Breastfeeding is the best source of nutrition for babies under a year of age. Most mothers breastfeed until their babies are 2 years old. Breast milk contains all the antibodies, vitamins, and nutrients that are essential for a baby’s growth and immunity. Breast milk is an excellent source of food that satisfies and fills the baby and builds a feeling of security in the baby. But breastfeeding is just not a mothers prerogative of the mother. There are many ways dads can help with breastfeeding too.
At the very basic level, the dad can stay with the mother while she is breastfeeding. This will give the mother, especially a new mother, the much-needed support while she learns to tend to her baby. Breastfeeding involves not only giving milk but also cleaning up the baby, changing diapers, burping the baby etc. By helping the mom with all these activities, the dad can ensure that the mom is happy, and he is developing a bond with the baby too.
In This Article
- Why Dads Must Help With Breastfeeding?
- 8 Interesting Ways Dads Can Help Their Breastfeeding Partner
- FAQ’s
Why Dads Must Help With Breastfeeding?
Fathers can help with breastfeeding. Naturally, the father can’t nurse the baby but, in some ways, a father can assist the mother with breastfeeding. It is important to do so, as it will strengthen the bond between the spouses, and the newborn, and also develop a family.
Sometimes, the father complains about the no part in the postpartum period, they feel left out, and sometimes less emotional connection with the baby. So, here are some ways through which a father can help the mother with breastfeeding. It won’t make the father feel left out and it also develops stronger bonds of love and affection.
8 Interesting Ways Dads Can Help Their Breastfeeding Partner
If you are a new father and looking for ways to help the new mother with their breastfeeding journey, here are a few tips for you.
1. Read and Gain Knowledge About Breastfeeding
Reading and gaining knowledge is the most basic approach toward anything new. We all know and are aware that mother milk is the basic food for newbies.
Fathers can initially read and gain knowledge about the importance of mother milk, how mothers feed, about mother’s health, the diet that needs to be followed by mother for the better production of milk, quality food that needs to be added to the diet, etc.
The easiest ways of gaining knowledge are
- Read articles and books on the internet. This is the most accessible and convenient way of gaining knowledge about anything.
- Have an open with your partner. This is the most effective way of gaining knowledge. Having frequent and open conversations helps both parents understand the situation of either side and deal with it in the best way possible.
A knowledgeable father will be able to handle and take care of the baby when the mother needs to rest or take a break from the baby’s responsibilities.
2. Making Sure the Breastfeeding Mother is Comfortable
It is important as a father to make sure that the mother is comfortable throughout the postpartum duration. A comfortable mother can handle her baby more hassle-free and that will also contribute to a greater impact on her health. Soon after delivery women go through a lot of hormonal changes, pains, postpartum menstrual changes, and a bunch of new responsibilities.
A father should make sure that the mother is comfortable with her clothes, with the mattress, with the food that she has, and with the surroundings. Everything in the surroundings should be inspiring and encouraging for a mother for a better postpartum.
The comfort of the mother and baby are the basic things that the dad should focus on for better breastfeeding.
Nursing bras, nursing nightdresses, breastfeeding pillows, muslin cloth, breastfeeding microfiber pillows, feeding pillows, nipple creams, etc., should be adapted and used while breastfeeding. A father should take care of all the accessories that are required while nursing.
A father can be present while breastfeeding to assist a mother with position and handling. A father can motivate a mother in the most effective way. The presence of the partner during the feeding practice can relax the mother and make the environment peaceful, helping the baby to be full.
3. Helping in Burping the Baby
Burping is a necessary part of feeding. During feeding air bubbles are trapped in the stomach of the baby resulting in discomfort. This may cause gas and indigestion of milk. The baby usually throws out milk if not burped properly.
A father can burp the baby as the mother might get uncomfortable after a long sit for feeding which can cause pain and discomfort in the abdominal region for the mother. Some babies burp easily, and some may take a longer time. So, it will be valuable to participate in the burping activity as it will create a bond of affection between the father and baby.
Burping a baby is an easy process soon after feeding. Hold the baby vertically closer to the chest, with the head on the shoulder or under the chin. And calmly rub the back of the baby or softly pat the back.
Babies burp with sound in most cases. But some babies burp without a loud sound, so make sure you feel the moments of the baby to know whether the baby burps or not.
4. Staying Up With Breastfeeding Mom in the Night
Staying up in the middle of the night is part of parenthood. Newborns usually stay up late at night or sometimes stay up the whole night. Mothers may need to wake the baby through the night and feed them in the initial few months after the baby is born.
In this case, the presence of the father at night contributes a lot to the health of the mother and helps both parents to enjoy the most beautiful phase of their life.
By staying up with the mom at night, the father can assist with breastfeeding and provide much-needed moral support. Changing diapers, cuddling the baby, changing the baby’s clothes, and making the baby comfortable are some of the things A father can do to assist a mother.
5. Helping With House-Hold Chores
A father can do house chores when the mother is busy with feeding which will ease the workload. If a father is not perfect in the house chores at least he can do simple things such as
- Arranging the baby’s things near the bed for easy access.
- Washing baby’s bottles and boiling them
- Folding clothes and placing them in the wardrobe
- Taking care of all the needs like feeding accessories, medicines, diapers, etc, and getting them in advance from the store.
- Buying and storing all the groceries.
These are some simple things that will contribute a bunch to the mother’s workload.
6. Offering Massages to the Mother
Here is the most wonderful tip for a father who is willing to assist a mother. Massages relieve aches and pains, relax muscles, reduce stress hormone levels, improve blood circulation, increase the production of milk, and help in better sleep. All these things help in the quick recovery of the mother and help her to deal with postpartum health issues. It is always advisable to take the gynecologist’s suggestion before giving massages of any sort to the new mother.
7. Helping Mom to Get Baby Latched on
Breastfeeding is a skill that needs practice. Mothers need to learn the skill of feeding soon after delivery. A father can help in latching the baby correctly. The position matters the most during feeding. The correct position will lead to better filling of the baby whereas an uncomfortable position can lead to improper filling and problems in swallowing the milk.
8. Helping Mom With Pumping and Bottle Feeding
Some situations may require pumping and feeding, especially when the mother has to stay away from the baby for unavoidable reasons, the mother has breast engorgement issues, or the baby is not able to feed directly. Pumping and bottle feeding can be a time-consuming process. The father can take care of sterilizing the bottles, holding the baby when the mother is pumping, and bottle feed the baby to give the mom some much-needed rest
There are many ways fathers can help with breastfeeding. It is an excellent way to help the mother and build a bond with the baby at the same time. A mom’s schedule can be quite stressful and she needs breaks and help in between. A father can take care of a few things so as to help the mom recoup and this way he will also be able to spend some quality time with the baby.
FAQ’s
1. Why is it Necessary For the Father to Help With Breastfeeding?
Mother and father should both have equal responsibility in taking care of the baby. A new mother will have quite a stressful time take care of the baby, waking up frequently to feed the baby and take care of other hygiene needs. She will also suffer the effects of hormonal imbalances during this period. A father pitching in can help share the load and also provide moral support to the mother which is vital during this period
2. What Oils Can be Used to Give a Massage to a Breastfeeding Mother?
You can use regular coconut oil, olive oil or even mustard oil. You can also try out milk-boosting lactation oils like Clary sage oil, Fennel oil, Basil oil, mustard oil, olive oil, and coconut oil.
3. What is the Right Position to Latch a Newborn?
Take the baby horizontally in both arms and set the position near the side from which you want to feed. Hold the baby in a way that the baby’s nose should be vertical to your nipple. Slowly guide the baby to the nipple and make sure the baby pouts like the fish while feeding.
