What Should You Pack in Your Hospital Bag for Breastfeeding?

Why Does Your Hospital Bag Need Breastfeeding Essentials?

Most hospital bag checklists focus on birth: towels, toiletries, going-home outfit. But if you plan to breastfeed, you'll start within the first hour after birth — and what you're wearing matters immediately.

Hospital gowns work for the first feed, but once you're recovering in the postnatal ward, you'll want your own nursing bra. Your baby will feed 8–12 times in the first 24 hours. Each feed requires breast access, and fumbling with a regular bra or pulling up a t-shirt gets old fast.

The other surprise: your breasts change dramatically in the first 48–72 hours. Colostrum transitions to milk, breasts can swell significantly (engorgement), and leaking starts. Having the right bras, pads, and nipple care on hand means you're dealing with one fewer problem during an already overwhelming time.

The Breastfeeding Hospital Bag Checklist

Nursing bras (2–3)

Your most important packing item. You need at least two nursing bras so you have a fresh option when the first one gets milk on it — and it will, probably within hours.

What to look for in a hospital nursing bra:

• Wire-free — your breasts will be swollen and tender
• Easy one-handed access — you'll be holding your baby with the other hand
• Soft, stretchy fabric — comfort is everything when you're recovering from birth
• Room to grow — buy on the looser hooks, because engorgement adds 1–2 cup sizes in the first week

The Hot Milk Caress Bamboo Multifit is well-suited for hospital because its multifit sizing accommodates the rapid breast changes of the first week, and the bamboo fabric is gentle against sensitive postpartum skin.

A nursing bralette for skin-to-skin

In the first hours after birth, you'll likely do skin-to-skin contact with your baby. A soft nursing bralette is easy to pull aside for skin-to-skin and first feeds without needing to remove it entirely. It provides just enough coverage for when visitors arrive or midwives come to check on you.

The Cake Maternity Popping Candy Bralette has pull-aside cups that make those first feeds as simple as possible — no clips, no clasps, just slide the fabric to the side. It also doubles as an excellent sleep nursing bra for those first nights on the postnatal ward.

Breast pads (2 packs)

Pack both disposable and reusable breast pads. Disposable pads are convenient for the hospital stay — you can toss them rather than worrying about washing. Reusable bamboo or cotton pads are softer on nipples and better for once you're home.

You'll go through more breast pads than you expect. In the first days of breastfeeding, leaking is frequent and unpredictable. Pack at least 10–12 disposable pads for your hospital stay.

Nipple cream or balm

Your nipples will be working harder than they ever have. Even with a perfect latch, the first few days of breastfeeding can leave nipples sore, cracked, and tender. A lanolin-free nipple balm applied after every feed creates a protective barrier and supports healing.

Look for a balm that's safe to leave on during feeding — you don't want to be wiping it off every time your baby needs to nurse.

Maternity underwear (3–4 pairs)

Comfortable, high-waisted maternity briefs that sit above a caesarean incision (if applicable) and accommodate maternity pads. You want underwear you don't mind getting stained — the first few days postpartum involve lochia (postpartum bleeding), and your nicest knickers should stay home.

Nursing-friendly clothing (2–3 tops)

Button-front pyjama tops or tops that lift easily from the bottom. Avoid anything that goes over your head — you won't want to raise your arms much if you've had a caesarean, and over-the-head tops make feeding more complicated than it needs to be.

A water bottle with a straw

This isn't a bra, but it might be the most underrated breastfeeding essential. Breastfeeding makes you intensely thirsty, and you'll often be feeding with both hands occupied. A large water bottle with a built-in straw means you can drink without putting your baby down. Hospital midwives will also appreciate not refilling a small glass every hour.

What Most Mums Forget to Pack

Based on what Australian mums consistently say they wish they'd packed:

• A second nursing bra — one is not enough. Milk, sweat, and colostrum mean your first bra may be unwearable by day two
• Nipple cream from day one — many mums wait until nipples are already cracked. Apply preventatively after every feed from the very first one
• Dark-coloured breast pads — white pads show stains. Dark or printed pads are more practical and less distressing when you're already emotional
• A going-home nursing bra — your pre-pregnancy bra will not fit. Pack a nursing bra specifically for leaving the hospital. The Hot Milk Ambition is a smooth contour style that works well under a going-home outfit

When Should You Buy Your Hospital Nursing Bras?

Buy your nursing bras at 34–37 weeks — late enough that your breasts are close to their postpartum size, early enough that you're not rushing if baby arrives early.

Sizing tips for hospital bras:

• Measure when your breasts are moderately full (not right after a shower when they're smaller)
• If you're between sizes, buy the larger size — engorgement will push you up
• Fasten on the loosest hook so there's room to tighten as engorgement subsides
• Buy at least 2 nursing bras, ideally 3 (two everyday + one bralette for sleep and skin-to-skin)

For detailed measuring help, check the Mumgerie sizing guide.

Your First 48 Hours: What to Expect with Breastfeeding

Understanding what's normal in the first two days helps you pack (and prepare) more effectively.

Hours 1–6: Your baby will likely feed within the first hour (the "golden hour"). Feeds are short and colostrum comes in tiny amounts — this is normal. You'll be in a hospital gown or your skin-to-skin bralette.

Hours 6–24: Your baby may cluster feed — feeding every 30–60 minutes for stretches. This is normal and stimulates your milk supply. You'll want your nursing bra on now, with breast pads in place, because leaking starts.

Day 2–3: Your milk "comes in" — breasts become noticeably fuller, heavier, and sometimes hard (engorgement). This is when having bras on the looser hooks matters. The engorgement typically lasts 24–48 hours before your supply regulates.

Day 3–5 (going home): Most Australian mums leave hospital on day 2–3 after a vaginal birth or day 3–5 after a caesarean. Your breasts will be at their largest, so your going-home bra needs to be your most generous fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I pack a maternity bra or a nursing bra for hospital?

A nursing bra. You'll be breastfeeding within hours of birth, so you need a bra with feeding access from the start. A maternity bra without clips or pull-aside cups means removing the bra for every feed — impractical when your baby feeds 8–12 times a day. See our full comparison of maternity bras vs nursing bras for more detail.

How many nursing bras should I pack in my hospital bag?

Pack 2–3 nursing bras: one to wear, one spare for when the first gets milk on it, and ideally a soft bralette for sleep and skin-to-skin. Hospital stays in Australia are typically 2–4 days, and breast milk stains are a certainty.

What if I'm not sure I'll breastfeed — should I still pack nursing bras?

Yes. Even if you're undecided, nursing bras work perfectly well as regular wire-free bras. The clips stay closed if you don't use them. Packing nursing bras means you have the option for breastfeeding without needing someone to bring different bras to the hospital.

Can I wear my pregnancy bra to hospital instead?

You can, but you may regret it. Your pregnancy bra won't have breastfeeding access, and your breast size postpartum is often larger than your pregnancy size due to engorgement. A nursing bra bought in the third trimester will fit better and function better than the bras you've been wearing for months.

What nursing bra is best for the hospital?

The best hospital nursing bra is wire-free, stretchy, and easy to open with one hand. Bamboo and cotton blends are gentlest on postpartum skin. Our complete buying guide covers the full range of options by style and budget.