Before we share our favourite breastfeeding essentials, congratulations on your pregnancy or the arrival of your new baby. This exciting and euphoric time co-exists with the many changes and challenges of adjusting to life postpartum and navigating it all for the first time.
Establishing breastfeeding and learning to nurse can be emotionally challenging for a new parent. Not only are you and your baby learning to do something entirely new, but the demands and frequency of feeding a newborn can be exhausting in those early days and weeks.
Don’t worry; we’re about to share the best breastfeeding essentials to support you during this time, assist with establishing feeding, offer relief from sore and cracked nipples, provide comfort for long nights of feeds and suggest a few nice-to-have luxuries you can forward on to the ‘gifters’ in your life.
Oh, and Mama, we want you to know while challenging, breastfeeding is also an enriching and unique time between mother and baby. You are about to lose many hours gazing down at your newborn through heavy but love-filled eyes.
We hope you leave this page feeling empowered, part of a virtual village and prepared to shop (or give a hint) for everything you need to support you on your journey.
Table of Contents
Disclaimer: This article is based on personal experience and genuine community recommendations. It is not sponsored in any way. This article does contain some affiliate links. This means if you were to purchase via our link, we would receive a small commission. Read our full disclaimer.
Essentials for Establishing Breastfeeding
We titled this post ‘Breastfeeding Essentials’, but we need to be honest; while this list is helpful and offers care and support to a new feeding mum, there are many things you could go without and still have a successful feeding journey and knowing everything I do about the struggles some woman face, you can also have ALL these things and still find the experience difficult. Thats why, we’ve made sure to place these three things at the top of the list, in its own ‘actually essential’ area.
1. Breastfeeding Education and Recourses During Pregnancy
Whether you spend time on evidence-based websites, speaking with your midwife or enrolling in a breastfeeding education course, we believe that knowledge is power and entering into your breastfeeding journey, feeling confident in what you know will eliminate any unnecessary anxiety attached to uncertainty.
2. Ensure You Have a Breastfeeding Support Network
Setting yourself up to be supported on your journey is a crucial step for preparing to feed. We encourage you to not only have conversations with your partner about your hopes with feeding but take comfort in knowing there is ample support readily available.
Support in Australia includes:
– Lactation Consultants and Midwives available post birth to assist you establish feeding and check latch.
– Australian Breastfeeding Association online resources and
Breastfeeding helpline.
– Registered IBCLC Lactation Consultants
– Informational pages like Milky Business.
3. Advocate For Post Birth Bonding
According to a recent WHO (world health organisation) study, Newborns with 90 minutes of uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact are more likely to breastfeed successfully. This sacred time not only assists with bonding, regulates your baby’s heart rate and offers calm but it is known to release hormones that are important for establishing your milk supply.
If this is an option, protect that post-birth bubble and linger in those moments with your baby. Sometimes, post-birth looks different (it did for me) but don’t worry, prioritise skin-to-skin as soon as possible.
Setting Up Your Breastfeeding Station
We’ve established the many up’s and down’s of establishing feeding and where to find support. Now its time to set up your environment to create a calming and comfortable space with everything you need at arms reach.
While not essential, creating a breastfeeding basket or trolley or filling a nappy caddy with all your items will make sure you can simply focus on your baby and you.
A few nice-to-have comforts in your space may include:
Breastfeeding Pillow
Described by customers as “extremely comfy and versatile”, a good breastfeeding pillow will offer support during pregnancy and postpartum while you feed your baby. While not essential, we understand why mums love the feeding and support pillow by snuggle me organic.
Nursing Chair
Comfort is key while establishing feeding. We recommend choosing a chair that has ample back and neck support, allowing you to lean back and get comfortable during feeds.
Breastfeeding Essentials for New Mums in 2023
Now your environment is ready, lets cover everything you will need for your breastfeeding station, including nipple care, hydration, comfort, snacks and nice-to-have items.
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Nipple Care Essentials for Breastfeeding Mums
Silverettes
A known life-saver (or nipple-saver) during those early days of cluster feeding discomfort. Silverettes nursing cups assist in preventing cracked and irritated nipple skin and soothe/heal sore nipples between feeds.
Breast Ice Packs
A must-have to offer relief. Breast Ice Packs are made to fit comfortably inside your bra and around your nipples to give relief to cracked and tender nipples.
Nipple Cream
You’ll want a few of these. Created to soothe, heal and hydrate. A good (and natural) Nipple Cream will provide much needed relief from sore and cracked nipples. We recommend choosing a Nipple Cream that doesn’t need to be cleaned off prior to feeding.
Breastfeeding Essentials for Pumping Mums
Manual Breast Pump
If you are looking to exclusively breastfeed but still want the freedom of flexible feeding options, a Manual breast pump will be able to provide you with additional milk on the occasion you need it. A Manual pump like the Haakaa will also catch the natural let down as you feed your baby. For more frequent pumping, you may like to compare the best breast pumps in Australia to find one to suit your needs.
Milk Storage Bags
Protecting every last drop (and doing it sustainably) with the Haakaa silicone reusable milk storage bags, because this IS spilt milk worth crying over.
Comfort Essentials for Breastfeeding
Breast Pads
Leak proof protection (thats also kind to the earth) to keep you dry and provide comfort against sore and tender breasts. Our personal favourites are the ultra absorbent breast pads from Bare Mum and the organic bamboo washable pads for Juem.
Nursing Bra
High quality, breathable and soft against the skin. A few boxes we recommend ticking when choosing a supportive nursing bra for postpartum. We often opt for bamboo or organic cotton bralette style bra’s during this season.
Breastfeeding Tops
The last thing you want to be doing is fiddling with a top that isn’t feeding friendly while your baby cries for milk. Not only do breastfeeding tops offer easy access for bub, but they are typically designed to keep feeding mama’s comfortable.
Burp Cloths
Be prepared for spills, leaks and spews. We recommend keeping a handful of burp cloths or terry towelling cloths arms reach during feeds.
Nice-to-have items for Breastfeeding Mums
Drink Bottle With Straw
Remember to look after yourself, too. Staying hydrated is so important while feeding. It can be easy to forget so we suggest adding a drink bottle to your feeding station and have extra cool water readily available in the fridge. A good drink bottle with a straw will provide convenience while your hands are full and remind you to keep up your fluids. We love Frank Green Drink bottles and Bink Mama Bottle.
Hydramama
New to the market but already loved by so many, this hydration hero is more than just a typical hydralyte. Hydramama is backed by science and full of benefits (Electrolytes, Folate, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin C). A
Breastfeeding Tea
Naturopath approved ingredients that traditionally used to support healthy lactation and ease digestion for both breastfeeding mother and baby. Breastfeeding Tea by Love Tea has 0 caffeine and a subtle taste.
Lactation Cookies
Don’t skip the snacks. Fill your breastfeeding station with various nourishing snacks while you feed. Be sure to ensure some lactation cookies. Lactation cookies not only provide a great breastfeeding snack but are packed full of natural galactagogues, designed to support your milk supply.
Final Note:
While breastfeeding is natural, it doesn’t always come naturally. It is okay if you find yourself needing extra support from a professional, need to use nipple shields to support your journey, decided to exclusively pump or turn to bottle feeding. You’re doing great.
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Kirsten
Great suggestions!
Sara Besic
There is such a thing as breastfeeding tea 😳 I wish I would have known about that. This is a great article with so much useful information.
Kelley | Happily K
This is a great resource! Breastfeeding can be full of ups and downs — many of which parents don’t know how to navigate. I had such a hard time finding a pumping bra that was comfortable and worked well, and I actually never ended up finding one that I thought was that great.