No doubt, when Mom feels supported, she will achieve things she never thought imaginable. That support starts at home, with you, Dad! Yes, I’m talking to you!
Here is how our partners can support us as we breastfeed:
•Tell us how awesome we are doing. Repeatedly.
•When it’s 2am and we are in tears, saying “F this!” Tell us we CAN do it; tell me you believe in me and my body’s ability to nourish
•Don’t question me and if I have enough. Encourage me to nurse again and tell me, “Your milk IS enough”
•Encourage us to go one more day, one more week, one more month and one more year.
• “I see you’re having a hard time with this and I want to support you; so I scheduled us an appointment today with a Lactation Consultant.”
•Learn the laws of “supply and demand”
•Tell us how beautiful we look when we are nursing our child.
•Be proud that your baby is Breastfed.
•Educate yourself on the benefits of Breastfeeding & Tell your friends! “My wife is saving us thousands by Breastfeeding AND my baby’s shit don’t stink. WINNING!”
•Bring us food, snacks and drinks while we nurse. Sometimes it’s hard to get off the couch or out of the rocking chair and we get sooo hungry & thirsty!
•Buy your wife the book: The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League
•Read the book together
•Change the baby’s diaper, bathe the baby and if you have a minute: throw in a load of baby laundry for us
•Hold the baby while we take a shower
•Encourage us to rest. Let us rest.
•If baby & Mom are lying in bed nursing; come join the nursing party. Babies love skin to skin and its such a beautiful bonding moment.
•Watch YouTube videos on How to Babywear & breastfeed. Then show Mom what you learned.
•Know what a ring sling is.
•Surprise her with one. Or two.
•Babywearing Daddies are freaking hot. ‘Nuff said.
•Babywearing, laundry doing, dishwasher loading Daddies are EXTRA hot.
•Know what coconut oil, nipple shields, Bamboobies and fenugreek are for.
•Act like you know who Medela is… Even if you don’t.
•Make a batch of lactation cookies while your wife is napping. Surprise her with a warm batch.
•Asking “Honey, can I get you a few placenta pills and a glass of water?” …..Goes a looooooong way.
•Your Lactation Consultant should be your BFF. Have her number programmed in your phone
•Your doula is your other BFF.
And last but not least:
Tell the Mother of your child: “I’m so proud of you. I know you’re trying and I see that. You’re so amazing and so dedicated. Our baby is so lucky to you as his/her Mommy. I love you.” As many times as she needs to hear it.
Now go give that woman a big hug, she’s worked hard! We make people AND feed them. We deserve this.
The Chronicles Of Motherhood 