Breastfeeding is a rewarding experience for many mothers, allowing them to provide nourishment and comfort to their newborn babies. However, it can also present challenges, especially in the early days and weeks as mother and baby learn this new skill together. During this time, support from family members such as the baby’s father can be invaluable. Here is some information on how husbands can provide support with breastfeeding.
Ways Husbands Can Help With Breastfeeding
There are many ways a husband can help his wife succeed with breastfeeding. Some key ways include:
- Educating himself on breastfeeding – Reading up on the benefits, techniques, and normal challenges can help him better understand the process.
- Providing emotional support – Encouraging her, listening, and being patient as she navigates early breastfeeding difficulties.
- Helping her get set up – Bringing the baby to her, getting nursing pillows/stools ready, offering water or snacks.
- Burping and changing the baby – Taking over some of the other care tasks allows her to focus on nursing.
- Giving neck/back rubs – Physical touch and massage can be comforting during long nursing sessions.
- Limiting visitors – Protecting her rest time and privacy in the first few weeks postpartum.
This type of practical, emotional, and educational support can make a big difference in helping a new breastfeeding mom face challenges with feeding their infant. The key is for the husband to educate himself, communicate with his wife about her needs, and look for tangible ways to assist.
Bonding Through Skin-to-Skin Contact
One of the lesser known but highly beneficial ways a husband can help with breastfeeding is through skin-to-skin holding of the baby. Often called “kangaroo care,” this involves the father holding the baby against his bare chest. Research shows that a father’s skin-to-skin contact helps:
- Stabilize the baby’s heart rate, breathing, and temperature
- Reduce infant crying and stress
- Promote better sleep for the baby
- Increase milk supply as it stimulates prolactin production
- Lead to more breastfeeding success
Aim for at least 60-90 minutes of skin-to-skin time per day for optimal results. This can be broken into shorter sessions. Dads can offer to take over holding the baby skin-to-skin after nursing to allow the mother to rest. This helps her produce more milk while giving dad special bonding time too.
Providing Pumped Breast Milk
Once breastfeeding is well established, usually around 4-6 weeks, a husband can help by feeding pumped breast milk. This allows mom to get a restorative break while the nutrition and immunity benefits continue. To help with providing pumped milk:
- Encourage her pumping efforts by preparing pump equipment
- Bottle feed the pumped milk following safe guidelines
- Clean pump parts thoroughly after use
- Store milk properly in refrigerator/freezer
- Thaw frozen milk safely in warm water for feeding
As the baby begins accepting some feeds from a bottle around 3-4 weeks old, having dad provide pumped milk helps prevent bottle refusal or nipple confusion. Make sure to pace feedings and use slow-flow nipples to most closely mimic a breastfeeding session.
Creating a Breastfeeding Friendly Environment
In addition to direct support during breastfeeding sessions, husbands can also help create an environment that optimizes breastfeeding success. Here are some tips:
- Reduce stress – Mother’s stress levels can impact milk supply, so providing care help, words of encouragement, and bonding time reduces anxiety.
- Promote skin-to-skin – Keep the home warm and cozy so mother and baby can comfortably nurse skin-to-skin as needed.
- Prepare healthy meals – Breastfeeding burns extra calories, so help ensure she stays nourished and hydrated.
- Limit alcohol – Drinking can inhibit let-down reflex and reduce milk supply, so support sobriety.
- Encourage rest – Physical and mental exhaustion can make breastfeeding more difficult, so take over care tasks so she can nap.
Optimizing these environmental factors helps make breastfeeding easier and removes obstacles that could potentially derail the process. Checking in with her needs and helping adjust the home setup demonstrates care and support.
Providing Encouragement Through Challenges
While breastfeeding has benefits for mother and baby, it does not always come easily. Many mothers face challenges like sore nipples, plugged ducts, infections, poor latch, worries about milk supply, and more. During difficult periods, emotional support and encouragement from the husband can make a big impact. Here are some tips:
- Be patient and listen without judgment as she expresses breastfeeding difficulties.
- Research solutions together – contact lactation consultants, read articles, watch videos, etc.
- Highlight her successes so far and reassure her of the benefits.
- Encourage but don’t pressure – work as a team but let her make the final breastfeeding decisions.
- Avoid negative or undermining comments about breastfeeding. Comments like “just give a bottle” or “I don’t see why it’s worth the trouble” can sabotage her efforts.
Breastfeeding continuation rates are shown to be higher when fathers are supportive during times of struggle. Your faith in her ability to work through challenges will boost her confidence.
Knowing When to Step Back
While supporting breastfeeding efforts, husbands should also recognize when it is time to step back. Breastfeeding is ultimately the mother’s domain. As much as you want to help, avoid:
- Criticizing her technique or demanding she breastfeed in certain positions/schedules.
- Pressuring her to offer more feeds than the baby shows hunger for.
- Undermining breastfeeding because you want to participate in feedings.
- Making her feel guilty if supply issues or other factors prevent her from meeting breastfeeding goals.
The key is working as a team. Fathers should help mothers reach their own breastfeeding goals without judgment or pressure. Offer assistance, not demands. If she makes the decision to wean or supplement, embrace that and work on finding other ways to bond with your baby.
Consulting Support Services
If breastfeeding challenges arise that you cannot solve together, timely expert support is key. Some services to utilize:
- Lactation consultants – Can provide individualized advice on techniques, pump equipment, supplements, infections, and more.
- Breastfeeding classes – Help build knowledge before and after birth.
- Physician/pediatrician – Assess nutritional needs and infant health issues related to breastfeeding problems.
- Peer support groups – Connect with other breastfeeding mothers for tips.
- Breast pump rentals – Provide hospital-grade pumps for milk supply issues.
Having professional support gives mothers increased confidence in tackling breastfeeding obstacles. Husbands can help by researching quality resources in their community and accompanying their wives to appointments or groups.
Being a Team Player as Her Partner
While breastfeeding is ultimately the mother’s domain, fathers play a key supporting role. Your encouragement, active assistance, and efforts to create a breastfeeding friendly environment will help her reach her goals. Recognize challenges as normal but solvable speed bumps. Seek expert support if needed, not quick fixes like formula. Most of all, be patient – breastfeeding is a learning process that takes time and teamwork!
Conclusion
In summary, there are many valuable ways a husband can help support his wife’s breastfeeding journey:
- Educating himself and providing emotional encouragement
- Getting hands-on with care tasks like bringing the baby and pumping milk
- Promoting skin-to-skin time to help milk supply and bonding
- Creating a low-stress, breastfeeding friendly home environment
- Seeking professional support during challenges
- Being a team player without pressuring or criticizing her
While recognizing that breastfeeding is ultimately mom’s domain, fathers play an integral role. By working together, both parents can help give the baby the best start through a positive breastfeeding experience.