(Note: I was given a Clip and Pump Hands-Free Pumping Bra to try free of charge. This review is based on my personal experience with that product and all opinions are my own. Please see our complete affiliate disclosure here for more information! Thank you for supporting The Pumping Mommy!)
If you are a pumping mommy, then going hands-free can literally be life-changing. It doesn’t matter if you pump one or twenty times a day, being stuck in one place holding flanges to your boobs for 20 plus minutes is torture. Pumping isn’t always fun and it isn’t glamorous.
I have tried a number of pumping bras in my journey of breastfeeding my own three kids. Some are great. Some are just okay. And others are downright useless.
Example of All-in-One Nursing and Pumping Bra **Dairy Fairy Rose Hands-Free Bra
There are several options when it comes to pumping bras. There are bras that double as nursing bras and pumping bras. It’s a two-in-one bra. They are typically layered where you can pull down the pumping panel to then breastfeed. Those bras are nice but they aren’t always the most supportive.
I love a good supportive nursing bra but the sacrifice is that I need to then get the other type of pumping bra which is a bustier type. It is a separate piece that you put on only when you are pumping. Some clip on like a bra or zip. Those can work fine but I found them to be difficult for large breasts. You end up having to spend time positioning the flanges and the bra needs to be quite tight or else it slips down…
They also require some effort to move your nursing bra out of the way or if you are wearing a regular bra, you likely need to unsnap that and take it off.
One of the challenges of working and pumping is time. So having to possibly take off your bra or spend time positioning everything, isn’t always the best way to spend those valuable minutes that could be used to pump.
(Related: 8 Tips for Pumping at Work!)
For the longest time, I used the Medela Hands-Free bra when I first went back to work with my son. It is the style that zips in the front and has virtually no support. It was difficult to get the bra to stay in place while I pumped. I had to take most of the nursing bras I owned off to get the hands-free one to fit and that required some undressing. Not the best use time when I was rushing just to get a good 20-minute pumping session in.
Discovering the Bravado Designs Clip and Pump
I was fortunate to be sent a Bravado Designs Clip and Pump to try. This is the first time I have used this pumping bra and I was intrigued by the design of it.
The Clip and Pump is a unique design as it acts more as an accessory for pumping rather than a bra. It secures around your underbust ( the area around your rib cage under your bust) with adjustable, 4-row hook and eye closures at your back. Then it securely clips into the B-clips of any nursing bra! It essentially turns any nursing bra into a pumping bra without any effort.
I say it acts as an accessory because it is a great addition to any nursing bra. I tried it with several different brands of nursing bras that I own and it fits all of them perfectly.
The product description by Bravado Designs really sums up what this accessory has to offer:
At Bravado Designs, they are always looking for ways to make breastfeeding the best experience it can be. Moms have been telling us that pumping, as part of their breastfeeding journey, can be so time-consuming and most hands-free pumping garments simply aren’t ideal. Clip and Pump™ Hands-Free Nursing Bra Accessory’s revolutionary design offers moms the convenience, ease, and discretion they’ve been asking for. Best of all, it attaches securely to our nursing bras’ B-clips. What Bravado Designs has created is truly a game-changer for hands-free pumping.
I have to agree that this pumping accessory is a “game changer.”
As a pumping mom who also blogs for a living about all things pumping, I have seen and tried a lot of products. I have to say the Clip and Pump is at the top of my list thus far of favorite things. I am actually quite sad that I didn’t get the chance to try this out when I was working full time in an office building. I cannot imagine the time and effort an accessory like this would have saved me.
Here are the top reasons I LOVE the Bravado Clip and Pump:
1 – It is Easy to Put On
Really doesn’t get any easier than snapping it around your underbust and into your existing nursing bra hooks. Easy peasy. It literally takes me 2 seconds to snap on. It also is very self-explanatory on how to put it on. So no need to bust out YouTube and try and find a tutorial. It is no different than putting a bra on (minus the shoulder straps of course).
2 – You Can Slip the Pump Breast Shields on While Wearing the Clip and Pump
Using the Clip and Pump here with my Cake Lingerie Creme Brulee bra and my Ameda Pump.
A lot of hands-free pumping bras do not make the holes/slits very wide for the breast shields of the milk collection kit to fit through. You usually need to put the breast shields on first and then secure the pumping bra on. That can be a pain. Also when you are finished pumping, it is difficult to take off while trying not to spill any milk.
The Clip and Pump has slits that overlap and make it extremely easy to slip the breast shield in and out of the bra while it is clipped into place. This was one of my favorite features of this bra.
3 – It Holds the Breast Shields in an Upright Position
Another issue I have found with some pumping bras is that they tilt the breast shields at weird angles. Because I have larger breasts that typically means they are slightly tilted toward me because the bras need to be so tight. That means I need to lean forward to ensure the milk flows down into the collection bottles and doesn’t pool in the breast shield itself.
The Clip and Pump hold the breast shields in a perfectly upright position. Because it fits securely (but not tight) I don’t need to lean at all to ensure the milk is flowing into the collection bottles. I was pleasantly surprised by this.
(Related: Need extra Pump Parts? Visit our Pump Parts Page!)
4 – It Fits Securely
I love the way the Clip and Pump fits. To be honest, it has been the best fitting hands-free bra I have used to date (and I have used a lot of them). There is no fussing with it or pulling it up. It fits securely and perfectly each time.
Again, having larger breasts, this makes a big difference. I think the comfort alone of using this bra is its biggest win. It stays in place without having to constantly pull it up but it’s not so tight that it is squeezing you.
How to Use the Clip and Pump
This is honestly the easiest accessory to use. Check it out:
5 Easy Steps to Using the Clip and Pump
Step 1 – Unclip your nursing bra and pull down the panel as if you were going to breastfeed
Step 2 – Secure the Clip and Pump around your waist
Step 3 – Clip the B-Clip of the Clip and Pump into your nursing bra
Step 4 – Slip the breast shields of your pump through the slits in the Clip and Pump and position over your nipple
Step 5 – Pump away!
Clip and Pump Sizing
Sizing for these types of products can be confusing and tough. Especially when you can’t try them on first. The good news is that Bravado Designs has very simple sizing- small, medium, large, etc.
To figure out your size, use the chart below:
Clip and Pump Sizing Chart **Credit: Bravado Designs
I am a 36F-G (US sizing) when nursing. It’s crazy, I know. My Clip and Pump is a size Medium and it works/fits perfectly. It really is based on your underbust size (the band size which runs around your rib cage under your bust) because the cup size isn’t really important. The slits in the Clip and Pump ensure that your breast shield will sit perfectly on your breast no matter how big your cup is. That’s why a cup size “B” and size “G” can use the same size Clip and Pump if their underbust size is the same.
What Nursing Bras Work with the Bravado Designs Clip and Pump?
I have a lot of nursing bras. A lot. I have used my Clip and Pump with quite a few of these bras. Among my favorites are:
- Cake Lingerie Creme Brulee
- Cake Lingerie Dark Chocolate
- Jessica Simpson Demi Convertable Strap Nursing Bra
- Bravado Body Silk Seamless
All of these (minus the Bravado Body) are structured bras with great support so I was glad to see that I was able to use the Clip and Pump easily despite that.
It works great with nursing tanks too. I have several cheap ones from Target and Dairy Fairy and the clip and Pump fit perfectly, so you really can use this accessory with most any nursing bra or tank in my opinion.
Bottomline
If you are a pumping mom, you need to consider picking up a Bravado Designs Clip and Pump. You will not be disappointed. It is by far my favorite pumping accessory thus far (and I have tried a lot).
They are not overly expensive and will fit perfectly into any Pump Bag. I use mine every time I pump and wish I had owned one sooner!
I hope you love yours as much as I do!
Have questions about the Clip and Pump? Drop me a comment below and I will help you out!
To learn more about the Bravado Designs Clip and Pump Hands-free bra, click here!
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I just did some US sizing calculations online and I come up as a US 30 J .My current bras are around 32 H . The chart does not go up to that size. Not sure what size I should get? I am guessing large?
I have bought quite a few pumping bras.. all too small.. Even when I follow the sizing reccommendations!
Also do you know if it fits size large Flanges? I have size 27 flanges – unimom pump. THe other hands free bras I have tried also don’t fit the flanges in.
Hi! I am a 34H and mine is a medium but I use it on the very last eyehook because of my cup size (I need the extra give to get the flange over my nipples). I can totally see a large fitting just fine. It doesn’t fit like most pumping bras I’ve used since it hooks into the nursing bra you are wearing. That’s why the band size is most important than the cup size. The material has give to it too so it stretches easily.
And the slits for the flanges are good sized. You will fit a large flange with no problem! I have tried it with several sizes and brands and it has been no problem.
Hi I am due ro have baby in a week and currently a 38/40 D UK I was looking at getting a Large one of these, I am worried my waistband will reduce and it will be too big? Is there any overlap on the size of waistband?
HI Laura! Huge congrats on your pregnancy!
So I am a 38H (yikes!) right now. I am breastfeeding my 4th baby who is 3 months old. I have a size Medium in the Clip and Pump and can still use it! So I believe their sizing chart is correct/true to size. I used the Medium when I was smaller as well. It does have 4 eye-hooks in the back to get a good fit. I have to use the Medium on the last eye-hook, though and it is snug but not uncomfortable. I was more like a 36F with my last baby and it fit great. I even tried it on in between my pregnancies when I was done breastfeeding and was around a 34/36DD and it still fit perfect. Their sizing is really more about the band. A large would probably work fine since you have some room to adjust it. If you think you will drop well below a 38 (pregnancy makes it tough to size your band) or you typically are more like a 36 or below when not pregnant, than I would go with the Medium. But again, at a 38 I find the fit to be snug so I get that you are right on that cusp. I do think the Large would probably be fine for a 38.
Will this work with a Spectra? The flanges have a different build than the Ameda or Medela so I can’t tell.
Thanks!
Yes, it definitely will! I have tried it with the Spectra and works perfectly. The slits are long enough to fit most breast shields on the market. I have not found one that doesn’t fit.
I’m a 44H and the best nursing bras I have found that have good support are the ones made by Elomi. However those don’t have B clips, so unfortunately this won’t work for me. Guess I’ll have to stick with the Somplr Wishes, which I agree is not the best, especially with larger breasts.
I do own an Elomi nursing bra and the squeeze-release clasps were so hard to do especially one-handed. I have almost hit my baby in the face because of the force haha. But excellent bra in terms of support and coverage! I prefer B Clip bras, however. It would be nice to see Bravado Designs create a clip and pump that was compatible with the squeeze-release clasps as well since it is true that not all nursing bras use B Clips.
Stay tuned! You never know, they might be on board to creating one! And the Simple Wishes pump bra is more supportive than most, so at least you are using one of the better ones!
Very true. It would be nice if most of the nursing bra companies made bras in sizes to accommodate larger women. I just had my first baby and really struggled with finding a nursing bra in my size. The squeeze release isn’t great, but not as bad as I thought it would be, though I agree that B clips are easier and prefer them as well.
Amen! Finding a nursing bra that is supportive for large breast is like finding a unicorn!