How partners can support breastfeeding!
Today’s tips are about what partners can do to support breastfeeding. While mom does the feeding, there are many things a partner can do to support mom and baby!
Before and just after baby arrives:
- Take a breastfeeding class with your partner - before baby arrives if possible. So many families write me and let me know how valuable it was not only for the breastfeeding mother to take a class but her partner as well.
- Help with newborn care like bathing, diapering, burping, and skin-to-skin time. Encourage your partner to take a shower, a walk, or some time to themselves while you take over.
- Do what you can to fill in for any of your partner’s normal household responsibilities. You may want to consider saving small amounts each week before baby is born so you have some budget for hired help during this time. Remember, you will be helping care for a newborn and need your rest too!
When you return to work:
- Try to return to work in the middle of the week if possible so that you have just a few days of work then a weekend to recover before starting a full work week.
- Whether you’ll have a few days, few weeks or few months off of work after baby is born, make sure that you arrange for some extra help when you return to work. Coordinate other people stopping by (family, friends, neighbors, hired help, etc) to help during certain times of the day!
- Leave your partner a note thanking and complimenting her -- this can be as simple as a post-it note on the mirror! Anything you can do to remind her that she is crushing it at life with a newborn can put a smile on her face! Remember, it can be overwhelming!
Overall, just make sure you are there for your partner however they need! Whether it’s preparing for baby’s arrival, navigating those first few weeks, or making the transition back to work, this new phase will have ups and downs. Teamwork really is key!
XOXO,
Lindsey Shipley, RN, IBCLC
lactationlink.com
This post is brought to you by our friend, Lindsey Shipley at Lactation Link – an online space dedicated to ‘Creating Confident Moms’. Lindsey is an RN, Childbirth Educator, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, cancer survivor, mom of 2. For more info on Lindsey and Lactation link, click here
