The 9 best underwire nursing bras that don’t cause clogged ducts

Nursing bras with flexi-wires offer great support and help prevent breast sagging in the long run. Underwired nursing bras also shape and lift your breasts – giving small moms cleavage and large breasts separation.

While the words underwire and flexi-wire are used interchangeably, they are significantly different. Flexi-wires have a bigger moon shape and are more flexible than the rigid underwires used in regular bras.

I only recommend flexi-wired nursing bras, and only to moms whose breast sizes have stopped fluctuating. Even then, you should never wear an underwired nursing bra to bed. NEVER EVER!

If you are a new mom or have issues with clogged ducts, choose supportive wireless nursing bras instead.

If you think your breasts are ready for flexi-wires, these are the best underwired nursing bras on the market:

Best overall flexi-wire nursing bra: Cake Maternity Croissant Nursing Bra

Check it out on Amazon

Why I love the Cake Croissant Nursing Bra

• Fits sizes 32C to 42I
• It’s buttery-soft on my skin (like a croissant)
• Lightly contoured cup for shape and lift, giving me a nice silhouette under tight tops
• Drop-down cups with cotton-lined A-frame sling for modesty, especially when breastfeeding in public
• Has smooth lines – great t-shirt bra
• 3D spacer fabric allows air flow and gives a cooling effect
• OEKO-TEX certified so you know it is free from harmful chemicals
• Matching brief available

 What’s not so good about it

• The fabric band that holds the shoulder straps in place when breastfeeding stretches with use. But they can easily be tucked into the cups.
• On the pricier side.

Best budget underwire nursing bra: Gratlin Full Coverage Nursing Bra

Check it out on Amazon

Why I love the Gratlin Full Coverage Nursing Bra

• caters to sizes 32C to 40F/42E
• there’s 20 colors to choose from!
•  the cups are only lightly lined so it can be folded easily for breastfeeding
• encapsulated cups separate and lift your breasts
• Smooth stretch wings to better fit my body
• great t-shirt bra
• the plunge neckline gives me a nice cleavage and allows me to wear lower cut tops
• great value-for-money
• >2000 5-star reviews on Amazon!

What I don’t like about it

• The plunge neckline isn’t good for large breasts – your breasts are at risk of popping out when you bend down

Best t-shirt underwire nursing bra: Motherhood Maternity Full Coverage Nursing Bra

Check it out on Amazon 

Why I love the Motherhood Maternity Full Coverage Bra

• Fits sizes 32C to 40G/42DD
• Full coverage cups provide good side support and prevent large breasts from falling out when you bend over
• Its structured shape separates your breasts and gives you a nice silhouette under tight tops
• thick padded cups so my nipples don’t show through
• Great t-shirt bra
• very affordable good quality bra

What I don’t like about it

• The top of the bra comes up high so I can’t wear low-cut tops
• if the bra doesn’t fit just right, the underwire can poke in your ribs

Best lace flexi-wire nursing bra: Cake Maternity Truffles Nursing Bra

Check it out on Amazon 

Why I love the Cake Truffles Nursing Bra

• Fits sizes 32B to 38G
• The french-inspired lace makes me feel so sexy
• Plunge neckline to show off my cleavage in low cut tops
• Contoured cups for a nice silhouette under tight tops
• Padded cups protect my nipples from showing through and prevent embarrassing milk patches
• Cantilever lace shoulder straps that are adjustable
• 6 hook and eye closures to expand with my frame
• Oeko-Tex certified so you know its free from harmful chemicals
• Looks like a regular lace bra and can be worn way beyond breastfeeding

What I don’t like about it

• It’s great for larger breasts and yet don’t come in sizes to fit breasts larger than 38G.
• A-sling quite centrally located giving your breasts seat-belts
• My breasts were too small (despite everything else fitting) to fill out the full structured cups

Read my detailed review of the Truffles Bra.

Best underwire nursing bra for large breasts: Elomi Molly Lace Nursing Bra

Check it out on Amazon

Why I love the Elomi Molly Lace Nursing Bra

• fits up to sizes 42KK/44HH
• has encapsulated full cups with side supports to lift and separate your breasts while preventing side and top spillage
• the structured cups give your breasts a pretty rounded shape instead of  making them look pointy
• The top-of-cup lace is stretchy so it comfortably expands with your breasts
• moisture-wicking fabric to keep your breasts dry and non-sweaty
• the full circle internal foam slings provide more support than the usual side slings when breastfeeding
• the bra looks great in both black and blush

What I don’t like about it

• on the pricier side, but good quality sexy nursing bras are hard to find
• there’s only one problem with moisture-wicking fabric – leaking milk gets wicked through as well! If you’re at risk of leaking, stick on disposable pads
• You need to be careful when fiddling with the clasps so as not to damage the lace

Best flexi-wire nursing bra for small breasts: Natori Feathers Contour Plunge Nursing Bra

Check it out on Amazon

Why I love the Natori Contour Plunge Bra

• It’s exquisite! Totally my style – understated elegance.
• Fits sizes 30A and upwards
• Beautiful sheer mesh outer cover with Italian lace trim and lace under-bust band
• Deep plunge neckline for cleavage
• Contoured cups work with the flexi-wire to lift and shape my breasts
• Easy one-handed drop-down cups for breastfeeding
• Adjustable stretch straps for the perfect fit
• made of comfortable soft material
• comes in 29 beautiful colors

What’s not so good about it

• • cups run small
  • on the pricier side

Best flexi-wire nursing sports bra: Cake Maternity Zest Nursing Sports Bra

Check it out on Amazon

What I love about the Cake Zest Nursing Sports Bra

• fits sizes 32B to 40K
• it’s one of the few nursing sports bras around for high impact activities
• the combination of flexi-wire and structured cups minimize breast bounce
• the molded cups separate my breasts and reduce inter-boob sweat
• Wide padded straps to disperse weight – great for larger breasts
• Made of smooth spacer material to reduce friction and wick moisture away from body
• Convertible to racerback for extra support
• Oeko-Tex  certified so you know it’s free from harmful chemicals
• Matching brief available – Zest Brief
• Adjustable with 5 hook and eye options

What I don’t like about it

• It’s on the pricier side

Best underwire pumping bra: Dairy Fairy Ayla Pumping Bra

Check it out on Amazon 

Why I love the Ayla Pumping Bra:

• Fits sizes 32A to 42J
• It doesn’t look like a pumping/nursing bra at all. I would happily continue to wear it after weaning.
• The drop down cups allow great skin-to-skin contact while breastfeeding
• I can pump and breastfeed at the same time
• I save time during pumping as there is no need for separate accessories
• It has hidden flange openings so it actually looks like a normal bra
• It’s designed to be worn throughout the day
• It has a demi-underwire (half cup) so I get support without too much constriction

What’s not so great about it:

• The lace can be itchy on sensitive skin

*If like me, you are often late with your pumping sessions at work and struggle with engorged breasts, NEVER wear a flexi-wired pumping bra. You are almost certain to end up with painful clogged ducts. Wear one of these wireless work pumping bras instead.

Best cotton underwire nursing bra: HOTmilk Temptation Nursing Bra

Check it out on Amazon 

Why I love the HOTmilk Temptation Bra

• fits up to J cup – in fact it’s specifically designed for moms with large breasts
• 100% cotton lined cups for extra softness and breathability
• Full cup design to keep your breasts in the cup, even when bending over
• U shape is convertible to racerback when you want extra support
• the larger cup sizes come with wider straps to prevent them from digging in to your shoulders
• It’s padded so your nipples won’t show through when you wear tight tops. Yeay!
• the nursing bra in powder blush pictured above is a bit cheaper than the graphite and jet black bras but looks prettier.

What I don’t like about it

• not  suitable for moms with small breasts
• the scalloping at the top of the lace fray over time
• there is quite a bit of material in between the cups. If you have a large pregnancy bump, this part of the bra bunches up
• on the pricier side

To wrap up

There are some beautiful and comfortable flexi-wired nursing bras on the market. These bras are so good that I will continue wearing them even after weaning off breastfeeding. My favorite is the Cake Maternity Croissant Bra for its buttery softness, ease of use and great support. But the Truffles Nursing Bra helped me feel less like a milk factory and more like a sexy woman again.

The most important thing to remember when buying flexi-wired bras is that you have to make sure it fits just right. If it doesn’t, the flexi-wire will be uncomfortable and cause clogged ducts.

Quick links:

• How to choose the right nursing bra (with examples)
• 15 best nursing bras on Amazon
• The 13 best wireless nursing bras on Amazon
• The 11 best affordable nursing bras on Amazon

• Author
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Sharon James

Chief Blogger at The Sensual Mom

I am a mom of 2 bossy toddlers. I breastfed both and struggled through all the usual breastfeeding issues. Now I give nursing moms the info you need to make good decisions during your breastfeeding journey.

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