Tips to Support Your Breastfeeding Partner
 

Just beacuse you don't lactate doesn't mean you're not important!

• Learn about breastfeeding
• • Read breastfeeding books
  • Attend classes with her.

    

• Be active and vocal in your support.
• • Help mom set breastfeeding goals.
  • Help clean breast-pumps and equipment.
  • Help label, store, and organize pumped milk.
  • Share your knowledge with family, especially those who may not have breastfed and whose support is integral for your family.
• Learn how to give the right support.
• • Ask mom what she needs and how you can help.
  • Don't offer a relief bottle (unless it's pumped milk).
  • Help her set up a "nest:" bring her water, food, the TV remote, etc… Be sure to keep her involved with the family.
  • • Make sure mom is well hydrated. This will ensure her milk supply won't dwindle due to dehydration.
  • If mom is uncomfortable breastfeeding in public, act as a human shield and advocate for your partner.
• Let her know how much you appreciate her.
• • Breastfeeding can be hard work and mentally exhausting at first. Telling your wife that you think she's amazing and that you're proud of her can mean so much to her and really help her feel supported.
• Get up with the baby at night.
• • You can still change the diaper, rock the baby, and help mom in many ways.
• Build your relationship with your new baby.
• • You can carry, bathe, read to, talk to and love your baby.
  • Skin-to-skin contact is not just for mom and baby. Take off your shirt, cuddle your baby, and get to know each other!
• Take over household responsibilities.
• • Help with cleaning the house, getting dinner ready, paying bills, doing dishes ... especially if you're on paternity leave. Try to make your wife's only responsibilities be healing her own body and helping your newborn transition into the big world breastfeeding. The more mom doesn't have to worry about, the less overwhelming the demands of breastfeeding seem.

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  Help her avoid unsupportive environments.
• • Get rid of any formula in the house… it's too tempting.
  • While you're at it,  get rid of any "breastfeeding" literature from formula companies.
  • Grandparents are important to breastfeeding success. If your parent starts talking to you or your wife about breastfeeding in a negative way, kindly tell them that kind of talk isn't welcome or appreciated, and if they can't be supportive, they will be asked to leave.
• Help your partner recognize when she needs help.
• • If mom's suffering with bleeding nipples or is convinced she's not making enough milk, encourage her to contact her lactation consultant.
  • If mom seems excessively teary, she may benefit from talking to a friend, another mother or counselor.

Tips to Support your Breastfeeding Daughter:

 Your opinion matters, so make sure your daughter knows how much you support her in her decision, even if you didn't breastfeed. 

• Educate yourself on breastfeeding; this can help you help your daughter.
• Keep the encouragement coming.
• • Don't offer formula as it will undermine her confidence
• Wait until breastfeeding is well established and mom starts pumping to offer the bottle (of breastmilk!)