The bassinet is purchased, the nursery is decorated, baby’s first outfit is chosen, and there is still more to do… Now it’s time to choose a nursing bra and not just any nursing bra but the best nursing bra for you.

Nursing bras are an important choice and have a completely different set of guidelines than regular bra shopping. They will determine how well your breasts are supported, how easy it is to allow your baby to nurse, and how discretely you are able to nurse in public.

So what do you look for when choosing the best nursing bra for you? The first thing in mind should be support. No, you don’t have to encase your breasts in steel in order to gain the proper support for them. In fact, a the best support nursing bra should be made of stretchy material. Choose one made to expand giving you a comfortable fit whether your breasts are full of milk or just after nursing.

Wider straps are essential in choosing the best nursing bra, especially for women who have larger breasts and need a plus size nursing bra. The best nursing bra for large breasts have wider straps. Wider straps give more room to distribute the weight of heavy breasts against the shoulders and lessen the likelihood of cutting into the shoulders.

Snaps and fasteners are probably not something a mom gives much thought to until she goes to choose a nursing bra. The best nursing bras will have easy one handed opening snaps so that discrete nursing in public is possible. There’s nothing like holding a fussy hungry baby and not being able to undo the straps one handed.

A good nursing bra for you will depend upon your tastes and your lifestyle. When choosing the best fabric take into account that though silk is pretty and many synthetics are stretchy, a pure cotton nursing bra will allow your breasts to breathe and cause less skin irritation and are recommended by many breastfeeding experts. Looking for more nursing bra styles? There are plenty of quality nursing bra tanks, sports nursing bras, and nursing sleep bras.

Underwire nursing bras are also an option. They are not always recommended because a poorly fitted underwire nursing bra can cause mastitis by compressing the milk glands, but many larger breasted women state they need the support. The best underwire nursing bra will be fitted correctly and they say they cause no more difficulties than a nursing bra without underwire.

Your choice in brand and style of nursing bras will depend on your lifestyle, your personal fashion tastes, and your breast size but with these few tips you can easily find the best nursing bra for you.