Even though breastfeeding is the most beautiful and overwhelming thing, it can be challenging without breastfeeding support, especially from your partner. This is because breastfeeding is not a solo job but a family affair that requires practice, patience, and teamwork.
Let’s talk about why it is important for a partner to support breastfeeding mums, how your partner can help you with breastfeeding, and where you can go to get breastfeeding support from lactation experts.
Why Is It Important for Your Partner to Support You During Breastfeeding
Since breastfeeding is a family affair, your partner’s knowledge, enthusiasm, and support can not only help you learn how to breastfeed, but your partner can also boost your confidence and help you overcome challenges during breastfeeding. This can translate into a more extended breastfeeding period.
Studies have also documented a significant increase in the nursing rate in the group where fathers attended breastfeeding sessions. This means the partner’s positive attitude can strongly influence whether the mother chooses to breastfeed the baby and for how long.
How Your Partner Can Help You with Breastfeeding
Your partner can help you in many ways before and during your breastfeeding period. Your partner can help you by:
Learning About Breastfeeding
Not only for you but it’s also important for your partner to learn about breastfeeding, why it is important, and how it works so that he can help you with breastfeeding and manage the breastfeeding issues.
Some key things your partner should know about breastfeeding include:
- Breastmilk is a nutrient-rich natural food for your baby that protects the baby against diseases and infections.
- Breastfeeding also protects the mum from several diseases
- Breastfeeding sessions can be time taking, especially during early breastfeeding sessions when the mum is also learning how to breastfeed the baby properly.
- Learning how to breastfeed the baby also takes time
- How to manage breastfeeding issues, such as not enough milk supply, sore nipples, blocked milk ducts, etc.
- When to get you (breastfeeding mum) support from lactation specialists.
Caring for Breastfeeding Baby
Your partner can also support you by caring for your breastfeeding baby. Your partner can:
- Hold the baby and cuddle with the baby skin to skin to settle the baby so that it’s easier for you to breastfeed the baby
- Bath or massage the baby
- Take the baby for a nappy change or burps after breastfeeding
- Bottle-feed the expressed breastmilk to the baby
Caring for the Breastfeeding Mum
Breastfeeding can be stressful for mothers if they have a lot to deal with during this time. They can have mixed emotions. During this time, your partner can help you by:
- Encouragingyou to have healthy food and drink plenty of water
- Bring the baby to you during the night for feeding and settle the baby back to sleep after the feed
- Be patient and understand your emotions about intimacy
- Take on extra household chores so that you don’t worry about them.
Breastfeeding Support in Palm Harbor, Trinity, and Westchase, Florida
Your lactation consultant can teach your partner how to take care of you and your breastfeeding baby, how to manage breastfeeding issues, and when to visit the lactation consultant.
So, if you want to make your breastfeeding session smooth and easy, visit lactation consultants at Children’s Medical Center with your partner. Our highly skilled and experienced team of breastfeeding specialists will not only help you with breastfeeding but also teach your partner how to become the best breastfeeding support.
If you would like to make an appointment with our lactation consultant, call today at contact us today at the location nearest you.
