When it comes to breastfeeding, it is only seen as a relation to the mother. There is no doubt that only mother can feed the baby with milk. However, the dead (father) can also take part in breastfeeding the baby (How Dad Can Support Breastfeeding Moms). This topic will be discussed in the article. Here you will know how husbands can be involved in the process of breastfeeding and help their partner.
How Dad Can Support Breastfeeding Moms
The father cannot produce and breastfeed the milk for the child, but the partner can fully support the process. Below are some such tips in order, which you can follow to help your wife and help you build a connection with your child.
1. Gather Information about Breastfeeding
By this we do not mean that you go to the lactation consultant and understand the whole process. To understand the process of breastfeeding, neither do you have to try putting a breast pump on your chest. By this we mean that you do a little research on it. You should know about breastfeeding, latching, the right position to feed the baby, signs that the baby is hungry, etc.
2. Help Baby to latch on
In some mothers, despite having a good breast supply, the baby’s stomach does not fill. The reason for this is that the baby is not able to latch properly. This does not fill the stomach of the child and he keeps crying with hunger.
Most of the new moms don’t get enough sleep due to being busy taking care of the baby day and night. In such a situation, it is very difficult for them to feed the crying baby till late at night by holding it in the right position. Because of this many times the mother becomes irritable. You can help them at this time. Help the baby latch properly by supporting the baby with your hand.
3. Take Care of the Partner during the Breastfeeding Session
Feeding the baby in the first few days is difficult for new moms. As time goes by, there is a fine tuning between mother and baby. When the partner is feeding the baby, make sure that they are comfortable or not, they do not need anything.
Actually, a mother needs a lot of energy to breastfeed. Because of this, the mother may feel hungry and thirsty again and again. Keeping this in mind, always keep healthy snacks and a bottle of water with them during breastfeeding. Set a pillow on their lap and make the baby lie down for feed in such a way that he feels comfortable. By taking care of these small things, you can reduce their postpartum stress to a great extent.
4. Give Company to Partner
For six months after delivery, the baby’s diet is exclusively breast milk. In such a situation, most of the time throughout the day, the mother has to keep the child by the breast. Sometimes the mother’s behavior can become irritable due to feeding troubles all the time. They may feel lonely. In such a situation, whenever you are free, support them. This is a time when your partner needs emotional support the most.
5. Burp Baby
After feeding the baby, they have to burp. For this, the baby has to sit on the shoulder. In such a situation, when the mother gives milk to the child, then she can take the duty of burping. Even if these are small tasks. But this will help your wife a lot.
6. Feed the Baby with a Bottle
Suppose the child has to be given only mother’s milk for six months. But with the help of a breast pump, breast milk can be extracted and stored. Like the wife wants to sleep well for some time. So take full responsibility of the child for those two hours on yourself. In these two hours, you should not just feed the baby. Along with this, you will have to do all these things alone, changing the baby’s diaper, burping, sleeping etc.
When the baby is hungry, feed the stored breast milk to the baby with the help of a bottle. During this, hold the baby in exactly the same position as your wife does. It would be good if you take off the t-shirt during this time. Because your skin will touch with the baby’s skin, it will make the child feel like a mother and a deep bond is formed between the two of you.
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After reading this article, your misconception will be cleared that the father has no role in getting the child breastfed (How Dad Can Support Breastfeeding Moms). Help your partner in the process of breastfeeding by following the tips given in the article.