had formula & is now 3 & doing great. I am going to try and bf this baby (due April 10th) naturally but will be getting the pump together for work--I am interested in the site you shared that I couldnt pull up, but as for the halter top to hold up the cups, it worked for me for a long time!!!

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A.S.

answers from Chicago on

Hi T.,
I used the Made by Moms Pumping Band and bought it at babycenterstore.com, but I think they discontinued the store. I'm sure you can find it via a web search, if someone else hasn't recommended another site already. It's great! You can talk on the phone, check/write email or just read magazines. (Before I pumped, I had no idea that I'd have to hold the bottles.) With the Medela, you simply slide the breast shield through the slits before connecting to your bottles. I had a friend who bought the medela band, but said it was a major pain b/c it only worked with the medela bras and required a lot of pins to secure the band. I thought the pumping band was expensive ($30) for a piece of elastic and velcro, but it's soooo worth it. Good luck!

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K.B.

answers from Chicago on

I have the easy expression bustier and it has worked great for me. I have been pumping at work for the last 4 months and have been total handsfree. I would recommend you buy the bra maybe a size smaller than you need. I got the large which fits, but it does stretch out and then when the bottles are full, they can sag. Good luck!

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P.M.

answers from Chicago on

I bought the Easy Expression Bustier from Medela. It took a little getting used to, but I can't do without it now. I use it at my desk and it leaves my hands free to type or eat. I bought the small and initially thought it was too tight, but it stretches out. Buy on the smaller side because it compresses the breasts and makes pumping more effective. I use it with the Medela Pump In Style Advanced. It wraps around a nursing bra, but am not sure how you would use it over a regular bra. Hope this helps.

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N.L.

answers from Chicago on

I loved my hands free pumping bra.

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T.

answers from Chicago on

i used the one you found on Amazon (gotta love the product photos). It was a huge help and gave me the ability to multitask.
Front zip is a must.
good luck

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S.F.

answers from Chicago on

I had the Easy-Expression bustier and loved it. I didn't know about it for my first child and had to hold the pump myself. For my second, I got this bra and it really makes pumping easier. This one is great for work because you don't have to take your clothes off to put it over your arms. You can you put it around yourself and zip it up. There is a store in Northbrook called the Dundee pharmacy. They carry these and lots of other nursing stuff. They also have a lactation consultant on staff to help.
Some other products that helped were the Playtex drop-ins. You can by a kit at Target to convert your Medela pump to go directly into the liners and then store your milk right in those with just little caps. It saves a lot of transferring and washing of different pumpimg and feeding bottles. They don't leak, they are BPA free and less expensive then the trendy born free bottles. I really liked them.
The last product that I have to suggest to pumping moms is the Medela quick clean micro-stream bags. These bags can clean your pump parts in the microwave in just 3 minutes. It can be really helpful if you are pumping at work multiple times and don't have an extra set of pump parts (which is the best).
I hope that helps. It can be intimidating, but you can do it. I pumped and breastfed both of my sons for over a year. Good luck to you!

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H.A.

answers from Huntsville on

Another fan of the "Made by Moms" pumping band here. I liked that I could use it with my regular nursing bras, so I only needed to buy one rather than several more bras. It also helped me get more when I was pumping because it squeezes you a little.

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M.F.

answers from Chicago on

I also used the easy expressions bustier and loved it. I do recommend buying 2 though because that way if one gets wet and/or dirty you have a back up.

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K.G.

answers from Chicago on

I used the easy expression bra and it worked great. It's great for home or work. Worth every penny! Good luck going back to work.
K.

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V.N.

answers from Chicago on

I love the la leche pumping bra. The plus is that it works really well. The downside is it is not comfortable to wear as a bra so you have to take your regular bra off.

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N.P.

answers from Chicago on

when I pumped with the Medela I just put the cups inside of my bra. I didn't use any special bra, just my nursing bra, and that worked great. It looked funny, but I was able to eat my cereal or read my book while I pumped just fine.

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L.S.

answers from Chicago on

I didn't find the hands free pumping bras helpful. Even if I could balance the flanges and the bottles, I needed a bit of manual stimulation to be able to pump effectively. Personally, I just got more output when I held my breasts. If I used one arm, I could still read or type while pumping. Not going hands free didn't turn out to be a problem, however. I was able to successfully pump for 9 months after returning to work. Good luck!

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S.W.

answers from Chicago on

I use the easy expression bustier with my Medela pump, and it works really well. It goes over my regular bra easily, and it does a good job of holding the pump in place. Definitely worth the expense.

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E.K.

answers from Chicago on

I have the "easy expression bustier" you showed on the amazon link -- used it for a year when pumping at work. I was able to check email, grade papers (I'm a teacher), etc. Indispensible. It does stretch out, but as I used it over my clothes, I would get your regular size.

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A.O.

answers from Chicago on

Hi!
I purchased a few hands free pumping bras from the La Leche website. They are wonderful! I get lots done instead of trying to juggle holding the pump at the table/desk. Definitely worth it!!

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H.W.

answers from Chicago on

I pumped at work 3x a day for 9 months and never had a hands-free nursing bra. I just used this simple and cheap technique from Kellymom (http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/hands-free-pumping.html). Just buy a pack of hair elastics and you're good to go. Don't waste your money on the hands-free bra.

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D.Y.

answers from Chicago on

I had a friend use the second on--Bustier--and she said it kept slipping. When I went back to work I used the "Made by Moms Pumping Band". I bought it off of Babycenter.com.

The link to see it at is....

http://www.diapers.com/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?product...

The strap that goes around the neck prevented slipping, it went right over my nursing bra, and was very secure. I plan to use it the next time I have a baby and go back to work. I could write, talk on the phone, etc. It was great.

Good luck.

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S.B.

answers from Chicago on

I have the Easy Expression Bustier and I love it, so worth it. Now after about 7 months of using it 2-3 times a day the elastic isn't quite as tight and I have to readjust the bottles once in a while, but it still works great. It's very easy to use over your regular nursing bras. I don't think I could stand to pump without using it anymore.

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N.T.

answers from Chicago on

I had the easy expressions bra and loved it the first couple weeks. Then the elastic started to give and the bottles drooped way down. It was uncomfortable. Plus I produced a lot of milk so the weight of the bottles would cause the bottles to "lose suction" with my breast. I kept having to readjust and it's a pain with that bra, in my opinion. Plus I did get some clogged ducts and needed to massage the areas when I pumped, which again meant not using this. I used it here and there, but it ended up in a drawer most of the time. I learned to hold both with one hand and that worked better! :) Good luck!

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R.S.

answers from Chicago on

Hi T.,

I have the Easy Expression Nursing Bustier and it was definitely worth it. I could eat, do work, talk on the phone, etc. while pumping. Also, if you want to pump on both sides, it's nearly impossible to adjust the suction/cycles while holding both flanges in place. Having a hands-free bustier made this much easier!

Best,
R.

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S.C.

answers from Chicago on

I couldn't live without my easy expression bustier too! I needed my hands free to pass the time when I pumped: either email, read, watch TV or EAT!

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