Dad’s top tips for teamwork in supporting their breastfeeding spouse
Breastfeeding is more than just a mother-and-baby activity; it’s a family endeavour that thrives on time, patience, and teamwork. As a dad, you might initially feel side-lined during this intimate process, but your role is important.
From offering practical support to providing emotional encouragement, there are many ways you can actively participate and contribute to a successful breastfeeding experience.
Here are tips from WIC Breastfeeding Support, United States (US) Department of Agriculture, on how you can be an essential part of the journey and support your partner every step of the way.
PLAN YOUR TEAM’S DREAM SCHEME
Before the arrival of your baby, it’s important to get familiar with the basics of breastfeeding. Understanding what to expect during those first days will prepare you for the journey ahead.
Work with your partner to set clear goals and develop a birth plan that outlines your breastfeeding objectives. This collaborative approach ensures both of you have a shared vision of what breastfeeding success looks like.
Consider joining your partner in a breastfeeding class. Gaining knowledge about breastfeeding will enable you to offer more effective support.
PLAN OF ATTACK: BREASTFEED EDITION
Once at the hospital, make sure to share your breastfeeding plan with the staff. Inform them that your partner intends to breastfeed, so they can provide appropriate support.
Focus on encouraging skin-to-skin contact by holding your baby close between feedings. This not only helps with bonding but also supports breastfeeding.
If your partner encounters difficulties with breastfeeding, don’t hesitate to seek help from the hospital staff. Alternatively, encourage her to reach out to the breastfeeding staff or a peer counsellor for additional support.
DAD DUTY
At home, take an active role in caring for your baby.
You can soothe, bathe, change, dress, cuddle, and burp your little one. Keep your partner company during feedings and ensure she has ample food and hydration.
Learn to recognise your baby’s hunger cues so you can promptly bring the baby to your partner for nursing sessions. Help manage visitor numbers to ensure your partner can rest adequately.
Go the extra mile by assisting with household chores, running errands, cooking, cleaning and doing laundry. If your partner needs something while breastfeeding, be proactive in fetching it for her. If you have other children, take responsibility for their care to allow your partner to focus on breastfeeding.
Offer plenty of encouragement to help your partner feel confident and valued. Express your pride in her efforts and consider doing something special to show your appreciation.
Be prepared to defend your choice to breastfeed against any negative comments or discouragement from others, acting as a strong advocate for your partner’s decision.
Fathers play an important role in supporting mothers on their breastfeeding journey, offering both practical and emotional assistance. Although it may not yet be a common practice in some segments of our culture, where men traditionally focus on being the family’s breadwinners without providing emotional support, it is a practice that should become more widespread in this day and age.
By taking on household chores, ensuring a calm environment, and helping care for older children, fathers allow mothers to focus on breastfeeding without additional stress.
Emotional support is equally important, as encouragement and understanding from a partner can boost a mother’s confidence and perseverance.
Fathers who educate themselves about breastfeeding enable themselves to offer informed support and advocate for the mother’s needs, fostering a nurturing atmosphere that benefits both mother and baby. – IZAH AZAHARI
