Breastfeeding Tips for Husbands and Daddies

SUPPORT is key in successful breastfeeding. Let's face it,moms. Without the support from the mister, breastfeeding will be very much harder. Just like any other aspect of marriage, breastfeeding should be a partnership between mommy and daddy.

I am very lucky, my husband has been supporting breastfeeding from the start.  This is primarily because he was a breastfed baby. He tasted the goodness of breast milk. It was not hard for me because we both knew that formula was not an option for the both of us. Breastfeeding is not all about the mom and the baby. Family support play a key role, too!

[caption id="attachment_1810" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Don't feel left out because of mother-baby nursing. Maximize daddy-baby bonding buy cuddling as much as you can![/caption]

For daddies and daddies-to-be, here are some tips to make your nursing wife's life easier.

Loooonng string of patience

Postpartum moms are highly emotional. Add to that the pressure of producing milk for an infant who can't seem to be satisfied and you'll have a weepy and wrecked wife. No, you won't get pogi points by just being silent and doing nothing. Get involved. Ask the wife what she needs and try to give him that.

I remember during my first week, i was an emotional mommy, too. Baby was stuck in the NICU and i had to pump to initiate breastfeeding.  So i pumped like crazy, to the point that i broke the manual pump. Tears rushed down as i showed my husband what it did. Instead of blaming me, he just listened and offered to accompany me to the mall to buy new part.

Spoil the wife.

Working nursing moms will need breastfeeding supplies like breast pump, milk containers, nursing bra, nursing cover, malunggay supplements, etc. Mommies enjoy shopping for these stuff, too!

[caption id="attachment_1286" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Spoil the wife by giving her the free hand and the budget, of course to get these supplies.[/caption]

Do your breastfeeding research. 

Sometimes dads feel left out in the mom-baby bonding. But breastfeeding know-how need not be the mom's sole responsibility. My husband was in to breastfeeding as i am. Months before i gave birth, he bought magazines about breastfeeding and taking care of baby.

Dads need to learn about nursing as well.  It's a sign that you care. Besides, knowing about breastfeeding will be great. Whenever she bugs you about buying a "better"  set of breast pump or extra milk storage bottles or a separate freezer for the stash, you'll be able to give an educated disapproval.

Be a knight-in-shining armor. 

When mom and baby are on a breastfeeding marathon, be the gentleman that you are and offer to help. Prop a pillow on her arm or neck, prolonged latching does strain your muscles.  Offer her something to eat or drink.  Take a a more cavalier step and spoon feed your starving wife.  This way she won't need to unlatch while eating.  Do you know how hard it is to get that perfect latch?

Take that extra effort. Whether they admit it or not, such kind gestures bring "kilig" to the nursing wife.

Do the housework. 

Mommies recovering from a delivery, whether normal or cesarian need to rest.  Rest and relaxation will encourage milk production.  You can help her by doing simple things like keeping your room tidy, cooking  or by  cleaning the breast pump.  All these little gestures much appreciated by a new mom. That's moral support put into actions.

Have an open mind. 

If mama wants to nurse in public, try not to be queasy about it.  Feeding baby is a normal act. If you're concerned that she'll just flash her boobs, that's what the nursing covers are for. Some moms, like me,  think that nursing in public is the best way to promote breastfeeding.

Offer words of encouragement.

Choose your words wisely, words are like swords. They do hurt a lot especially to a mommy who's just about to build that EBM stash. So instead of commenting on how little milk she make, try to be a positive influence by smiling and saying, "Ok lang yan,  dear. Pump lang ng pump. Dadami din yan."

Hearing such encouraging words is like music to mama's ear. Make her feel that you're beside her all through out your breastfeeding journey.

Breastfeeding is a decision both moms and dads should take. So, BOTH  must takes steps towards successful nursing.

Thanks, Daddy for being my number one breastfeeding fan!!!

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